Raisedon Baya

THIS is not an easy topic to write about especially if you are a man like myself. Half the time when men write articles on sexual harassment and gender abuse, the articles come out as if in defence of women abuse. The main objective of this article is hopefully to encourage debate on the above issue, especially in the arts sector.

During the first week of January 2018 a very good friend and colleague of mine was accused of sexual harassment and criminal insult. Two ladies accused him. My friend spent the better part of two months going to court to defend his name — which unfortunately had been soiled by the accusations. I must say the court is not a nice place to be. Ayijayeleki. The court is not a friendly place and if you can stay far away from it, please do. And so after two months of going to court my friend was acquitted of both charges and obviously relieved he decided to celebrate his birthday and the fact that the courts had found him not guilty by throwing a small party.

A feminist colleague did not take kindly to his throwing a party for his birthday, accusing him of celebrating ‘‘women abuse’’. She sounded really angry and let down. What boggles the mind is that even after the courts have cleared my friend, the feminist, and there are many like her, still believe my friend is guilty. I sincerely thought if the court clears you of any wrongdoing it means you are innocent. But apparently others think otherwise. I bring this case here because it is important that while we fight against sexual harassment and gender abuse we are also able to separate the bones from the meat. Surely an accusation is not the same as guilt. You can be accused but still be innocent.

Still in the sector and on women abuse, a young