WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF ENCOURAGING RAPE!

Early this year, Nigerians experienced the first drama on our social scene, which I have termed the Basketmouthgate scandal, when Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth, goofed by posting a rather insensitive joke online. Basketmouth had in the post suggested that it was okay to rape a black girl after some dates, especially after spending heavily on her. But in an unexpected twist, Nigerians have strongly condemned the joke. While the overwhelming outcry against the offensive joke is commendable, I think Baskethmouth is not to blame on this issue. Yes, he is not to blame. All of us are to blame.

For a long time, we have condoned comedians in Nigeria making vulgar, obscene and totally inappropriate jokes. On many occasions, we laughed at their jokes about the female anatomy, especially their breasts and buttocks.

What we didn’t know was that we were encouraging them to be bolder and more adventurous with their jokes. We were sowing the wind and now that we are reaping the whirlwind, we are shouting. Why are we shouting? We egged them on. We cheered them. We paid them to ‘yab’ us. Then, we saw nothing wrong in what they were doing. After all, we were only catching fun and it didn’t matter if they said anything that was gross. Why are we now up in arms when an ‘ambassador’ has shown that carrying the tag of a celebrity does not make you a savant?

Basketmouth’s faux pas is only a reflection of our society. He has succeeded in exposing our underbelly. For a long time in our society, we have turned blind eyes and deaf ears to the plight of abused women; and it is not just women. We have not demonstrated the right response to cases of abuse of any kind, except on a few occasions. Recently, some women were sodomised in Lagos and the video was posted on a social media site for all to see. These women were accused of stealing pepper and it was decided that the judgment to be meted out on them was that ground pepper should be poured into their private parts. HABA! Some people also inserted sticks into their private parts and Nigerians did not cry out until Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (God bless the woman) of Women Arise led some other people to ask for investigation into the matter. I am sure the Baskemouthgate scandal got more coverage and publicity than the sodomy case. Why then are we blaming him for joking about rape?

Haven’t we come up with various justifications for rape? Do we not almost always blame the lady? Do we not ask why she went into the same room with a guy? Do we not say there is no free lunch anywhere, so why should a guy be spending on a lady and not get anything in return? Is that kind of warped mentality not what informed Basketmouth’s joke? How many times have we insisted that justice be dispensed in a rape case? How did the case of that traditional ruler who was accused of raping a youth corps member end? What has happened concerning the gang rape of a lady by five men from the Abia State University some years ago, the video of which was also posted online? Now in Nigeria, rape cases are reported almost on a daily basis and we do not hear of the rapists being punished, when sentencing has been pronounced in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. So why are we blaming Basketmouth for ‘merely’ joking about rape?

Why will he not go on air, even after apologising for his gaffe, to say that jokes should have no limit, since, like many of us, he has no sense of propriety and appropriateness? Why will he not make half-hearted apologies? 

But thank God Nigerians rose up this time. I believe Nigerians should be commended for letting Basketmouth know that certain societal standards are expected from people and even celebrities, who nowadays wield enormous influence through social media. He has been made to understand that ambassadors whether of countries, products or brands are expected to uphold certain societal conventions.

Even if he has failed to realise the foolishness of his actions, Nigerians have united to condemn his thoughtlessness and if he has the good sense to make amends, it will be good for him. If not, he will find himself on downward slope into the abyss of ignominy and irrelevance. Other comedians, musicians and film producers should also take note!

Thank you, Nigerians for standing up against rape.