In a world fast evolving and collapsing barriers, Medinat Kanabe takes a trip into the world of four men, who are making a living in jobs and businesses traditionally reserved for women
Many years ago in Africa, Nigeria especially, men were seen as mini-gods by their wives, feared by their children and respected in the society. They were considered before women in job placements and in many other opportunities.
Consequently, when a couple gives birth to a female child, their next line of prayer is to have a male child. Men even go to the extent of marrying another wife, all in a bid to have male children, if their wives are not lucky enough to have them. Some women have also been sent parking by their husbands for this same reason.
As if to further undermine the female gender, some jobs, which are considered weaker or softer, are reserved for the women and real men dared not touch them, even with a long pole. This probably gave vent to the saying that the woman’s place is the kitchen. This includes jobs like operating food canteens, popularly called ‘Mama put’, baby-sitting, make-up artist, hair-making, frying bean cakes and other fries for sale on road sides, cleaning, housemaids jobs, and the likes. But the borders seems to be collapsing these days, and just like women are taking up jobs hitherto seen as the exclusive preserve of the men, the men have also taken up jobs traditionally seen as women’s jobs; sometimes excelling and proudly out-doing the women. Call it the fear of poverty if you like, but that is the reality of our time.
The Nation took time out to speak with some of the men making waves in women’s world.
Greg the hair maker
Okaka Prince-Greg is CEO of Greg Style Saloon, GSS. He is a professional hair dresser, make-up artist and an expert in cutting of ladies hair, and you could tell that he couldn’t have been happier dressing in suits and working in any company other than his.
Armed with a Higher National Diploma in Computer Science from Auchi Polytechnic, Okaka started making ladies hair 8 years ago.
“I graduated in 2006 and worked for three months with TESCO Company, Ikeja. I didn’t quite enjoy going to the office everyday at a particular time and dressing corporately, so I resigned and went to South Africa. In South Africa I toiled and toiled without making much, and came back to Nigeria in February 2008.””
Back in Nigeria, the situation was no different. He could not find a job, so he started thinking of what to do.
Said Greg, “I didn’t want to depend on my certificate because of the situation of things in the country, so I made up my mind to learn something I can do with my hands. One day, I was with my friends and we got talking about handworks when one of them mentioned a place in Ikeja, where men make ladies hair. I was surprised but made up my mind to go into the business. He gave me the address and I went there to make enquiries. Later I enrolled for one year training.”
Now Greg does all types of hair, although he says he prefers fixing to braiding because it is faster.
Asked why his charges are more than that of other hair dressers in the area and yet attracts long queue of the ladies, he said it is because he and his boys are offering the best anyone can get in the community.
“I have heard people complaining that my prices are too expensive but ladies don’t stop coming because they know that I will give them what other saloons won’t give them. Those that come here for the first time and complain don’t regret paying the money at the end of the day because we give them more than what they paid for. Remember the saying that ‘soup wey sweet na money kill am’.”
He explained that all the other workers in the salon, who are also men, are either his younger ones or childhood friends. Some of them, he says have even gone on to open their own shops.
In a bid to show this reporter how profitable the salon business has become, he explained that two of the boys, Peter and Osi are currently in South Africa for further training and negotiations to open another saloon there.
He advised men who feel they cannot do his kind of job to sit up and find a way to add value to their lives, saying they cannot be waiting for the government to come and give them jobs.
“If I was waiting for the government, I will not be where I am today. Graduates who think that staying at home is better than making hairs are still sleeping. Nigerians should play their individual roles and help the government by sitting up and making a living out of their passion.
Greg who is happily married, says his wife does not have any problem with his work. He added that she is a make-up artist and so understands the job. “This is what I was doing when she met me. She also knows that I am not a womanizer, and so does not feel threatened.”
Asked if he ever feels attracted to the women while making their hair, Greg said no. But he cannot tell if the women feel anything for him. “The only thing I have on my mind is how the hair will look on the client.”
John Edues, man in the ‘mama-put business
For John Edues, a Beninese from Shaape, in Benin-Republic who operates a food canteen popularly known as ‘mama-put’, he is very proud of what he is doing.
His is a sad story, but fate brought him the job of cooking for sale, which he says he has never regretted embracing. He revealed that he is from a very poor family, “My father was an Army Officer while my mother was a house wife. I failed my West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, WASSCE and decided not to write another one because I wasn’t sure of making my papers. My dad suggested that I joined the army or police. I was excited and started the process. I even passed all exams, but failed the medicals after I was diagnosed of having high blood pressure.
“Thus ended my army dream. My father feared that I could slump and die during one of their daily exercises.
Although I was 18 years-old, I knew I had to face up to life and take the bull by the horns. I was faced with two options; to learn mechanic or take up apprenticeship as a bricklayer, which I didn’t quite like. So I began thinking of what to do. At a point, someone suggested that I enrolled at a catering school.”
John took the cue and enrolled at Shatel Catering School, Benin-Republic, where he studied for three years and got a certificate in catering services.
He came to Nigeria in 2008 and got a job with Shoprite, Lekki, where he worked for five years and rose to the position of Chief Cook. “I left Shoprite because I wasn’t enjoying the job. The money was good, but I had no peace of mind. My boss was always having issues with me. He rained curses on me saying I would die; I would not spend my salary well; that I will use it on sicknesses…. So I took a decision to leave and open my own shop.”
John who claims he can cook any country dish – be it African, Japanese or French said men are the best of cooks, adding that a Chinese man won the world’s best cook in 2015.
Explaining how he meets the challenges of getting his food ready every day, he said he wakes up by 5am everyday to cook and get everything ready by 8am. “I make chicken barbecue every evening from 4pm and close by 10pm.”
He also revealed that he is married and that his family is in Benin-Republic. John says he travels home during holidays and makes it a point of duty to cook during these occasions. “When I cook, my children clap for me saying I cook better than their mother.”
According to John, every food has its secret and he has taught her (his wife) ways of cooking some delicacies. For instance, he says “there is no need to parboil rice before cooking it. All you have to do is wash the rice and drain the water for 5 minutes, put your pot on fire with groundnut oil or butter in it and then pour the rice into the hot groundnut oil. Stir for 15 minutes before pouring tomatoes and pepper in it. Add water and other ingredient and leave to cook until soft.”
A customer who overheard this interview couldn’t help put interfere. “Madam if John cooks, it is like magic. His food tastes so good and I sometimes wonder how he does it. He is a champion cook.”
Lawal the make-up artist and events planner
Lawal Abiodun Jubril is a professional Make-up artist and event planner. He is a graduate of Economics from the Lagos State University, LASU. He learnt the art of make-up at Beauty Spark Studio, Egbeda, Lagos in 2007 and said he has been in the business for eight years. He told The Nation that he decided to go into make-up after he modeled for XA Model Surulere, Lagos many years ago and that the name of his studio is Beauty Africana.
“When I saw the models being made-up, I liked it and began to developed interest in it.” Lawal said.
Talking about his growing up, he said: “I grew up in an average family in Amukoko, Ajegunle, Lagos and attended Iganmu High School. I was also a member of Junior Chamber International on campus, where I had various trainings.”
Asked how lucrative the business is, he said when one looks at the Nigerian environment especially the entertainment industry which has grown well in recent time, one would realise that going into make-up and event planning is lucrative.
“When I wanted to enroll in a make-up school, there were not many around because the industry wasn’t the way it is now. Today many people are going into it even men! Men are more in it abroad and I can tell you that it is a good business, as long as you develop love and passion for it.” Lawal said.
He also said that men have an added advantage in make-up because women relate more with them.
Blessing Simon, specialist in fries
25 years-old Blessing Simon fries doughnuts and other snacks at Ejigbo. The secondary school certificate holder says that is what he does for survival and is proud of it.
He revealed that he gradually embraced the business, after years of fruitless search for a university admission or paid employment and more importantly because he didn’t want to stay at home, doing nothing.
Blessing also showed great reluctance about speaking with this reporter, until he got her to make a commitment to get him a job after the interview.
When he finally spoke, he said; “I went into this business to keep myself busy. I started about a year ago after learning under my boss who is the owner of this place that we are using. I am the first child in a family of seven children, so I have to support the family.
“My parents both run a beer parlour close to our house. I have written WASSCE, but looking for money to send myself to the university which is one of the reasons I work very hard.”
Blessing hopes to study Estate Management and used the opportunity of this interview to seek for a sponsorship amongst well-meaning Nigerians.
He advised men who are home doing nothing to come out and get themselves busy, saying an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. “I know that to succeed in life, one must start from somewhere. I want my future to be bright and I must start from somewhere. This business is lucrative but I still want to go to school. I am also looking out for other jobs,” he added.
