Adokiye Kyrian
A rising Nigerian pop star created a social media maelstrom yesterday when she announced that she would offer her virginity up to the Islamist group Boko Haram for the safe return of the 300 girls they captured over two months ago. “I wish I could offer myself in exchange” said 23 year-old Adokiye Kyrian to Nigerian news outlet Vanguard. And we are completely depressed by the whole thing.
The girls she’s referring to are, of course, the nearly 300 Nigerian girls who were kidnapped from the town of Chiobok by rebels from the extremist group Boko Haram in April. The act drew international attention and exploded into the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, prompting even the likes of Michelle Obama to get involved. Based on horrifying reports from the few who have managed to escape, the kidnapped Chibok girls are believed to be subjected to mass rapes. And despite the enormity of the atrocity and the engagement of the international community, the majority of the girls have yet to be safely returned home.
In recent weeks, the Western campaign to get the girls back has seemingly petered out. According to Adokiye, though, the girls are still very much on her mind:
This is 11pm in the night and do you know what I am thinking about? Those little girls, where they are and what could be happening to them. It is just unfair. They are too young. I wish I could offer myself in exchange. They are between 12- and 15-year-old girls for Christ’s sake. I am older and more experienced.
The singer, who is also an Imo State Peace Ambassador for the UN, is also quoted in the Vanguard article (titled "Let Boko Haram Deflower Me and Release Chibok Girls—Adokiye") as saying: “Even if 10 to 12 men have to take me every night, I don’t care. Just release these girls and let them go back to their parents.”
Naturally, the responses to this offer have ranged wildly—from those claiming it’s all a part of a publicity stunt for the rising-star singer to those who admire her bravery and say they will join her. Then, of course, there is the inevitable slut shaming from the darkest corners of the interwebs claiming the singer secretly “wants it” 10-12 times a night.
Misogyny Rears Its Ugly Head
In fact, the Vanguard article, which published the singer’s offer, describes Adokiye as “looking hot and rather willing with her liberated personality.” I’m sorry, but what? Not only is the article sexualizing the singer when she is discussing offering herself up for repeated mass rape but it’s also insinuating that it wouldn’t even be rape because you’ve seen her picture, so the girl is willing.
And that’s just scratching the surface of what’s problematic and deeply depressing about the whole matter. The human rights atrocity at hand is defined by ultimate male objectification and ownership of the female body—the kidnapping and rape of girls as a tool of war. And Adokiye’s response? To offer up her own body as a means of intervening, thus illuminating the abysmal fact that a women’s agency and power are often tied up in her looks and sexuality.
Not, to be very clear, that this is even a matter of sexuality. It’s a matter of rape—which has everything to do with violence and nothing at all to do with sexuality. And yet, regardless of intent—whether publicity stunt or altruism—a woman has offered herself up for some of the worst violence a person can experience, and that seems both to a.) not raise any red flags and b.) signal open season for mocking and trivializing.
The media’s response has been, shall we say, flippant. To take from just one of many similar pieces, according to the Global Post, we have to just get real: “Let's face it: when it comes to Boko Haram extreme measures are needed.” Ha! Get it? Extreme measures! Because, “I mean, it's not like #bringbackourgirls is working.” Also hilarious! An activism campaign hasn’t panned out yet so yeah, let’s totally sign up for another person getting raped repeatedly on a daily basis because that’s definitely a solution for rectifying an abject humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile as the media slut-shames, sexualizes and snarks its way through coverage of a young Nigerian pop singer’s devastating offer to subject herself to near-continuous rape, 60 more women and girls were captured this week. Per the Washington Post: “Boko Haram Suspected of Kidnapping More Women. Does Anyone Care?” Given the way we’ve responded to Adokiye’s offer, we really have to wonder.
Image: Instagram
