Mid-20th-century Nigerian public media shaped a new image of modern West African girls and women. In particular, the “Milady’s Bower” column in the West African Pilot promoted the cultural ideal of a modern woman at that time. Its columnist, “Miss … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2022
A “Good Girl” in Mid-20th-Century Western Africa
Midway through the 20th century in Nigeria, the West African print media played a major role in shaping a new image of what constituted normative modern womanhood and girlhood. What was a “good girl” to Western Africans? The “Milady’s Bower” … Continue reading
Gender Expectations of West African Men in the Mid-20th Century
“Miss Silva” and her “Milady’s Bower” column shaped the new forms of urban masculinity in the mid-20th century in West Africa. That cultural image of a modern man of that time was better fitted to new city life’s realities (Aderinto, … Continue reading
What Nigerian Men and Women Wanted to Know About Sex in the 20th Century
The printed media of the mid-20th century paid much less attention to the topics of sex and sexuality compared to the questions of courtship, romantic love, gender roles, the influence of family, and marriage. What about sex? West African editors … Continue reading
What Was More Important in Relationships for Nigerian Young People, Love or Money?
As I noted elsewhere, “Miss Silva” wrote “Milady’s Bower” for the West African Pilot newspaper in the middle of the 20th century. She shared with Nigerian women and men her wisdom on modern love and gender relations. Her column included … Continue reading
“Miss Silva” Advised Nigerian Women and Men on Divided Affections
Throughout the 1930s -1950s, Nigerian columnist “Miss Silva” ran her column “Milady’s Bower” in the newspaper West African Pilot. In her column, she talked with Nigerian women and men about modern love and gender relations. Her column discussed the compelling … Continue reading
What Miss Silva Advised Nigerian Women and Men About Love and Marriage
From the 1930s to the 1950s, the Nigerian columnist “Miss Silva” of the West African Pilot offered relationship advice for young men and women. Her essays and anonymous reader letters on contemporary love of that time expressed their enthralling love … Continue reading
Love Problems that Concerned Nigerian Women and Men in the 20 Century
The dramatic increase in literacy throughout West Africa during the first half of the 20th century precipitated a new era of cultural ideals in Nigerian society. The various print media expanded accordingly. Urban and educated people read more. They also … Continue reading
How Nigerian Education Changed Love in West Africa in the First Half of the 20th Century
The cultural evolution of love in West Africa in the first half of the 20th century occurred. The increasing urbanization of society and its major cities, such as Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, and other southern Nigerian cities, and their … Continue reading
The Cultural Evolution of Love in West Africa in the First Half of the 20th Century
The transformation of Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, and other southern Nigerian cities into first-class colonial urban centers, along with the concomitant rise in literacy among many people, was essential to the cultural evolution of love in West Africa. Growing … Continue reading