The year was 2011,
Fresh law school entrant, Thursday found me
Laying half dressed and sprawled in bed, hostel
Door wide open in a failed bid to fight the heat.
The Bwari sun was forged by Satan & his goons.
The roomie Anne dozed in her bed.
Then, a soft knock.
A pretty, petite Fulani lady stood at the door.
Me, dazed by the heat, stared questioningly
And she stepped in, in response.
The forward Fulani came, sat on my bed,
& quickly offloaded vials of potions & powders.
Me: 
Ignoring my confusion, her monologue began:
“This one will make you sweet like a virgin.”
“This one you’ll use it so he’ll leave his wife”
“This one he’ll buy you ANYTHING you want!”
“What’s happening here?!” My no-nonsense BFF Asked, awoken by the clanging and my laughing.
“Wendy, stop laughing! This isn’t funny!”
I just couldn’t believe the ridiculousness
This woman was selling charms for entrapment.
Strangely, charms now boldly sold all over the TL
Nigerian women, won’t we be our downfall?
The more we continue to focus
On using sexual charms-possessed or perceived
To get men’s money, the more they’ll chain us.
There is no emancipation without empowerment
There is no feminism without finance.
Until we make money independent of men,
The patriarchy will win.
Why?
Because. Money. Stops. Nonsense.
The Fulani woman ignored my laughter then.
Packing her things, assuring me that
Our dismissal aside,
She wouldn’t leave that female hostel
With even one charm left. Real or fake.
Each padlock, honey, blessed *Kayanmata•
Grabbed by educated, enlightened lawyers.

*Kayanmata means “Women’s things” in Hausa.