#SlutWalkLagos! La Femme Foundation partners with other Organizations to Stand against Rape & Domestic Violence Culture in Nigeria

In the year 2017 girls and women are still faced with grave injustices in society. We understand that culture must be upheld and maintained, but it must also evolve over time. We are the creators of culture and therefore should not be constrained by what is deemed culture.

Due to the stigma surrounding domestic and sexual violence in Nigeria there is a rigid culture of silence on the matter. As a result of this it is difficult to collate and establish exact statistics. There is also not much research on such a significant public health issue, arguably due to fear and resistance.

However, times are changing, women are opening their wounds for the nation and world to see. Sharing the distress experienced in their martial homes as well as public life. La Femme Foundation is partnering with other organisations across the nation to stand against rape and domestic violence culture in Nigeria.

It is an epidemic plaguing our nation, infecting our male and female children psychologically and morally.  From the propagating of gendered roles and abuse in Nigerian arts industry, to the mistreatment of females in the educational sector. We aim to move this conversation to the forefront. What Does Being Female In Nigeria Mean?

As part of our campaign we visited various secondary schools enquiring what they believe its means to be a female in Nigeria #BEINGFEMALEINNIGERIA. Adults across the nation are also participating via social media, including various celebrities and social influencers. We intend to create a documentary from the footage we have gathered. That which precedes it will be the SLUTWALKLAGOS (Strong Ladies United).

La Femme Foundation with support from STERN Lagos and other organisations will be walking alongside young men and women from various walks of life. We will have in attendance an array of people from creatives to corporate workers. Walking against the epidemic of violence and slut shaming of women. We aim to create a discourse amongst the youth by taking a provocative stance, encouraging those whom have been affected or relate to the cause to speak up and enlighten others. We must begin to discuss physical violence in Nigeria, it is a starting point in the fight for equality for both genders.

After the walk, a showcase will be held in Lekki. A line up of artists and poets who want to express their support through their art will perform.  La Femme intends to gather as many female artists as possible, however there will be men included in the line-up. We believe in equal opportunity. The theme will be Amber Rose Slut Walk. Nigeria’s best alternative, soul, funk and groove artists will be there. So far the line up consists of Maka, Michstraaw, Deena Ade, Idris King to name a few.

We ask for support in any way possible, sponsorship, provision of materials needed such as banners, flyers, water, glucose etc. All profits made from the event will be used to buy books for an all-girls school that is yet to chosen.

The history of SLUT WALK INTERNATIONAL is very rich and we intend to honour that. It has been held in various countries across the world such as Brazil, Canada, Germany, North America to name a few. Wear black, tie your gele, express yourself, walk with us, sing with us, buy merchandise in support of victims and survivors as we being to create a new era of humanism in our very own country.

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