SCARS : To Every African Woman.

“What is this nitori olorun?" You ask. You are tired of your hair, even the devil, the father of all liars knows that. You have downloaded videos on how best to rock your natural hair and have poured litres of coconut oil into your hair but the hair detests APC's change.

“Ahhh, shebi Omoni Oboli and Adesua are rocking their natural hair well. Why is my own different God?"

Your Chi looks down from Heaven but concentrates on His twenty four elders instead. He does not have time for your complains this Saturday afternoon.

You make up your mind angrily, you had to relax your hair that day. You cannot condone this rubbish  any longer.

You walked into the MANYA MANYA HAIR SALON two streets away. Did you walk? No, you ran. Your hairdresser insists that your natural hair is too weak so you will have to weave it for the next three months. There are many customers waiting to have their hair done so you will have to wait.

A middle aged woman comes in minutes later. She greets you and you respond. She likes to talk a lot but you are not bothered.

She pulls off her turban and you can't help but behold her long hair in all its lovely blackness and glory. You cannot help but wonder why your case is different. Why did your Chi give you an Iya Osogbo receding hairline?

You are not happy so you decide in a rush; you are going to cut the hair this time around. You go the barber's place and sit with a serious look. “Bye bye to radarada." You muse.

The barber is through with you but you cannot recognize the person staring back at you in the mirror. Is that really you with the oblong head? You cannot arrest the barber so you leave. You try to be confident with your hair for the next five weeks. You wear golden hoop earrings lest your head looks like a doughnut. You post pictures every weekend for the next few weeks with the #haironfleek #Ifeoma'scutlife hash tags.

Everything was going on well until you came across Zainab Balogun on Instagram. Your jaw fell and your brain froze instantly. Never have you seen a being rock the low cut so perfectly, with or without makeup.

You think God is partial. Why should your messenger at the office have more likes and followers on Instagram than you do?

“Her pictures are not even fine. I'm sure this gown is confirm okirika. See the big brows. See how her nude lipstick looks like pupu. Her lip balm is even fake."

You still couldn't over Zainab's ‘fineness'. You logged out of IG frustrated. You hate Zainab Balogun now.

Dear girlfriend, you will have monster pimples that will scare boys away. You would fail your Jamb exams and your friends will leave you behind. Your best friends would get married at the age of 25 years and all you would ever do is to be the single bridesmaid.

Dear African woman, your wounds will heal. You will have your ups and downs but never forget that life is not a bed of roses. You are amazing and beautiful! Those scars you see are beautiful! They are only imperfect perfections that will not kill you but make you stronger.

Agbonde Mojoyinoluwa.

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