About a month ago, I got an email from Glory Edozien of Inspired by Glory and Bellanaija fame, which simply asked me to join a social media campaign celebrating women in general and Nigerian women in particular. I have never believed that women are their own worst enemies and anything to improve our collective cause as women, I’m down for. So I quickly responded to Glory’s email.
How to participate, please reply this email with the following information:
A. Two photographs of yourself
“I’ve sent two photos. I sent a selfie. Because vanity …and a picture of my sister and I because in a nutshell, that’s the lens through which I view being a Nigerian woman. Sisterhood, support. Joy.”
B. A paragraph or more describing what being a Nigerian woman feels like/means to you.
“Being Nigerian is often depicted poorly. People expect Nigerians to be feisty, to own a voice…and use it often. Personally, the expectation is freeing. Some hope that as Nigerian women, we won’t use our voice yet fear that we might. I’ve never been one to let people down.” *Insert wink here*
C. A paragraph or more detailing a life lesson you would want to share with women everywhere”
“We must be our own…before we are another’s.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson.
You can see the rest of the campaign at Inspired by Glory. My favourite quote of the campaign came from Olushola Pacheco, founder of Whoot Africa.
“Being a Nigerian woman reminds me of the peacock, beautifully unapologetic and not afraid to show off its magnificence.”
I find Glory herself particularly inspiring because her life appears to be almost entirely consumed by a burning desire to give to others; give of herself, essence, time, talent. My article, 30 Things Every Girl Should Know by 30 was featured on her site Inspired by Glory and I remember our discussions prior to that time ended with a beautiful email she sent. She said to me,
“…Maggate Wade says, ‘We must remember that we are not alone and somewhere 10 thousand feet away is someone else fighting your fight. Your job is to find them and together create little islands of excellence in everything we do.’ I hope we (you and I) and other women who are on this journey can together build an island.”
…To building islands!
Oh Wendelyn! 