LOVE YOUR BODY

 

A Model

A lot can be said about the human body. And in some quarters, the discussion on nudity would not be entertained.  Naked bodies, and their place in society. But no one can disagree that the human body is a beautiful work of art. A masterpiece and should be celebrated in all its glory. There is beauty in nudity. Now before you start typing your response, let me rephrase and say this, because of what our world has become—there is beauty in nudity in the comfort of your home. There is an absolute sense of freedom that is indescribable. And for me, it was a long journey getting here. 

But this should never have been. Once upon a time for those of us whose native homeland is located in the tropics, we wore itsy-bitsy because of the heat. A most natural way to dress, then folks from temperate climates especially those who were affected by the Puritanism and Victoria era came and told us we were doing it wrong and forced us to cover up to be more like them. What a disaster! so, we went from dressing appropriately for our natural climate to covering ourselves up in the ridiculous tropical heat. And they called it civilization.

Growing up, I was painfully shy and taciturn to boot. And still is as I write. But I found freedom and beauty in loving my body. I have always loved myself especially as I grew up nicknamed "Queen" by my father. So uncles, aunties, and pretty much all older relatives called me that at some point in my life. It was all I heard in my pre-pubescent years. So my self-esteem has always been up in the sky. I have always believed in myself but did not have much love for my body although everyone else did. 

By the time I was sixteen, I was already a double D. and as self-conscious as hell. I hated the stares my body attracted. So I did everything to cover up. My hand also became my shield of Sheba. And I became more taciturn, finding solace in books. I would travel around the world on the pages of a book to places where I did not have to speak to anyone or have anyone stare at me.

 Anytime I had the chance, my nose was in a book. From reading, I found writing. I come from a culture where girls were taught to be quiet/silent and not vocally express their opinion, especially in public. Writing gave me the freedom to say what the heck I wanted. Often expressed in prose and poetry. And till this day, people who have never met me, read my posts on social media platforms and think I am talkative, but au contraire! I am as quiet as a mouse. 

but I digress.

There is beauty in nudity. 

There is beauty in loving your body.

All of its scars and warts.

There is beauty in finding and embracing your authentic self.

 In loving all of your body, you love yourself, and can truly love others and become accepting of them. . It is a beauty to look at your body like the day you were born. I had a French boyfriend once. An artist, he had a sculpture of a nude bosomy black woman on his wall. I thought it was beautiful. He believed God created the Black woman as a blueprint for humanity. Europeans tend to be more comfortable with nudity. He taught me to love my body. A painter's delight he called it, worthy of worship. And I believed him. No man has ever adored my body as he did. 

The irony of it all is that European missionaries invaded most of Africa and told us to cover up. when traditionally we wore bits and pieces to cover up our private places. Especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where temperatures were perennially high, the heat could roast a chicken left in the mid-day heat. 

So we became more conservative in what we wear. And if a girl/woman wears a pair of shorts to public places like a local market in many parts of Africa she'd be lucky if all she got was disapproving glances and the occasional scolding from strangers. In some parts, the religious police monitor what women wear.

However, nudity is not frowned upon in parts of Europe. The lucky parts did not care for Puritanism and Victorian-era hypocrisy. These places like Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, France, and Czechoslovakia to name a few treat nudity as normal. Which should be the status quo. I know homes where parents walk around nude and the children grow up seeing this as normal. A Danish friend does the same in his home and so do some households in these countries.

Even publicly, people are relaxed about nudity in many parts of Europe. It is our body in its natural state and should be accepted. There are also nudist camps because of what the world has become, but you can go to some beaches in the South of France and see a grandmother sunbathing without tan lines.

The human body is a beautiful work of art. The greatest masterpiece there is and should be adored and appreciated. Note not to be looked upon in a lewd manner or as porn. There are parts of Africa, especially among Southern African tribes the culture still obtains. Some of these indigenous tribes have tried to maintain this essence like the San people of Namibia, for others, this only happens during traditional ceremonies in Swaziland, South Africa.

It would be a wonderful world when we begin to see nudity as a normal state of our lives and not to be gawked at or looked at in a lewd manner. I'll keep my champagne chilled and wait to drink until the day we stop sexualizing the human body because it has other great functions too.