What is the standard for normal? Have you ever asked that question? If you have, then you’ll know that there are many definitions and standards for what is considered normal. This is because there exist thousands of communities and societies, hundreds of states, over two dozen regions, and seven continents. For example, the standard for normal in Nigeria is different from that in South Africa, which differs from the standard in Indonesia, which in turn differs from that in Colombia. So, it is only natural that the definition of ‘normal’ varies from place to place.
However, in recent times, the concept of ‘normal’ across different regions has come under attack. The unique standards of normalcy in various societies are being replaced by those predominant in Western nations. As a result, the ‘normal’ in non-Western societies is increasingly being viewed as ‘abnormal.’
Take Nigeria, for instance. Divorce, which was once considered a shameful act and an abnormality in a typical Nigerian marriage, has now become an accepted part of Nigerian society, it has become the norm.
That is not all. Another abnormality that has now been granted the status of normality in Nigerian society, one that I believe is due to Western influence, is the prevalence of the baby mama/baby daddy phenomenon. Some 20 years ago, Nigerians would have hidden in shame at the thought of having a child outside of marriage. But now, the sheer frequency of it has desensitized people to the fact that, according to virtually all Nigerian cultures, traditions, customs, and beliefs, it is not normal to have a child without being married. This is a foreign idea that seems to have taken root in contemporary Nigerian society.
And those are just two examples of former abnormalities that have now been normalized. Another major issue currently pushing for acceptance in Nigeria is the set of ideas and activities associated with the pro-choice movement. This movement, which originates in the Western world, is attempting to establish itself in Nigeria, thereby becoming the ‘new normal.’
Any well-informed person reading this piece will be familiar with the various movements that fall under the pro-choice umbrella. However, for the sake of clarity, I wish to state that not all aspects of the pro-choice movement are abnormal. Women’s empowerment and upliftment, for example, are essential and commendable. However, in the Nigerian context, the aspect of the pro-choice movement that is considered abnormal includes advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and the push for the legalization of abortion outside of extreme cases—such as when the pregnancy results from incest or rape or when it poses a direct threat to the mother’s life.
These are abnormalities in Nigeria that have found their way across the Atlantic onto our shores, seeking to rebrand themselves as normal. The nations from which these abnormalities (or normality, if you are a Westerner) originate continue to impose their own standards of normalcy onto those of us who still view these things as strange. When we refuse to accept them, we are accused of living in the past.
To them, I say: “…there exist thousands of communities and societies, hundreds of states, over two dozen regions, and seven continents… so it is only normal that the standard of ‘normal’ would vary from place to place.”
We know that the Nigerian standard of normal is not always fair nor is it always just. We know that our own standard of normal does not suit the needs of all of us and it can sometimes prioritize the wrong things, but it is ours. So please, do not impose your normal on us.
Written by: Kuranen ‘Kronichles’ Aminde
