By Andrew Keili
FREETOWN, July 22 (232News) – One thing is for certain about Minister of Basic and Primary Education, Dr. Moinina David Sengeh – He does not shy away from getting embroiled in what he considers “a good fight” and taking a position. He has made his views quite clear on the issue of pregnant school girls and on the recent furore surrounding school girls twerking at the Saint Joseph’s Convent Secondary school, which was posted on social media. This has brought the crazy coolness of butt-jiggling to centre stage. As the storm heats up, some “bolheads” like me are still scratching wondering: What is this twerking?
The Wikipedia definition of twerking is perfect. “Twerking is a dance move that involves a person shaking their hips and bottom in a bouncy up and down motion causing it to shake, wobble, and jiggle.”
Now for a little bit of twerking trivia. Contrary to what the sudden popularity of twerking suggests, it’s not new. The dance was born in 1993 during DJ Jubilee’s reign as king of New Orleans’ “bounce” music—a form of hip hop that revolves around call and repeat chanting. DJ Jubilee dropped the work in his song 1993 classic “Do the Jubilee All.” In it he chanted: “twerk baby, twerk baby, twerk, twerk, twerk," and unknowingly gave birth to a new dance phenomenon.
Part of the reason it’s taking off is its sheer simplicity. Someone describes it as “endlessly entertaining, bizarrely addicting—and might even be the ticket to losing weight”.
Purists came down hard on the twerking students, condemning the action and insinuating they had brought shame on themselves and the school. Some called for their expulsion of suspension. But Minister Sengeh weighed in: “There are certain things I believe in with my core- one of them is Freedom and the other is Education for all. Girls must be girls. Children must be children. Do not talk about children’s body parts. Do not sexualize the play of children. Do not make a big deal out of children dancing and yes twerking in school (an all-girls school, in their classroom, on their lunch break).” He praised the school authorities-“I am tremendously proud of the leadership of St Joseph’s Convent. They called the girls, they engaged them in counselling. They also called the parents. Those girls are proudly in their final year of school and we wish them good luck in their exams. It is sad they’ve been subjected to so much online bullying.”
The arguments over social media and the main press have been emotive on both sides.
A friend of mine wrote- “St Joseph’s Convent is an all-girls school with a Catholic ethos, which I am sure does not include dirty dancing in the school compound. For a catholic school, one might have thought that they should have been singing either "Hail, Redeemer, King divine" or "I Danced in the Morning". This is totally inappropriate in the school setting.” Some critics have accused the Minister of trying to impose western ideas on our culture and tradition using education. Another said-“Most, if not, every school considers that when their students wear their uniform, they are representing the school… whether that is in school itself, or when they are walking down a public street, or even on public transport. What they did was clearly wrong and not respectful. Overtly sexual actions in a school setting should not be encouraged.”
But the girls have their supporters. Someone has asked- “What reputational damage it could have? Why the fear of African female bodies- and the shaking of bums- girls doing their things amongst themselves?”. Another remarked-“The life of a student cannot be defined by one moment. Brilliant and serious kids could also twerk.”
A survey carried out by Sierra Eye on whether school children who engage in an overtly sexual dance should be expelled reveals that 76% do not think so. Only 14% said “yes”. with 11 % undecided.
It would seem more people back the Minister’s position. The Minister’s condemnation of others in this saga are worth noting- “It brings a few things to my attention- how we create and share digital content. Did those girls consent on sharing their videos? When you share and make sexual innuendos, do you know you are contributing to the gender-based violence?
Imagine you advocate for a girl who has spent 12 years in school to get expelled for twerking in school 1 month before her exam… what did you dream last night to have so much hate in you for children?” “
Ah, well, the debate still goes on and has even veered off towards local cultural issues and accusations of hypocrisy by some adults.
Someone wrote- “I have even seen a few corpulent madams, who have no business shaking their ample buttocks, heave it up at parties, putting the kids to shame. Are we Saloneans now a nation of prudes? So let the lil ladies twerk…. and let the cyber world gawk. The world will still rotate and revolve tomorrow. Twerking is now just the way girls dance and have fun.”
Another asks: ”How many people can honestly say they didn’t experiment and play at school? It’s harmless fun and doesn’t affect their education. Some dances are suggestive but do not reveal anything about character…Every Sampa I have ever seen, male or female, Mende or Themne…they all gyrate or twerk. It’s just "white" ignorance to think this is wrong.
I will resist weighing in on the argument but would nevertheless make a few observations. I talked to a female school proprietor (name withheld for the sake of marital bliss) who says she does not see anything wrong with girls expressing themselves in harmless fun. “I run a cultural group of dancers in my school, with boys and girls taught to dance, donning raffias and other native dance attire at school functions.” She was quick to add however- “They gyrate like native dancers to drum beating and “shegures” but they are always well covered with “awareness” pants and top coverings.”
Someone I spoke to has accused some old timers of hypocrisy: “How many of them did not break bounds when they were in Boarding school? How many of them did not make an effigy out of a pillow and cover it with a blanket to give the impression there was someone on the bed and then escape at night to go to nightclubs. Even ex “Jamba” smokers (and some still smoke!) are condemning these girls. Mek den lef di pikin den ya! A tire sef.”
It is strange that sometimes, the idea of perversion in our culture is in the eye of the beholder. When driving or walking near rivers and streams, one cannot help but notice scantily clad women with uncovered breasts bathing, washing clothes or fishing-but these are considered normal. A perverted foreigner would probably salivate at such a sight. Many of our cultural dances involve excessive gyration and squatting and can be construed as sexually suggestive by the beholder. This includes “Botivangay” and “Gumbe”. Bondo girls dance bare breasted and are sometimes scantily clad. It would seem that the sexual provocation depends on the beholder. In Mende culture there are people (some may say perverted) given the name as “Saday Buakei” when they are caught spying on Bondo activities. The spying can be out of curiosity to see what the women get up to or out of sexual perversion. The name sticks as a badge of shame to these ‘peeping Toms”.
Speaking about misunderstanding of other people’s cultures, I will relate the story of an old lawyer of fame in this country who told me about his experiences with wearing his native gown in the 60s in the UK. He wore his “Bobani” one day and on going down the street, his neighbour’s son ran after him shouting-“Mummy, Mummy, look at this man wearing a pyjamas!” Much to the mum’s embarrassment. In his own mind the little boy saw a grown up man wearing pyjamas on the streets of London during the day and not an African gown. Later a long lasting friendship ensued with the little inquisitor. What one might see as a harmless social or cultural norm of no significance might be viewed in carnal terms by the pervert.
But wait a minute, my people, my people! I forgot to ask why we have had no comments from the St, Joseph’s Convent Old Girls Association. Indeed, silence is golden. I have a lot of friends from that noble institution in high places -Mayors, Judges, Professors, Doctors- all professions. I am dying to ask them about their views on this issue-To twerk or not to twerk? (Please pv me or a go call name!). And just in case I hear any AWOGA or MGHS alumnus chuckle, my advice would be simple- Remove the speck from your own eye first!
To twerk or not to twerk, that is the question. Ponder my thoughts.
