My view about women interpreted as anti-female – Taiwo Ajai-Lycett

Actress Taiwo Ajai-Lycett has stated that her belief that women are perspicacious (meaning they understand things quickly) and capable of saving society from itself has been misinterpreted as anti-female.

The 82-year-old said this in a recent Facebook post in response to a report that she made disparaging remarks about African women who wear wigs and human hair, describing them as having low self-esteem.

In an interview with Vanguard published on January 22, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett said that God has blessed African women with the best kind of hair of all races and wondered aloud why African women would rather go for human hair of less endowed races.

“We have been blessed with the best kind of hair that we can transform into any kind of looks we desire. We have to love ourselves as Africans and appreciate our God-given beauty. Our Africanness is what stands us out among all the races of the world. The African woman is beautiful in all ramifications. I believe women who go for wigs and human hair have low self-esteem. Their desire to look Western and foreign is a sign of low self-esteem,” she said.

The actress was, however, heavily criticised by many, especially women who asked her to “mind your business.”

While clearing the air on her statement, the movie veteran lamented the personal attacks on her, adding that the notion of “minding your own business” appears to be targeted at those who share a different opinion from others.

She wrote: “Paaga! I come in peace! Communication amongst people, and especially women, is of the essence. So thank you all. I was truly delighted to read all the interesting views and perspectives from the ladies and gentlemen. But sadly on display, were non-sequiturs, amazingly vicious vitriol, personal attacks, assumptions, false equivalencies, irrelevancies, and defensiveness – indicating an obvious narrow, or little knowledge or understanding of the issues being discussed…

“I am wary though of the stance that grown-ups, including adult women, cannot agree to disagree without vicious mauling of one another. Nor do I agree with the touted version here of “minding your own business”. This notion that we should all mind our own business, appears to be aimed at gagging anyone who may disagree with us from airing unpalatable facts about ourselves.

Speaking further, Ajai-Lycett said the notion is self-centered and lacks critical thinking and her view that women are especially perspicacious ( and could save the Society from itself, is interpreted as anti-female, and completely lost in vitriol.

“This view is not a good look and is not working for us as individuals or society. See where this ‘head in the sand’ principle, of only looking after No.1, of “Me, Myself and I”, has landed us in this country? It’s not pragmatic. It’s self-centred and lacks critical thinking, which is a handicap that will continue to doom us.

“However, my view that women are especially perspicacious, and could save the Society from itself, is interpreted as anti-female, and completely lost in vitriol. Let’s keep patiently listening to one another. Let’s talk to one another with courtesy and respect. And without undue rancour. Peace and Love. Always. Aluta continua. Dame Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, OON, FSONTA, FU3A,” she added.