Husnat Bello

When I entered the university, there was one thing about the girls’ hostel that confused me.

Every girl had a shaving stick.

I mean EVERYBODY.

Not one shaving stick.
Not two.
Everywhere you turned, you would see one.

Some even came with packets.

And me, the only person I had ever seen using shaving stick in my entire life was my father.

As far as I knew, shaving stick was strictly for men and their bie bie.

So I looked at these girls and wondered,

“Are all of you secretly growing beards??”

But I told myself, “Bukky, face your studies. Whatever they are doing is not your ministry.”

I gboju nbe.

I looked away.

Until one evening when I was dressing up and one of my extremely useless roommates noticed me.

This particular girl came to university with a PhD in other people’s business.

She looked at me.

She looked again.

Then she screamed:

“BUKKYYYY!!!”

I nearly jumped.

She pointed at my Angelina.

“YOU WAN Plait THIS EVIL FOREST???”

I wanted to disappear.

Before I could even process the insult, she continued:

“So you no dey shave?? Abi your guy like make something dey hold him like Velcro?”

At that point, I wanted to transfer to another university.

Immediately.

But that conversation opened my eyes.

So THAT was what the shaving sticks were for.

Nobody told me it's bad to keep bush now.... Shebi it's parts of our body.

The next morning, I went to buy my own.

I entered the bathroom.

Locked the door.

Stood in front of the mirror.

Looked at Angelina.

And said,

“My dear, today is your liberation day.”

My hands were shaking like I was about to disarm a bomb.

But I gathered courage.

I shaved.

Finished.

Came out.

I felt different.

I felt clean.

I gave Angelina Molo...... Tubaba style.

I felt like a new woman.

Tu seconds later…

THE ITCHING STARTED.

Not ordinary itching o.

This one had PERSONAL VENDETTA.

I froze.

“Ayilalaa ooo!”

I looked at the shaving stick.

“Wait… Abi somebody don use this thing before com package an sell for Mallam Saminu??”

Then another terrifying thought entered my head.

“Hope say no be stafilokokos?? 😳

Hope say I never collect incurable disease because I wanted to belong??”

I stood up.

Sat down.

Stood up again.

Angelina was on fire.

By the time I was heading to lecture, I was scratching myself like somebody chasing an invisible goat.

Scratch small.

Walk small.

Scratch again.

Walk again.

If you saw me that day, you would think I was rehearsing for a cultural dance competition.

Then I entered the lecture hall.

The itching upgraded.

The lecturer was there:

“Photosynthesis is the process whereby”

Me:

“Jesus is Lord…”

I crossed my legs.

People probably thought I was sitting like a sophisticated babe.

Sophisticated where?

I was using one leg to hold Angelina hostage.

Thank God our desks were covered.

I quietly put my hand underneath and started emergency operations.

Scratch.

Pause.

Look up.

Pretend to write.

Scratch again.

At some point, tears almost entered my eyes.

I couldn't concentrate on anything.

I just wanted to graduate and leave that university.

When I returned to the hostel, I confronted my roommate.

“Why this my Angelina dey scratch me like this? How una take dey shave and survive??”

She looked at me.

Then suddenly shouted:

“HA!!!

YOU BARB UPWARD???”

I said,

“Yes na. E get formula?”

She held her head.

“Jesus Christ, Bukky! You barb AGAINST the direction of hair growth!”

That was the day I discovered that even hair has traffic rules.

And nobody thought it wise to tell a village girl.

Okih Bukola writes

Abeg who cook rice and stew ? I get Plate and spoon 🍽...

This is not nice for me..

kamar nafi kyau da niqab koh

Good night

Ladies to ladies, please let's normalize wearing a bra whenever we're stepping outside, even if it's just in the morning to get something. 🤍

If you're not comfortable wearing a bra, you can wear a singlet or a tube underneath instead.

We always say we don't want to be like our mothers, but tell me, why would a lady wake up and step outside without wearing at least a bra or something underneath?

Sometimes it's quite obvious, and even some women feel awkward seeing it. 😕 Please let's try our best to wear something whenever we're going out.

It's completely fine to be braless at home that's your comfort,But once you're stepping outside, wearing an extra layer can help you feel more covered.

This is just a little reminder from one lady to another. 🤍