Am I a proud woman?

I begin as a cheerful child chasing butterflies in her father’s compound,

an inquisitive child learning the language of the world.

Am I a proud woman?

After relatively long years of nurturing,

I become a daughter dedicated to the pride of her parents,

even with the threats of sexual proposals and faceless promises.

Am I a proud woman?

Sometimes, I do not become a sister

but all times…I become a friend to myself and others,

reinvesting my attention for others to select right life decisions

from the dilemmas of passion and social expectations.

Am I a proud woman?

I am as educated as the walk of time,

tí a bá kọ́ obìnrin ní ẹ̀kọ́, a ti kọ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún ènìyàn.

I do not just parade the house with my office hills,

my native intelligence is dearest to me,

if not for women, the tables would be under the chairs.

Am I a proud woman?

Just as an octopus multitasks with different arms,

I multitask!

I become a worthy wife and a dear daughter-in-law.

Saving my pride for countless “I am sorry”.

Saving the dance steps of my home

for the drum beats of my husband’s home.

Am I a proud woman?

In this shell, I become a mother,

being the closest confidant and philosopher of my children,

when our children want to wander wild,

I know the way to ring the caution bell.

Am I a proud woman?

Obìnrin tí ó bá jẹ́ olóòótọ́ ní ilé, yóò jẹ́ olóòótọ́ níta.

I am a teacher,

thousands taught me and I teach a country,

a country for free not only paying students.

Am I a proud woman?

I am an entrepreneur,

I am a tree that births a forest,

luck or work…I promote positive possibilities

when I listen to fertile but unloved ideas.

Am I a proud woman?

With all my prosperous transformations within the elastic shell

of childhood, motherhood, grannyhood, great grannyhood…

I am a philanthropist,

for I fill the gaps of wealth recreation in my society and beyond.

Am I a proud woman?

Today, I brag my gender in honour,

I am a proud woman,

yes, we are proud women.

Happy International Women’s Day!

© RASHIDAT OLAMIDAYO AJAKAYE

STRIDA… guiding you to striking confidence in academic and creative writing!

2026

The post Happy International Women’s Day. Ode: “AM I a Proud Woman?” appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

Godfatherism!

In the hearts of millions amongst just thousands,

humanity murdered the spirit and paraded the flesh,

commoners became re-incarnated spirits, youths…

flesh sped into the elite kingdom,

the tension of survival becoming legitimate,

where did Life go then?

Godfatherism!

It is simply the networking of loyalty,

it is obedience, cultivated with logical nurturing,

not wild trees, free-domesticad trees.

he is not a financial god,

he is a god of your peculiar meritocratic interest.

“Godfatherism” is “political loyalty” not slavery.

Godfatherism!

The masses breathed power into you,

why is your legitimacy being purchased?

Why mirror the public seat

as your privatised investment avenue?

Stop marginalising the citizenry by parent-actor dependency!

The soil knows how you escape intentionally-caused economic disaster.

Godfatherism!

I am the voice of the serpent-soaked soil,

we have the right to a calculated inquiry into power,

we know your meritocracy is false,

don’t wives learn on their jobs?

Hero-worshipping is lordship simply corrupted,

let’s be sane social participants!

Godfatherism!

It is high time ye reclaimed the sense of justice,

not all your associates are proud of you,

Bàbá nígbẹ̀jọ́!

Maìgàdà!

Nnàm-Ùkwú!

Give flesh and spirit some more of Life…

© RASHIDAT OLAMIDAYO AJAKAYE

STRIDA… guiding you to striking confidence in academic and creative writing!

2026

The post Protest Poetry: “Speak the Language of Success: Understanding Godfatherism” appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

Women are the enemies of Women!

As healthy as the roots of masquerade trees,

her vision arises mightily.

Behind her, a thousand billionaire women,

a penny is too expensive for another woman.

“I went within hell, why shouldn’t she?”

Women are the enemies of Women!

my eyes sat on my head from Lekki’s professional stress,

on Badore’s motorcycle, beside her, I sat and heard.

“Women that drive cars are wicked.”

“Not all of them, maybe some.” I retorted.

I could read just jealousy on her lips.

Women are the enemies of Women!

From a broken family, she grows

within the walls of trauma and regression, she prospers…

only to meet dispiriting attempts of intimidated women.

“Don’t you think she is overambitious?”

“I am not, you are the one in tight shoes…”

Women are the enemies of women!

Anike leads with healthy discipline and sane passion,

willing to impart with the spear of philanthropism,

selflessly managing the ‘coat of social harm’

“Why another project from our President, is she a man?”

Women prefer to be enslaved by a man than simply obeying the same sex.

Women are the enemies of Women!

I bought a dress she sew, my rear almost bear,

she leans in weighted thanks before me.

She whispers me as “indecent” to other skirts,

why whisper what you should warn?

why warn behind what you should not whisper?

Women are the enemies of Women?

Aggressive at the shine of mates,

Listen!

Let an elderly woman be dearest to your beauty, plans…

she would not measure your worthiness with her,

insane comparison cracks the mirrors of prospects.

© RASHIDAT OLAMIDAYO AJAKAYE

STRIDA… guiding you to striking confidence in academic and creative writing!

2026

The post Social Critique: “Women Are the Enemies of Women” appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

He married me before marriage,

in his house, I rest,

by his side, I rise to see the dawn,

like a newly married bride

at the dawn of her earliest and romantic moments.

He married me before marriage,

his car is always parked before my bungalow

as though he is a selfless driver.

Patiently, he waits as I power my birth-marked face

calmly as a snail’s movement.

He married me before marriage,

he rings me each second I am away,

he is concerned about what concerns me,

he treats me as his wife,

and loves me like his daughter.

He married me before marriage,

his heart beats each time

I place my right cheek on his chest.

His attention isn’t weak but observant enough

to philosophise the moods I hide or show.

He married me before marriage,

When thousands speak and he listens not,

he listens to my eyes and does my wishes.

Like root and fruit,

we are dear to each other.

© RASHIDAT OLAMIDAYO AJAKAYE

STRIDA…guiding you to striking confidence in academic and creative writing!

The post Romance: “He Married Me Before Marriage” appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.