Bruises IV: The Coversation

When I spoke to a gender-based Violence advocate

They told of poverty that causes this to aggravate

If only GBV victims could be financially independent,

Just maybe they won't stay in these relationships that are full of neglate

They told me of the crisis that's on rise and is taking violence with it to the skies,

They told me of the crown virus that has caused families to spend more time together

Is it not a good thing to always be together

Why increasing occurrence of battering, rape, mutilation, early marriages,

They told me of tradition that continues to elevate the situation

Causing many to stay in desperation,

Afraid of what society will label them if they act to change their situation

They tell you of religion being one proponents of this fashion of lifestyle,

Of it promoting hesitation from victims despite the pain

I had to talk to a Gender Based Violence Victim

I was so eager to find out

Why will you sit down there

Every day and permit, yourself to be treated less than an animal

But the last time we talked

You said you won't know where to start

Where to go

Who to turn to

Whom to rely on

I tell you go anywhere but for the grave

Start at nothing than die for nothing

Rely on no human on yourself

Turn to no one but look up to the creator

You can't let refusal to be self-reliant stifle you

You can't let your denial to work for yourself

Live your life be free of pain break you

It's not the crisis

It's not the virus

It's not the system

But it's you

For as you stay there you are not just a volunteer victim

You are an accomplice

When I spoke to a gender-based Violence perpetrator

Maybe its frustrations of my broken dreams

Maybe it's the alcohol

Maybe it's the ways she talks

May be its the way she walks

A sure say ma papa no be raise me fine

Ma woman na ma money

A go do as a like am

Nongsense,

You can’t own a human being

Money no fit buy human being

Papa and mama do thing wey dem be thing say correct

Thing wey you di so correct

Check am you sef sef

No good excuse no dey

Fo di do wrong thing sef

You fit do better