Cynthia ‘Tasha’ Osajibenedict, a Non-Conforming Nigerian writer of the modern age have released her debut book titled “Dear Naija Girl”.

 

The fierce, resilient, and relentless reformist-feminist, whose role model, Chimamanda Adichie, is poised to breaking-down gender-based bigoted barriers with her feminist direction.

 

Her life experiences, the context and motivation of her writing, her works, and her research has equipped and guided her journey and led her to openly embracing feminism.

Osajibenedict is a young writer, whom a few fans of her work has called “brutally and bravely honest.” The epitome of a fierce and courageous 21st-century feminist writer, she specializes in nonfictional writing and storytelling that ranges from societal issues, culture, identity, and love to reformist-feminism.

 

 

Reformist feminism criticizes the individualistic and systematic, traditional and modern, conventions that discriminate against women. Reformist-feminists “present alternatives that improve women’s situations, holding that improvement within given structures is possible.”

 

Her book, Dear Naija Girl is a blend of stories, and experiences, highlighting the ordeals of women and what it means to be female in Nigeria. It opens up its readers to what women go through in this part of the world to be successful and also be heard or given a voice in their individual spheres.

 

Asides from sharing true life stories of several women, it also highlights the struggles women in Nigeria go through even when they appear successful, how they have to constantly defend their success in the judging and prying eyes of the society they come from.

 

Amidst all, it offers a way forward.

 

 

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A quick review of “Dear Naija Girl” by book enthusiast, Ewurabena Marvin, captions –

Well I met @tash_royale , the author of this book on Instagram. She wanted me to read and review her new book. I was flabbergasted and honored as the same time to have been given this privilege to read this book. Wow !! Tasha, I had no idea you had noticed my book blog. This is because a lot of Africans especially Ghanaians (lol) don’t read, let alone, appreciate and recognize my work. For this I’m thankful to you for this privilege and opportunity . ♡

 

 

ɠɛŋཞɛ: self help book ( women empowerment )

ʂყŋơ℘ʂıʂ: This book is a women empowerment book in an African version, it talks about how African women, precisely Nigerian women are underrated. It speaks about the fact that in Africa, the only place for a woman is the home, precisely the kitchen and bedroom. As a young female, your purpose is to prepare for marriage; nothing else matters!!. You call yourself lucky if you chance upon a secondary education, any higher education is prohibited.

It’s as if marriage is the penultimate for every Nigerian woman.

 

This book also gives an insight to how a typical Nigerian woman battles with her male counterparts to enjoy certain rights. Some of these women face sexism and racial discrimination.

 

One might think these are myths and don’t exist in the 21st century but sadly, it’s still in our system. These myths are barbaric, inhuman and must be discarded.

To sum it up, being a woman is hard but being a Nigerian woman is harder.

 

ཞąɬıŋɠ: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

“My experiences as an Igbo child, shaped my form of storytelling” – Cynthia Chinenye ‘Tasha’ Osajibenedict says.

Osajibenedict grew up to be fully aware of gender politics from her early childhood. In the Igbo culture, the male gender is autonomous and preferred. Igbo cultural values specially recognize the male child as compared to his female peer.

 

 

“In communities where such gender disparity is the norm, male children are perceived as the sustainers of lineage, holders of central, and often, most important positions of authority, and inheritors of immovable properties.”

 

A tight patriarchal power structure means that men dominate every sphere of Igbo society. While in elementary school, Osajibenedict noticed that the main prefect positions were given to the boys and the assistant position we’re given to their female peers.

 

This became the trigger for young Osajibenedict’s feminism. Feminism being relatively new at this time, especially in Nigeria where its been given negative connotations. It suffered considerable setbacks from religious, traditional, and cultural practices.

 

Osajibenedict became conscious of the unpopular phenomenon known as feminism even though she didn’t know the name for it at the time, and from a very young age, became set to break down the obstacles that hinder gender equality.

 

As part of gender inequality, gender stereotypes were part of the society Osajibenedict was raised in. She did not quite fit the perfect “girly” image and type, hence, considerable societal pressure was put upon her. In Dear Naija Girl, she details her experiences along with that of several women who on a daily basis, experience stereotypes in Nigeria.

 

The scope of her writing is inspired by Nigerian society and history, including gender-based violence, politics, patriarchy, colonialism, corruption, culture, and abuse that rocked the Nigerian state consistently, and Nigerian political instability— tragedies that still have wide-reaching and enduring consequences on today’s society.

 

 

Born on 6th May 1994, in Anambra State, Nigeria, Osajibenedict is the first of six children of an Igbo mother, Florence Okeke and the only daughter of Chidebeugo Osaji, an Igbo father. Although her family’s ancestral home, Obosi is in Anambra State, Osajibenedict grew up in Lagos, in the rural areas where life was highly realistic and development bleak with each passing day.

Osajibenedict started her educational career at the Motherlove Comprehensive College, then down to a government college, and back to private school where age finished.

 

Later, she went on to study political science at the Madonna University, Okija, graduating with distinction.

 

Girl knew she was meant to write, she always knew she wanted to tell stories but ever in this form. She would always say, what started as a rant on the unrealistic expectations for women in Nigeria and the heavily rooted patriarchy of her culture and society turned into a book.

 

Osajibenedict perfectly aligns with the school of thought, that bias, discrimination and second class treatment of women in the Nigerian society needs to end, but more importantly, it needs to be addressed.

 

 

Her book, Dear Naija Girl highlights the experiences of women and what it means to be female in Nigeria. Asides from sharing true life stories of several women, it also shares the struggles of women in Nigeria, the role men and society plays in it, why gender war should stop, a way forward and the true meaning of feminism.

Her work, recently released have garnered positive reviews all over Africa, and accolades.

 

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