ARRIVAL OF THE PATRIARCHY PRINCESSES – ON KEMI ADETIBA’S ‘TO KILL A MONKEY’

Kemi Adetiba presents two classes of feminism in ‘To Kill A Monkey’. They comprise ‘the accommodative patriarchy princess’ and ‘the uncompromising patriarchy princess’. The former is played by Lilian Afegbai, under the character name Idia. The latter is played by Stella Damasus, as Nosa.

The baseline of a patriarchy princess’ agenda is to allow men to be entirely men, permitting the good, bad and ugly altogether, with a single focus on the proceeds or benefits they get from a man. As long as a male partner brings in the cash, resources and good living, as expected of traditional masculinity, the patriarchy princess is good. She limits her value to just sex and emotional support.

Bear in mind that the patriarchy princess agenda is not limited to slay-queens, side chicks or commercial sex workers. There are very disciplined wives who even choose to sit in seats like these. It is a choice.

Patriarchy princesses are usually expected to be less territorial and accommodative of other females a male partner has exchanges with. She does not negotiate or confront the excesses of a male partner and that’s exactly what we see with Idia, wife to Oboz in the said television series. She’s just the accommodative patriarchy princess, as expected.

Kemi Adetiba however introduces Nosa who comes off as a subverted aspect of patriarchy princess-ship. She wishes to enjoy all the proceeds of fraud and cybercrime by her husband, Mr. Edewor, but entirely fights the process and the masculine excesses of her husband to the very end. This is Nosa oo, a lady who was throwing huge parties and footing unnecessary bills to prove a point.

Patriarchy princesses like Nosa exist and some are in very terrible relationships. You can’t have two sides of the coin in sight. You compromise or do not compromise at all.

And patriarchy princesses like Idia? They prepare their mental state for any rubbish from their male partners. As long as they feed from the table, they are good.

It is also instructive that not all gold we may see would be glittering. Some Nosas are paying with the price of peace.

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