Dealing with weight as an African woman

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August 4, 2016 4:42 PM

This is a blogpost by Ese David... I was told that in the olden days as I would like to call it, if a lady was skinny no man would marry her...

Dealing with weight

I was told that a true African woman is never skinny or slim. No offence to #teamskinny #teamslim, Im simply saying what Ive been told.

Today call an African woman fat, you'll either have her close to tears or get a small smile from her but within her she's cursing you and your future generations; or if you're lucky you might meet the ones who keep a straight face, signifying that they don't care (maybe they do).

Some weeks back I entered a taxi and a rather large lady sat in front of the taxi. I don't know if everyone else was wondering who would sit in the front seat with her but I did wonder as it is a custom in Port Harcourt for two to sit in front in a taxi.

And then a man came along giving a knowingly smile to the lady in the front seat. He however managed to squeeze in and told the lady that she was lucky it was him who sat in the front seat with her.

That statement seemed to slightly offend the lady as she replied, "Are you saying that I'm fat?" There, she had said it. A self proclamation of her insecurity. The man however tried to pacify her with a nervous laugh and a flimsy explanation.

That really struck a nerve as both parties did not say anything to each other for the rest of the drive. She was clearly offended.

We are in an era where weight is a big issue. Even stares from people at the market, mall, road side, etc makes us uncomfortable in our own bodies.

We now wish to get bodies of super models and pay large amount for drugs to keep the weight away, waist trainers to keep that waist tiny and tummy tight.

Could it be that we have experienced a different Nigeria from this where big women were accepted as they were or could it be that we have been so wholly westernised?

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Ese David is an undergraduate Law student, a writer, poet and spoken word artist. She reads a lot and speaks on controversial issues that women face. Call her a feminist.

She owns the esedavid.wordPress.com. She’s popularly called The African.

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