A few years ago, a Briton packed his bags with amazing haste, gathered his family and hurried out of England into self-exile. Asked to explain what informed his sudden decision, the man minced no words: Twenty years before he was born, homosexuals and lesbians were abhorred and isolated by society, and their reprehensible preoccupation   viewed as serious criminal offence that attracted stiff penalties; twenty years after he was born, these perverts began, after some years of being ‘mildly’ tolerated, to gradually garner wider acceptance in decent society; and now, another twenty years have just passed, and they have been formally acknowledged and their abominable act legalized! Now he does not want to take any chances, you know. So, he had to escape immediately before they make it compulsory for every Briton! 

Unfortunately for this hapless victim of an immorally advanced culture, there is no place to hide, not even  ‘pure’ Africa, which we hitherto thought was immune to the ruinous contaminations of Western moral irresponsibility. Indeed, the so-called Western civilization is presently steeped in very serious crises, and while the few in that society who still retain some vestiges of their morals are highly worried, and hoping they could find a way out of the great moral chasm into which they had willingly sunk themselves because of a very silly interpretation they had given to ‘freedom’ some years ago, poor Africans, ever vindicating a self-destructive knack for imitating bad models so well, have since found ennobling paradigms in the most slimy depth of Western ‘civilized’ rot.

 It is just a pity, really. The decay has become so widespread and pervasive, and achieved such glamour, pomp and overwhelming financial backbone, that even people who ought to be more discerning are now falling over themselves to be seen neck-deep in the nauseating pastime of beatifying and celebrating outright obscenity. Indeed, being rotten to the core, and making a big show of it, has become a status symbol, and, sometimes, an easy route to sudden wealth and cheap comfort, so much so that those who insist on remaining outside the band-wagon of the depraved are regarded as ‘uncivilized’ and ‘pre-modern.’ That’s where we are, dear reader, and the most pitiable victims are underage girls, who lack the discernment to know the exact implication of what they are being lured into.

A couple of years ago, a young, undiscerning teenager from Rivers State (and her naïve parents) fell to the most seductive and overwhelming promises of good life, easy money and cheap fame by two smart brothers in Lagos who earn a living by feasting the eyes of shameless voyeurs with the tender flesh of mostly innocent girls. This girl had joined other girls to flaunt the delicate parts of her body before a large audience and battery of cameramen, to service the lust and depraved taste of irremediably prurient men and even women. The event is usually an elaborate one, with lights, pomp, cheers, elite audience and countless pressmen, in a highbrow banquet hall. Now, after the impressively packaged, but empty, unedifying razzmatazz, the girl was told before the cheering audience and flashing cameras that she was the “Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria.” A  salary of N1miilion was given to her for that year. Gifts were showered on her by corporate organizations. Hare-brained analysts and columnists dubbed her a “role model” and asked other girls to emulate her, and be inspired by her “success story.”

Yet, the two, unyielding businessmen brothers were not through with her. They put her in a plane, and jetted out of the country. They told her things that swelled her head, and made her think Bill Gates was miles behind her. After several other carnivals of shame, and further flaunting of her bare flesh and tender honour before audiences abroad, one woman called Julia Molley put a useless crown on her head and told her before an even larger audience that she had become “Miss World” (whatever that means). And a depraved section of the world applauded. Even respected columnist, Pini Jason, crowed   that the “the world (was now) at her feet”! And because of the way the two smart brothers were able to seduce the Nigerian government into almost elevating what was otherwise a private business concern into a national carnival, Ms. Molley, another smart business person, decided to bring her Miss World obscenity to Nigeria the very next year. It was, however, tragically aborted.  You know the rest.

Of course, I am talking about Miss Agbani Darego, who at a fashion show in Lagos last week, demonstrated eloquently to a shocked nation, the extent of rot her handlers have achieved in her. I must, however, apologize for dragging low characters like Agbani and those that set her on the path of perdition into this column. Indeed, fellows like that and the reprehensible trade they are engaged in are very far beneath the dignity of the serious discourse we engage in here regularly. But, I am moved by concern and pity, for this hapless girl, and some other unsuspecting girls who may be lured into this same trap tomorrow with tantalizing promises, and parents who think the easiest way out of poverty is to hand  their tender daughters over to soulless flesh-flaunters to parade before every willing eye. 

At the time Agbani was conscripted into this folly, she was studying Computer Science at the University of Port Harcourt (my alma mater). But the pomp and noise of her crown   became so overwhelming that she felt she had no more need of the degree. After all, Oluchi Onwuagba, a former bread seller at the Ayilara area of Ojuelegba here was already “making it big” in the world of fashion and modeling, so why bother with academics? That was in 2001. What it means then is that, by now, Agbani should have been a graduate of Computer Science, and a hotcake to employers of labour in this infotech age. But, no, the lure of lucre was so overpowering! Moreover, the two consummate, shrewd, businessmen brothers, unyielding goal-getters, could not let her be.    They used every opportunity to promote and showcase her as, perhaps, the wisest, most successful girl in Nigeria, and the best thing that had happened to the country in the recent past. Of course, they needed  to promote her  and her meaningless crown, so that their business can flourish. Unfortunately, the press also fell for this and lent a helping hand in this promotion of shame.

After one year, Agbani’s fortunes began to take a dip. The crowd around her began to thin out too. She suddenly found herself alone, used and dumped. A year or two later,  there was a rumour in media circles that because the modeling contracts were not coming, she had hired herself  out as a baby-sitter somewhere in Europe. I immediately asked a friend in London to help me investigate this story. Although he could not say exactly where Agbani was at that time, he nevertheless stated that the story could not possibly be true. Later on, there was another report that things had become so tough for Agbani in Europe. In fact, she was so frustrated that she had to send a frantic message to an acquaintance in South Africa, who came to her rescue and helped ferry her over to Mandela’s land. She was said to have resolved to lie low, accept lowly jobs that ordinarily should be beneath her as Miss World 2001, and avoid publicity until things improved. I do not know how well she had done for herself since then. In fact, I had practically forgotten about her, until last week, when a sickening photograph of hers appeared in the weekend edition of the Independent Newspaper. She had come to Lagos to catwalk, and before an audience that ogled at her, and camera lenses that flashed unceasingly, she bared the whole of her slightly drooping breasts to every eye that could see.

As I saw this photograph, I was filled with disgust and pity for this wickedly misled girl. What kind of desperation would lead this little girl into this kind of madness? And why would some men be so wicked and heartless to exploit the stupidity and desperation of a young girl to make her bare the pride of her womanhood to the world? What else will Agbani Darego bare as life becomes tougher and tougher in the days and months to come for this cruelly misled university dropout? What kind of dress was that, by the way? Can the designer say in all sincerity that he would get customers for a dress like that which was opened in such way that the wearer’s entire breasts are left starkly bare, or was it specially designed so he could entertain his guests with a generous dish of Agbani’s breasts? But has Agbani become so brainless and penniless that she would agree to flaunt her bare breasts to the world? Are breasts no longer part of a woman’s “private parts”? Is this shameless exhibitionism and pornography worth any price? Indeed, even on a prostitute, the ill-fitting outfit Agbani wore in that photograph would still be considered indecent. In fact, no prostitute would dare to walk even the most notorious red-light districts in such over-revealing attire.   

Time has come for Nigerians to rouse themselves from moral slumber, isolate and show their fiercest contempt for these two usually well-dressed, posh-talking, wealthy   brothers, and all other people and groups involved in this reprehensible trade of flesh-flaunting. By the way, where are those female activists always campaigning for the preservation of the dignity of women? What is their response to this unambiguous attack on womanhood? Maybe, also, we should consider boycotting the products of companies that sponsor these obscene shows. There is poverty in the land, I agree, but must we descend to the dirtiest depths to make ends meet?  Only recently, I switched on my TV set and stumbled on a bunch very scantily dressed girls in a swimming pool, whom I understand, were contestants for the so-called “Most Beautiful In Nigeria” crown. One very fair man was with them in the pool, with his long camera, and was asking the girls to twist their bodies in such a way that their breasts were spilling out of their very tiny bras, and he was merrily shooting. What are they going to do with those photographs?

Agbani has become Nigeria’s ambassador of shame. She needs to be rescued before greater desperation drives her into more heinous acts. Somebody should, also, please walk across to her parents and talk some sense into them. I am sure her admission at Unique UNIPORT is still valid. She should retrace her steps before it is too late.

All these make one wonder aloud at the depreciating value of the female body in our society these days. Our ladies are just too desperate to bare it all for anyone once cash is flowing. Sometimes, it could happen in the most sickening and ridiculous way. For instance, a street boy somewhere in the alleyways of Ajegunle wakes up one morning and jumbles up some noise, sound and gibberish and calls it music.  And as he goes to shoot his  “musical video,” all he would need for countless big, fine, educated and polished girls to struggle to dance for him is just to flash some money. Once he  pays the right amount, he may decide that the girl should be scantily dressed, and it is left for him to  touch wherever he likes in the course of the dance! Never mind that the boy’s armpits may be stinking like Lagos gutters, that his breath emitted repelling scent, and that his unwashed undies now wet with abundant, slimy sweat, induced nausea. Don’t ask me what happens each time he opens his mouth to sing.

Indeed, anybody with money to spare today can make women do whatever he wishes. Just say you are organizing a reality show, and that the dress code for all housemates, male and female, is that every chest must be left totally bare before the cameras! I can assure you that even some parents would come begging to have their daughters enlisted, so long as the pay, at the end of the day, promises to be good. That is where we are, dear reader. Poverty, being religiously created by a totally wayward and heartless government in Nigeria, has destroyed the moral fibre of our people and reduced our girls to mere playthings in the hands of prurient millionaires. It is just a pity.

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Ejinkeonye, a Columnist and Member, Editorial Board of Independent Newsapapers (www.independentng.com ), Lagos, could be reached with

scruples2006@yahoo.com 

Robot  Villager

# 1 A few years ago, a Briton packed his bags with amazing haste, gathered his family...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 10.05.2006 17:42

WaleAkin  Villager

# 2 I cant really figure out what this writer is ranting about. We dont have to dwell on hearsays in this jet age, we all need to substantiate our points with proofs instead of writing and posting balderdash for all read. Agbani Darego baring of naked breast shouldnt be a discourse on a forum like this. Cheers, WaleAkin Posted by WaleAkin| 10.05.2006 18:28

Onos  Villager

# 3 ha ha ha ha haaa!!! LOL Ejinkeonye, make you coolu temper now. Haba! Your entire article was fashioned around your moral viewpoint - not necessarily those of the majority of neo-Nigerians. What it means then is that, by now, Agbani should have been a graduate of Computer Science, and a hotcake to employers of labour in this infotech age. But, no, the lure of lucre was so overpowering! Its also possible she could have graduated and joined the growing league of unemployed (or unemployable) Nigerians. Besides, that statement of yours is oxymoronic. It doesn't matter how many degrees and PhDs you acquire, na work and money you go still take am find. Its all about the Benjamin and the end justify the means, abi no be so? Lets see, as a computer science graduate in Nigeria, her income if averaged over the span of 40 years will be lower than her ANNUAL income if she were to become a successful international model. Winning Miss World opened up that once in a lifetime opportunity and she took the chance. There's nothing wrong with that decision - regardless of the fact that she hasn't made it big........... yet. Onos Posted by Onos| 10.05.2006 19:03

Auspicious  Villager

# 4 While I am not particularly endorsing the author's take on the issue he addressed, I personally don't see anything wrong with the writer's choice of topic. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but it is my belief that this medium is a 'village square' for analysis and discussions on socio-political issues that affect Nigeria and Nigerians at home and elsewhere. Yes, the author addressed the issue of the former world beauty pagent baring her naked breast to the world but it is simplistic to narrow his article down to that alone. His article is basically about people and their values with Ms Darego as a point of reference. Posted by Auspicious| 10.05.2006 20:18

Onos  Villager

# 5 She had come to Lagos to catwalk, and before an audience that ogled at her, and camera lenses that flashed unceasingly, she bared the whole of her slightly dropping breasts to every eye that could see. Ejinkeonye: Did she actually bared her titties (cleavage, nipples and all the works) or was that statement an exageration? Agbani is almost flat-chested ...... err umm, unless she's got some implants lately. Pls post the picture and let the readers decide. ......by two smart brothers in Lagos who earn a living by feasting the eyes of shameless voyeurs with the tender flesh of mostly innocent girls. Since you deemed it necessary to reveal Agbani's identity in your article, why were you being secretive about the names of the Bruce's brothers? What are you afraid of, eh Ejinkeonye? Multimillion Naira libel suit against your employer? Posted by Onos| 10.05.2006 21:04

emj  Villager

# 6 If the bruce brothers found and made it possible for Agbani Darego to find a foothold in modelling through her winning the Most Beautiful girl paegent-----------Miss world, will they still need to babysit her through life. We watch the American Next top Model every week, every model knows that they have to do what their employers want or u are out. From the writers point of view, she was used and dumped, but agbani is no longer a small girl, she ought to know how to manage her life, she can go back to school where ever she is located, and at the same time continue with her career.:eek: Her parents if they are still alive are meant to help fashion her path in life, not just sit back and watch her waste away. I thought that she would have made it big by now. She probably didn't have a mentor or a good role model. Bareing of chest will be frowned at in Nigeria, whilst nobody take exception to it in most part of the developed world. Some models are made to wear transparent outfits on the catwalk, some have their boobs hanging out. U can see that some guys are even asking that u post the picture here for them to decide:rolleyes: there tongue is hanging out already like my friend's shuwawa:p Posted by emj| 10.05.2006 21:33

Alake  Villager

# 7 If what you said about Agbani is true ( struggling to make ends meet after being used and dumped). I think she should pull herself together wherever she is located and go back to school to complete her education. She is still young and can still put things back in shape before it is too late. Posted by Alake| 10.05.2006 21:41

Introspector

# 8 I neither agree with censorship, nor am I as conservative as the author of this article. He however has raised an issue that we are still in denial about, which is how cheaply our women sell themselves. I singularly would add rampant prostitution plus the disappearance of discipline and self-control among Nigerian men to the problem. People are pooh-poohing her not completing her degree and all the money she has made. For this formerly conservative girl who wore a 1930's style one-piece for the Ms Universe where she got knocked out, I suspect that she might be desperate, and possibly low on finances. Money don finish kpaa, and she has no job skill or even paper qualification. How many Ms Worlds or Universe have become successful models, ever? The 15 minutes of fame is over hon, build a career even if it means doing ads for local companies and hair care products. Oh yes, and take your skinny butt back to school, any school, catering school, plumbing school, Ecole Polytechnique, GO AND LEARN A PROFESSION OUTSIDE LOOKING CUTE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. This leads to what bothered me when I thought about this article, how cheap it is to get women to debase themselves. How much could a bunch of no-tier designers afford to pay her? I doubt these pics will make even SA Vogue. What was the whole point? Shock value? Yes, her breasts are shockingly droopy for a young lady of her age. The funny thing is that women from abroad always wonder why Nigerian men at home come on so strong and are so disrespectful when approaching women. It took me one day with a particularly randy "big boy" to see why. Young, old, married, single, in pairs, in groups for you to pick your own team, all for a relatively low price. When he got tired he started telling them he had just sent out for petty cash. No problem "I'll come back tomorrow", "remember next time", who says there is no system of credit in Nigeria. Zero interest, adjustable term credit. Agbani, you too? You short-changed yourself, change your publicity and management team they are yo-yos. Don't sell your soul for one wrap of Guguru and Epa(Popcorn and Peanuts). You know what your breasts look like, did you ever think it was a good idea to air them out for some rinky-dink job? Posted by Introspector| 10.05.2006 23:27

Ade  Villager

# 9 The article above isn't objective. It is extremely sentimental, by trying to appeal to the moral inclinations of the readers in a very malicious manner. I am often suspicious of the average columnist in a Nigerian daily. It's very likely that they don't have a sound grasp of issues or personality they are writing on. I suspects that the writer isn't an insider in the "world of fashions, models and ...." , and he is not in the position to present the real picture of happenings as it relates to the person(s) in question. Analysis of the first three paragraph of the article shows what this is all about. Ladies like Agbani, and what they represents personify the pressure that "morally upright" societies (pure Africa, as he stated) are facing under the "seige" of a morally corrupt West. Africa may not be as morally corrupt as the West, but we are not as pure as you want us to think. How did Agbani shocked the nation? (Paragraph six, line 2) ..... was she in the news in the print or news media the day after her appearance at the fashion show as you implied? Miss Darego is just a tool you are using to make your points. But you failed to do a good job of it. From you to us, Miss Darego is this innocent teenage daughter of naive parents that was "conned" by two business savvy brothers. So, the best place to find innocent teens who don't have a clue about what they want in life is in a Nigerian University, especially in the Port-Harcourt (of all places?). How gullible would a average Nigerian be to believe this! If the write is working for a neo-conservative daily that is interested in checking the decadence of our societal values due to the incursions of foreign influences (which I honestly support), then he need to do a better job in the future. You don't have to "drag" someone so low to make your point. I don't care whether Miss Agbani worked as a Baby sitter in Europe, especially when these are based on hearsay (..."I asked a friend to investigate this for me" .....) .... Please, learn to do a better job or leave this trade! Posted by Ade| 10.05.2006 23:27

Ani  Villager

# 10 ..according to the reports of a weekly soft-sell magazine, Agbani's dress "accidentally" slipped. let's give her the benefit of doubt. i graduated from Uniport with a computer science degree.....believe me, i'd switch places with Agbani anytime!!!!( if there is anything like Mr.World) Posted by Ani| 11.05.2006 02:38

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