I Didn't Know I Was Even Supposed

They Themselves Mocked Africa, Trading Stories Of Absurdity, Of Stupidity, And They Felt Safe To Mock, Because It Was A Mockery Born Of Longing, And Of The Heartbroken Desire To See A Place Made Whole Again.

If I Had Not Grown Up In Nigeria- And If All I Knew Of Africa Were Of Popular Images- I Too Would Think That Africa Was A Place Of Beautiful Landscapes, Beautiful Animals And Incomprehensible People Fighting Sensless Wars, Dying Of Poverty And Aids- Unable To Speak For Themselves And Waiting To Be Saved By A Kind White Foreigner.

Because I Am Female, I’m Expected To Aspire To Marriage. I Am Expected To Make My Life Choices Always Keeping In Mind That Marriage Is The Most Important.

I Often Make The Mistake Of Thinking That Something That Is Obvious To Me Is Obvious To Everyone Else.

The Higher You Go, The Fewer Women There Are.