This week on social media was a roller coaster for African (especially Nigerian) women on social media. The ride began on Monday with the news of the arrest of 70 women in Abuja by officers the Nigerian Police Force.
The women were arrested on Saturday night in the Nigerian capital city and accused of prostitution.
“Dozens of women – and a two-month-old baby – were arrested and accused of prostitution. Witnesses say some were raped using discarded water sachets as condoms.” #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen https://t.co/C39X2jc9G8
— Eromo Egbejule (@EromoEgbejule) April 30, 2019
This is just insane. So women are not free to go and hangout in Abuja anymore without being termed or forced to admit they are prostitutes. Nigeria is gradually returning to the stone age pic.twitter.com/sk3MusnEma
— Sherishery (@Mz_sherifa) May 2, 2019
Reactions
https://twitter.com/TheEnekemGreg/status/1123164215114706944
https://twitter.com/AsEqualsAfrica/status/1122988232118034433
https://twitter.com/Naijadailyfeedx/status/1123798078123855873
Other reactions
Being an Abuja boy who use to go out a lot while growing up in Abuja, I have on a few occasions seen policemen chasing prostitutes about & trying to get them into their vans. 2 main things:
1. They exploit them (rake all the money they’ve made)
2. They sleep with them for free.— Dr Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) April 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/Naijadailyfeedx/status/1123196582072061957
https://twitter.com/IsyNene/status/1123191598341349377
https://twitter.com/olufemisp/status/1123533697603579904
Updates!
How Abuja policemen raped, assaulted us, by convicted prostitutes https://t.co/WRynrmsEP6
— The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) May 2, 2019
Victim one “on the 26th of April, Friday night. I was in a club in Gwarimpa. All of a sudden we saw a crowd, hitting women, etc. They bundled us out of the club and forced into a van. We asked and they said they were from Task Force.”#AbujaPoliceRaidOnWomen
— HiveMediaNG (@HiveMediaNG) May 2, 2019
Read the full thread here.
#SayHerNameNigeria
https://twitter.com/_mnbgi_/status/1123168453077213184
https://twitter.com/_mnbgi_/status/1123171307074486272
Rape is bad.
It gets worse when those who should protect and defend get in on the act.
Women are human beings too, not things to be used.
We all need to speak up and reject this madness #SayHerNameNigeria— Dayo Oluyede (@DayoOluyede) April 30, 2019
Most of the women arrested in Abuja night clubs on Saturday and accused of prostitution, they pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday, and paid the N3,000 fine.
For the real prostitutes among them, it’s the best thing to do, but for the innocent ones, their lives are ruined. pic.twitter.com/umyMN4lcve
— Nejeeb Bello Oyarese (@NejeebBello) April 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/LayoLaks/status/1123375360035495936
Here’s what Yomi Shogunle, Assistant Commissioner of Police had to say
https://twitter.com/YomiShogunle/status/1123138507445239808
Reactions;
Is there a way citizens can protest for the removal of a public official? Yomi Shogunle has to go.
— Mocha👸🏾 (@raychellered) April 30, 2019
When you read @YomiShogunle‘s tweets, you’ll get a much better understanding of the character and thought process of the low ranking police officers. What’s more shocking is Yomi is seen as the seemingly “refined” police officer. So imagine what the rest really are like.
— Usman Shamaki (@aushamaki) April 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/manmustwack/status/1123204114253533189
Inspector General of @PoliceNG : Remove DCP Yomi Shogunle as ‘Head’ or ‘Member’ of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit. – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/UJSlIltglA via @Change
— SEGA L’éveilleur® (@segalink) May 1, 2019
Read more reactions here.
From Mavin to UMG
In other less depressing news, Nigerian superstar and Mavin First Lady Tiwa Savage is leaving her record label of 7 years for an international deal with the Universal Music Group.
The American music corporation announced Tiwa’s new record deal through its official Twitter handle.
We are thrilled to welcome @TiwaSavage, one of Africa’s biggest stars, to the Universal Music Group family.
↳ https://t.co/TYZOWfkGi4 pic.twitter.com/tI4SfWPjsA— Universal Music Group (@UMG) May 2, 2019
Don Jazzy penned down an emotional tribute to Tiwa on Instagram, read it here. Find screenshots of the post below.
https://twitter.com/TheViralTrendz/status/1123904955633602560
Reactions
https://twitter.com/TungstenMarvie/status/1123896892767731719
Tiwa! Savage moves. When others were busy focusing on your current level wondering why they aren’t competition, you are there closing in on your next level!
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) May 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/tyxngszn/status/1123897299451764736
Happy for Tiwa Savage. Impressed with Don Jazzy👍🏽. When you leave your company or group exit professionally. Not like a born thief, burning bridges.
— Dr Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) May 2, 2019
Looks like not everyone is excited about the deal
https://twitter.com/Heniorlarrrr/status/1123902664419442688
Other reactions
Pliz pliz pliz, if you people want to start your yeye like for yen yen yen Rt for pangolo,let it be known Tiwa Savage is officially international now and should be put together with internationals ONLY eg; Rihanna, Beyoncé and so on, not Shaworode people(Simi in exception😍) pic.twitter.com/lqF6NNmX64
— WH¥B£€ (@Fab_DJWhybee) May 2, 2019
Someone said Tiwa Savage is officially bigger than the Kenya music industry.
— Dr. Phoenix 🚨 (@ImeAkan3) May 2, 2019
Who’s the most internationally recognised female musician in Nigeria?
RT for Tiwa Savage.
Like for Yemi Alade. pic.twitter.com/0AbIIZm5JR— Edwin ℳasobεji (@madeinmwanza) May 2, 2019
As expected, memes
https://twitter.com/seektheinyamah/status/1123908247889612807
https://twitter.com/winner_olabiyi/status/1123895870481739777
Victoria kimani reaction when She finds out tiwa savage is now a global artist pic.twitter.com/Jbg2VCf3IB
— Abduls Omotosho (@richtosho) May 2, 2019
Victoria Kimani when she sees Tiwa Savage Global deal with UMG
She will be shocked
She will then cry
She will also cover her face
And then she will know Tiwa’s shoe is too big for her pic.twitter.com/fYMukdx4ai— 𝗥ẹ́mí (@tobiremii) May 2, 2019
Discuss!
In the past 1 year the following artists have left their record labels (publicly):
Tiwa Savage
Tekno
Ycee
Simi
Reekado BanksNo one is renewing their deal. Many are moving on to either their personal imprints or signing to international majors. Discuss.
— Joey Akan (@JoeyAkan) May 2, 2019
Read more reactions here.
Tonto Dike has more news about her ex-husband
In an interview released earlier in the week, Nollywood actress released new details about her ex-husband Churchill Olakunle. This is the latest in the controversial actress’ revelations about her experience being married to him. Watch the video below.
https://twitter.com/SubDeliveryZone/status/1123521030495117315
There’s more;
Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh shares her story about domestic abuse and the relationship with her ex husband, Churchill.
— OSG (@OloriSupergal) May 1, 2019
“I met him at the night club, Escape club, we dated for 7 months before we got married” – Tonto Dike recalls her horrible experience with Churchillhttps://t.co/XxeuexbW3i
— Plus TV Africa (@PlusTVAfrica) May 1, 2019
Tonto Dikeh demolishes her ex-husband Olakunle Churchil, says he can’t last in bed more than 40 seconds. pic.twitter.com/7g1AbwGUzt
— Talk Parlour (@TalkParlour) May 1, 2019
Another word synonymous to Bitterness is Tonto Dike. pic.twitter.com/7MW1CkcIao
— Timeless (@Oluwatimylehin) May 1, 2019
Reactions
Churchill sure has erected a fully detached 4-bedroom duplex inside Tonto Dike’s mind and is living there pretty.
Cos I don’t know how every quarter, for years now, Tonto has something to say about her ex-husband, husband that she used her two eyes and legs to marry by herself.
— Ikenna Nzimora (@ronaldnzimora) May 1, 2019
Lord protect me from women like Tonto Dike
— Akinbosola ogunsanya (@MrAkinbosola) May 1, 2019
Tonto Dike is rapidly becoming a nuisance.
— ForAll (@Charity2God) May 1, 2019
Can someone tell Toto Dike to shut the hell up and move on? Can’t she respect her son? Both Churchill and Tonto are destroying that boys life. Sooner or later that boy will be online and will read all the stuffs they’re putting out there. That alone will destroy him.
— Lawrence Ibe💭 (@askforlaw) May 1, 2019
Drag him sis!
Tonto Dike and Lillian Esoro. Two queens handling scums in their different ways. No one size fits all
— Transformer (@Aeeshamoh) May 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/Kayode_ani/status/1123682263710019591
I hope Tonto Dikeh never goes away. She should publicly shame him.
When he was giving his interviews you were all hopping to conclusions, but now homegirl is here with evidence and receipts and it’s “remember your son”.
The ex didn’t need to remember their son?
— Demotivational Speaker (@OdunEweniyi) May 1, 2019
Tonto Dikeh is doing the Lord’s work. I didn’t see this level outrage when the man went on the offensive. And I choose to not entertain it now that she’s gone nuclear.
In fact, I stan!
— Joey Akan (@JoeyAkan) May 1, 2019
Other reactions
Tonto dike is an example of “nobody listens to black women”
She’s telling her story and people are willing to believe she is mad,on drugs,bitter and not for once considering that this lady is actually telling the truth.
— Losgiddy (@LOSGIDDY) May 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/Poltergeyst_/status/1123587988053745664
It is difficult for people to open up in Nigeria.
I mean, Tonto Dike is opening up on her failed marriage, but Nigerians would rather drag and eat her raw on social media.
Nigerians always attack the victim.What do I know 😏🚶🚶
— Anambra 1st son (@UchePOkoye) May 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/sploofeek/status/1123620548238610432
Memes
https://twitter.com/GabrielSolanke/status/1124007348006203392
https://twitter.com/Zur0nye/status/1123683134791397387
When You mention “Churchill” near Tonto Dike.😏 pic.twitter.com/MRo9CgQ8Sw
— ProfBadmouth (@badmauth) April 30, 2019
The same Tonto Dikeh that was gushing on Hushpuppi, wishing him a happy birthday is the one dragging her ex-husband for being a yahoo boy. pic.twitter.com/2SqXRniDPg
— O.L.U.W.A.D.A.R.E (@oluwadxre) May 1, 2019
Read more reactions here.
Caster Semenya’s ruling
Last year, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) issued new rules that would require female runners with naturally high testosterone levels to race against men unless they take medication that would the reduce the production of the hormone.
South African runner and Olympic medallist Caster Semenya falls under this category, and so appealed the new regulations.
On Wednesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled against her. For more context, read the stories below.
Instead of correcting deeply ingrained myths about testosterone and performance, sports authorities are putting @caster800m’s rights at risk https://t.co/5lbWgOi8IV
— Nicholas Dawes (@NicDawes) May 3, 2019
“Most of all, we could talk about what it means to be a woman. And what it means to insist someone is not a woman. And why Michael Phelps was treated like a marvel, and Caster Semenya (@caster800m) is treated like a mutant.” —@MonicaHesse https://t.co/KKbsCmchRr
— Brooke Baldwin (@BrookeBaldwin) May 3, 2019
“Certain bodies are never allowed to be female”: what Caster Semenya’s story says about gender and race in sports https://t.co/GTBiFpF8ts
— Vox (@voxdotcom) May 3, 2019
Phenomenal article https://t.co/Mj9aqpOQlo
— Dean Van Nguyen (@deanvannguyen) May 3, 2019
Reactions
If the Olympics is boycotting Caster Semenya’s womanhood, I think we boycott the Olympics. I know this is IAAF’s doing, but the Olympics can help shift the conversation by shifting their relationship to IAAF.
— Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (@IBJIYONGI) May 3, 2019
The words that spring to mind when I think of #CasterSemenya – female, strong, female, athletic, fighter, female, brave, female, unfairly treated, icon, role model.. female!! https://t.co/w44QJNkuHD
— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) May 3, 2019
So here you have a natural born female with a chromosome abnormality. They want to perceive her as a male but they can’t and they’re pissed about it so they’ll use any means necessary to downgrade her. This world I tell ya……… She’ll rise above it all #CasterSemenya pic.twitter.com/WbIpyJewsj
— Loirin Lancaster (@loirinlancaster) May 3, 2019
Been saying it #CasterSemenya pic.twitter.com/Vuny571tj2
— B Camminga (@Obsqueer) May 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheOriginalMBK/status/1124083988824494087
https://twitter.com/MtrKDJoyce/status/1123988704178135042
Other reactions
https://twitter.com/DanielleDASH/status/1124239274998685698
“I just want to run naturally,the way I was born. It is not fair that I am told I must change. It is not fair that people question who I am. I am MOKGADI CASTER SEMENYA. I am a woman and I am fast.” Caster Semenya#HandsoffCaster #EndVAW pic.twitter.com/oiSLxOi83k
— Freedom and Roam Uganda (@Far_Uganda) May 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/Sisonkemsimang/status/1123961362768650241
We are fully behind you
We love #CasterSemenya pic.twitter.com/rjZ8InZe5F— Nonkululeko Selwane ⚘😘 (@LibertyNkuli) May 2, 2019
Read more reactions here.
