I remember a girl in secondary school. She told us a story in class. She said her mother used to check her virginity every week. One time, her mother suspected she had broken it because she saw her with a boy after school. She stripped her naked, put pepper on her finger, and inserted it inside her.
This is the abuse so many people went through in their homes. Behind closed doors. Hidden by culture. Excused as "home training." Many Nigerian parents or caregivers are undiagnosed narcissists, borderline psychopaths.
Many Nigerians are dysfunctional today because their parents abused them and stripped them of their dignity. They do not even have the courage to admit it. They say "my parents tried their best" while still flinching at loud noises. They say "I turned out fine" while battling anxiety, depression, or rage they cannot explain.
People are walking around with unhealed wounds. We are repeating the same cycles with our own children. We are calling abuse "culture" and trauma "character."
Because what do you mean your mother used a razor blade to cut your feet, and put pepper inside because you played outside for too long?
What do you mean your mummy used hot iron to burn your skin because you came 2nd in class instead of 1st?
Crazy