Tuesday 25 October 2016

NOT THE 'OTHER ROOM'.....





I've counted around 30 articles on social media relating to President Buhari's 'Other Room' comment about his wife. Everybody has a view on the matter. On this one occasion and for the benefit of those of us 'Not into' Naija jist I will desist from referring you to 'our friend Google' and give you a quick summary. While President Buhari was on tour in Germany (How many countries has this guy visited this year??) his wife Aisha Buhari, granted BBC an interview where she made some 'not too palatable' observations about her husband's presidency. In response to her comments, during a Press conference when Buhari was questioned about his wife's political affiliations, he said as far as he was concerned, she belonged in the Kitchen, Living Room and 'THE OTHER ROOM'.

There was so much hoo-ha over his comment, our people who love anything that has the slightest hint of  sexual innuendo, were all on the bandwagon. No one was talking about 'The Arrest of Those Judges' anymore (Google is your friend!) our President had provided some comic relief for the nation. Everybody had a view, our 'feminists' came out stating clearly that they don't belong in any kitchen or 'other room' and condemning the derogatory inference. The word Feminist written in inverted comma because in the Naija context 'our' ladies constantly shift the goal post where feminism is concerned. (Blog post for another day). 

Some women swung the other way insisting that the 'other room' is where they belonged and they were proud to occupy it (each to their own).
One take I liked was that of a chap who advised people not to blow their gasket on the issue or take the phrase too literal as did they truly believe in Aso Rock (Presidential Residence)  Aisha actually cooks in that kitchen, with all the staff she has to hand!

In my opinion it all got a bit boring and cliche as you know our people now? They just don't let things go, when a story is making the rounds they will debate the matter, everyone becomes an authority on the subject, unknown entities, wannabe's and Z-list celebrities all get on the bandwagon donating their unsolicited 2 kobo. Even his political opponents, some who wake the wives with slap every morning and could do with removing the 'log in their eye' before judging anyone, came out with their views. 
Need I mention all those memes that start resurfacing on your Whatsapp, Email, Facebook etc like a bad penny, but as the images come through to your phone for the umpteenth time, you respond to the sender with a pretentious 'lol' unless you're mean like me and reply with a 'This is the 10th one I've received today, kindly free me!' 

So now after dedicating a whole 4 paragraphs to 'The Other Room', kerfuffle I swiftly move on!
On that note have a good week.



The difference between kpekere and plaintain chips na packaging ~ Unknown

7 comments:

Foluke (Bose) Gabriel said...

RBN kilon pop?
I'm sure kpekere is not made out of plantain or is it?
"The other room" ------ mo fe wolè kin jade!
I soon return.

Risi By Name said...

@ Foluke Gabriel aka Plaintain chip girl
I'm 'popping' very well thank you.
I refer you to 'Naija Lingo' Nigeria's Pidgin English dictionary:
"Kpekere is the Yoruba name for fried unripe plaintain, this is snack sold mostly by roadside vendors"
You can thank me later 😂

Anonymous said...

Foluke why you always write in Yoruba?
Please remember not all of us are Yoruba speaking please translate what you wrote.

Foluke (Bose) Gabriel said...

Oops! Found out ikepere is plantain.
I concur, packaging and shape.

Hmmm, i find that in my house apart from Kitchen "other room" include 'parlour', and 'bafroom' so the 'other room' could be any of the above.

Seriously though, the fact that Aisha is so disdained with her husband's precidency is worrying. A house divided against itself cannot stand!
What hope for 9ja if this is where the first family stands?

Ronkus said...

Maybe Aisha speaks for the common person on the street who had hope with Buhari's presidency but is desolate with the condition of the country. Maybe she speaks for the 300 girls kidnapped and only 21 of them have been really recovered to date - breaking news!!! Maybe she speaks with shock and disdain at exchange rate of $400. Maybe she is one of a few politican who truly believe that what you say on the campaign trail is your word, a bond and promises to be kept. Just maybe... Yes, she is his wife and may even belongs in the OTHER ROOM but she is a Nigerian who has a formidable podium to speak. Unfortunately, her message is buried under all the noise about the OTHER ROOM. Kudos to Buhari for the distraction. I guess that is the mark of a true politician- all liars.

B.O.B said...

I wonder if all na propaganda.... Mr and Mrs Buhari. Which wife of a prominent Nigerian; not to talk of the president 's wife! will have the guts to speak out against her husband like that; we will soon get to the 'bottom' of the matter.
As per the 'other' room; it can be anywhere you wish it to be jare...

Foluke (Bose) Gabriel said...

@anonymous 9.46.
Apologies for my constant Yoruba. You know how you can take a girl from the bush but not the bush from the girl. LOL

The Yoruba is to reassure myself that I'm still in touch with my roots albeit I am not ready to zip up my boots yet!

The literal translation is "I go in to come out again"
Basically the idea is that you have gone in to renew your strength and come back out stronger".