Restoring Virtues

Rebecca Ejifoma

Ololade

In traditional African societies, Vagina it is generally regarded as a taboo word. But the struggle to demystify the V-word against the backdrop of contemporary understanding led the author of Vagina Homogeneity to adopt the word and the subject matter in her recent work which was launched last weekend in Lagos. That woman of uncommon courage is Ololade Ayanniyi.  

VH, as the book is called, was launched at Noveau Centre in Victoria Island, before a gathering of literary-minded individuals as well as those who share concern in issues of sexuality. The story in the work borrows its thematic preoccupation largely from the celebrated international scandal that involved the International Monetary Fund chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn whose presidential hopes were dashed by the incriminating sex scandal.
The novel x-rays the sexual misdemeanour that characterises the male-female relationships in recent time and serves a contemporary statement on human values and virtues.

The novelist holds the view that a man’s brain is wired in one direction − the sexual − but the woman is in different sensual way. Ololade believes that while women may wear see-through clothes, men have got see-through eyes with which they see women.
“When a woman enters a shop she will admire the shoes and the clothes but a man will admire a beautiful lady in the mall and say, ‘Wow! that lady is beautiful’!” he said.

The writer opted for the blunt, straight-forward approach in her delivery while her language is loaded with imageries.The 12-chapter satire is described as an easy-read. At the launch, Justice Ademola Bakre of Ogun State High Court remarked,“I was captivated when I read the book. This book stares you in the face in such a way that you would think deep.”
While lauding the efforts of the writer, Justice Bakre decried the decline in moral values for both gender divide and stressed the importance of having a balanced view of sexual harassment. For him, women are not usually the victims and some women are capable of being sexual predators as well.      

The Book

Generally, “VH” centres on the escapades of men, power, politics, religion, intrigues, consequences and the escape routes. It is called the master piece of on recovery mission, a must read for the culprit and the innocent, a phenomenal and a well-crafted satire of some sort.

Really, what runs through your mind when you stumble into this book title, “Vagina Homogeneity”? Such curiosity lures you into grabbing a copy for yourself and your spouse. Perhaps, you should try a copy of it, because those who have got for themselves have coughed and strained their eyes to see if it’s really the title. 

The 1989 graduate of the University of Lagos, Akoka in banking and finance is also the author of Market Place Creed. The Goldman Sachs scholar is very passionate about women empowerment and agriculture.