B.M Dzukogi’s book, “Sex is Beautiful,” is an exploration into the flame of sensual indulgence that pervades our society today and the potential consequence of this inferno that is aiming to ravage the human society.
Philosophers from the ancient times to our contemporary society have explained the nature of man which is self-seeking. The desires of man are insatiable if there are no instruments of control.
The control of emotional, physical and mental health of a human will bring justice to his whole being and in turn bring justice to the society.
Justice is what brings harmony to the three sets psychological components of human beings. Plato, in his famous book, “The Republic,” used these three phenomenon as a framework for the analysis that tilt towards the realisation of an ideal state.
In his own words appetite, courage and reason are the three components. Those that have desires as predominant virtue in them are the ones in the lowest ladder of the society. Those that have courage as a predominant virtue in them are in the middle. Those who have reason as the predominant virtue in them are at the highest ladder.
The author tries to call our attention to Plato’s align with the highest virtue which is reason. Courage and appetite are characteristics possessed by animals but reason is only for human beings. The two other are instinctive in nature.
The sexuality of an adolescent as a member of the society is the central concern of this book. The author posits, “Love is not for adolescent, but they harbour the tendency to feel it as human beings” (p.16). As a moral standard for the youth, for their self-presentation and for avoiding any mistake that might tend to constitute obstruction to their future ambition, he reaffirmed the above position, that due to the “curious and inquisitive creature” the man is {adolescent male and female} “will seek to know the interior beauty of his (or her} companion (p.19). His position is to enable adolescent to imbibe self-discipline, restrain and allow rationality to prevail over appetite in a very healthy way.
Given the dilemma of the preponderance of real and suggestive sex symbols that pervades the human society in recent times the adolescent is confronted with sexual dilemma of attack on his morality within and outside the confines of his/her home.
Dzukogi provokes an argument that seeks to seek the balance between the development of the reproductive organ of the adolescent and the rebuke he|she receives from the agents of socialisation in the society if he eventually indulges in illicit sexual relationship.
To avoid this pitfall, he suggests 15 strategies for self-control. One of the strategies is; Minimise close contact with opposite sex. When you do, it should be in furtherance of knowledge or creative production (p.29). Another one is that; Desist from watching sex-loaded films. Watch films about historical figures, documentary, science, places and education (p.29).
Then, two senators, who are concerned mothers, had genuinely initiated a bill on indecent dressing but met a brick wall from various civil society groups and even the senate.
Their concern is shared by Dzukogi as a concerned father who aspires to see his daughters and that of others to be free from sexual exploitation. He warned girls on the consequences of indecent dressing. He argues that indecent dressing is bait that wayward girls used for looking men’s sexual urge. It reveals their inferiority complex which is a product of low self-esteem.
In addition to indecent dressing, he mentions that there are other 13 attributes of adolescent girls that like to indulge in sexual relationship with men. The author writes.
“She loves the softer sides of life and would not like to strain herself for pursuit of maximum quality and result.” (p.35)
He adds, “She depends on others for assignments, test and examinations. She is willing to share her body to succeed in examinations” (p.35-36)
As a son to his mother and as a father to his daughters, Dzukogi extols the virtue of a woman. He dignifies them by asserting that “you are not a sex object; you are a woman, the pervious pearl of mankind (p.48).
The author sees them as adorable member of the family and society in general. They are partners who could propel the society forward. This attempt at confidence building is as a result of the prevailing circumstances in which women are being used as objects of exploitation by advert agencies.
This role given them in the media is just a celebration of their feminity and not their humanity which is not cherished.
Dzukogi prods into the relevance of marriage as an institute against the background that this naturally divine institution is supposed to help humanity find balance in the society; he queries the society for not putting in place a framework for accommodating women who have reached marriageable age and are still waiting to be taken to the altar. He confronts men for not opening up the space for those kinds of ladies in order to guard against illegitimate sexual relationship, given the natural urge for it.
Dzukogi also explores the beauty of poetry to reveal the ugliness and beauty of sex outside wedlock and in matrimonial bliss respectively.
“Sex is Beautiful” is a book that expresses the mind of parents on the need for control on sexual escapades that post-modern society is involved in.
Dzukogi’s “Sex is Beautiful” aligns with Plato’s position to subject appetite (sex) to the faculty of reason. This will bring about a just society.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…
[ICYMI] Lekki Shootings: Why We Lied About Our Presence — General Taiwo
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the killings at Lekki Toll Gate, on Saturday resumed viewing of the 24hrs footage of the October 20, 2020 shooting of #EndSARS protesters by personnel of the Nigerian Army…
ICYMI: How We Carried Out The 1993 Nigerian Airways Hijack —Ogunderu
On Monday, October 25, 1993, in the heat of June 12 annulment agitations, four Nigerian youngsters, Richard Ajibola Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Razak-Lawal, did the unthinkable! They hijacked an Abuja-bound aircraft, the Nigerian Airways airbus A310, and diverted it to Niger Republic. How did they so it? Excerpts…
Sahabi Danladi Mahuta, a community mobiliser and APC chieftain. Mahuta spoke to select journalists at the sidelines of an Islamic conference in Abuja recently. Excerpts…
and then