An end must come to the many ills the woman suffers for her ‘womanity’, and it will be followed by freedom and empowerment, as espoused by Ololade Ajayi in her collection of poetry, ‘THE RHEAVOLUTION’.
The book reflects on the many ills women suffer in the society, which didn’t start today. Our ancestors laid the foundation and erected the cornerstones. We inherited same and continue to perpetuate them, even with our education and exposure. Ajayi, however, is confident the woman will do all it takes to be free, choose herself first and above all, while the world adjusts to the new normal.
Ajayi’s poems are a lament, saying that for the female, happiness is not a given, it has to be grabbed, and grabbed it must, the world will adjust.’ But first, there must be self-awareness, the consciousness to stand against all that hold her down. Rebellion, perhaps, will do justice. But, whatever, the woman must be free, and by all means possible.
Section one of the book – ‘Rheavolution of the Body: The Feminist’s Manifesto’, reminds women of the importance of proudly accepting themselves and taking charge of their bodies. It reinforces the feminist manifesto of ‘our body belongs to us, and we will give it the desired attention and pleasure’.
In ‘Alone’, the poet laments that the woman is alone in her fight to become someone, but she will fight notwithstanding. She also says though the 16 days of activism against sexual and domestic abuse is not enough to prosecute the fight, women will use is judiciously.
‘The Rheawakening’ tells of the coming of age, the realisation of womanhood and the pleasure it can get. Ajayi laments that patriarchy tried to cut it short, but insists that women will go ahead and fulfil the desires which their bodies want because it is the age of rheawakening.
Ajayi dedicates ‘Dear Nameless Girl in my Dreams’ to the kidnapped girls who have been sold into sexual slavery and thus becoming a statistics. She speaks of efforts to rescue the girl, but there were forces too powerful she couldn’t overcome.
In ‘Womanity’, the poet speaks of liberating women from every shackle that hold them down. She speaks of womanity by walking together, schooling together, surviving together, and others. Through this united womanity in purpose, the female gender will get the desired liberation because there is strength in unity.
‘Girl’ is the long-awaited memo to the girl-child. Ajayi encourages the girl-child to do her no matter the situation and circumstances, the world will adjust. The girl-child must grab the world by its balls because only then can she be free and happy.
This poem perhaps sums the theme in ‘The Rheavolution’ – the many prejudices against the woman, the many barriers the society places before her, not minding that she is already bogged down by peculiar challenges such as menstruation, hormonal imbalance, and others. But here is Ajayi telling the girl-child, ‘the world is yours to take, grab it and see it adjust to your taste and bidding’.
After this memo begins the journey to self-discovery and satisfaction. In ‘When you see me’, where Ajayi tells the world –when you see me, don’t put me in a box because you don’t know what I have been through. Years of pain and hurt hidden in my heart, yet I want to come out with pride and stride with pride.
The coming of age is made more beautiful with ‘A New Rheagime’, where women live up to their womanhood, no more body shaming, no more putting down. The woman must live her life as she deems fit. No to the dictates of men, the world will definitely adjust. It also comes with the ‘Rheassurance’ that the woman will survive despite the odds. She will not be held down no matter the hurt of the past, she must fulfil her dreams. Yes, the woman will fulfil her dreams no matter the resistance or barrier.
And in ‘Break the Bias’, the world is admonished to support the woman. She is capable of deciding what she wants out of life; all she needs is support, and not condemnation, doubt or rebuke. The woman must have a say. Her voice must be heard so break the bias.
In section two of the collection, the poet reminiscences on the memory of loved ones, especially those who died in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic. The poems in this section remind us to daily live life at its best, and love to the fullest. Life is but a passing phase, and it’s soon gone in a twinkling. Life is vanity. Despite the sprawling mansions we build and fanciful attires we wear, nothing lasts forever.
‘Nothing’ explains this more succinctly, when it says ‘Life is a rip off once again,
Nothing is the answer to everything’.
The third section – Rheavolution of the Mind: We the People’ is both a lament about the current state of Nigeria and the expression of a new hope. The poet says in ‘Birthright’ that the right to rule Nigeria is reserved for every Nigerian, while in ‘Barter by Ransom’, she berates the government and leaders for failing to perform the roles for which they were elected. She especially honours Leah Sharibu who remains in Boko Haram captivity till date. When will these things end?
She ends her ‘Rheavolution’ collections with ‘Nigerhean’, to show her desires for a Nigeria that everyone will be proud of. It tells of her hopes that Nigeria will one day get it right.
Ajayi has asked many questions, raised the dust, and sang a lament for the society which continues to trample upon its most valuable asset – the woman, when it should give her the full rights and privileges deserving of a ‘Peace Bearer’ and the carrier of good news, both for the present and the future. Why should a society be violent towards its bringer of peace, the same vessel through which it can be transformed? It’s been said that a woman represents a nation, if trained and empowered to the fullest, then a nation has been rescued from doom. In it all, Ajayi is still hopeful that with the right decisions taken at the right time, the gloom will fade soon enough, and give way to the brightest of lights.
Book review
Title: The Rheavolution
Author: Ololade Ajayi
Reviewer: Oyebola Owolabi
Pages: 51
