REVIVING DECENCY: BOMA’s TRIUMPH IN A CHANGING WORLD
Once upon a time, there was this brilliant and pretty student named “Boma”, who loved her culture so much and carried it with grace and prestige. In fact, because of the love for her tradition, she had to study history in the university. She was glad when she gained admission after been denied of it twice because she was decent to follow the righteous path and refused to give bribes to the school management, so that her name will be on the admission list. Her classmates, Priye and Obele, who failed their jamb exams, saw it as the best option to get into school. So, when she finally entered school, she was 2 classes behind them.
University was a different world entirely compared to Okrika, the place she came from. She found herself surrounded by a rapidly changing environment were dressing styles was nothing to write home about. You hardly see anyone dress decently because of the fashion trend and the influence of western media. This was alien to our African culture. Boma’s heart bled as she witnessed the loss of decency among the youth. Everyone wants to expose their cleavages and butt without a slightest sense of shame. Obele and priye happened to be the role models of this uncouth students. They despised her because she was too “old fashioned” and decent for them. Nevertheless, she didn’t allow their words get to her, knowing fully well that her decency was a reflection of her inner character.
It was getting closer to the Student Unioun Government (SUG) WEEK and pasted on her departmental wall was a poster of an upcoming cultural festival with theme “Embracing Your Heritage” and it aimed to celebrate the diverse cultures of Nigeria. Boma, filled with glimmer of hope, saw it as an opportunity to showcase the value she cherish. She hurried off to meet some of her friends who had the same zeal and passion like her when it comes to cultural appreciation. Together, they planned to showcase the beauty of traditional Nigerian attire and the importance of modest dressing. Boma had gotten who will model attires for Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa but she found it difficult getting for “ijaw” her tribe. Her ethnic group wasn’t as popular as the three major ethnicities in Nigeria. She needed who could speak the ijaw language well. She had to go beg priye and obele, her old time secondary school classmates, to model for her and she knew their presence alone will drag more crowd to their event. They finally agreed on the condition that she will teach them their carryover courses.
It was time for the main event. Boma and her friends model were adorned in traditional Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and ijaw attire walking down the runway showcasing the rich tapestry of Nigeria cultures, The display of the runway models emphasized the significance of modesty and respect for cultural heritage. As time went by, curious students and lecturers were attracted by the diverse colors on the traditional attire and the eloquent speech of Boma describing every single details of what each attire represents. Her friends spoke about the reward of dressing decent in school campus and how it will save them from been harassed by sexual predators. It took a lot of time but gradually the words started sinking down to their heads. At the end of the festival, boma and her friends were cheered and celebrated. They were the talk of the whole school. Obele and priye were so happy they didn’t turn down the offer because they started getting little contract from big fashion houses after the event went viral on social media. Boma and her friends were also invited for talk shows in media houses, successfully planting seed of decency and cultural pride in the hearts of those who had forgotten their heritage.
In the following semester in the university, when Boma resumed school, she noticed a whole lot had changed. The university campus transformed into a place where modesty and tradition were celebrated and they embraced decency. The Vice chancellor of the school, made a declaration that anyone caught dressing indecent within school campuses will be expelled immediately and also made every Friday a day to dress with traditional attire as a way of showing his support for the revival of cultural appreciation and respect.
Boma’s efforts had rekindled the spirit of decency and tradition.
I'm not sure I agree with you here.... Traditional or conventional clothing protects against sexual harassment? Hard to imagine - then such incidents would be a phenomenon of the new, modern times. Presumably, however, it has always happened, and completely independent of the victims' style of dress...
On the other hand, I would not want to judge only on the basis of outward appearances whether there is a very decent person in a revealing outfit...
Nevertheless, I find the idea of the folklore day exciting: certainly a very beautiful and varied sight!
Your points are valid especially the second one because there are a lot of people who do crazy shit here but they cover themselves from head to toe..
But for the first one, you will agree with me that there are guys who lust over ladies whenever they see a lady reveal her body. Their intention is just to sleep with d lady just to satisfy their urge… so they come in a friendly way. But the more d lady resist them, the more his desires and desperation grows!!
Once they become obsessed with the lady, it might lead to them doing some sort of stuff they may later regret. In some situations, you see the lecturers intentionally failing the female students just to victimize her.
In most schools in Nigeria, there are now putting dress codes for students before they even allow them enter into the school premises. If you dress indecently , from the school gate, they won’t allow you enter.
I think you are mixing up several issues. One is an individual and possibly unconventional style of dress, from which you infer a higher risk of assault. However, these assaults are committed by people who are solely responsible for them. Their reasons may be understandable, but such behaviour is not punishable and outlawed for nothing. It has nothing at all to do with the appearance of the victim, but lies entirely with the perpetrator.
Another is the school uniform or dress code. They only seem to lead to more equality. My children went to private schools and that's how I know for sure: then it's the better materials, the better mobile phones, the more expensive trips, the real jewellery and the better cars that manifest status differences.
And then there is the matter of decency. A completely different thing, because it can't be grasped either with clothes or with equalisation. For me, decency is the inner attitude of a person that corresponds to high and self-chosen values.
I love your explanation here. It hit the spot.
TEAM 1
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