Crossdressing and Becoming a Transgender: Why Bobrisky, Others Trend

By Hafsat Ibrahim

The widespread availability of internet access has given rise to a subgroup known as skit makers, influencers and even crossdressers/transgender in Nigeria. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and express oneself.

Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes traditionally or stereotypically associated with a different gender.

Meanwhile, a transgender person (often shortened to a trans person) is someone whose gender identity differs from that typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Being transgender is distinct from sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual (straight), homosexual (gay or lesbian), bisexual, asexual, or otherwise, or may decline to label their sexual orientation.

This behavior is associated, at least initially, with intense sexual arousal.

Cross-dressers may, however, cross-dress for reasons other than sexual stimulation – for example, to reduce anxiety, to relax, or, in the case of male cross-dressers, to experiment with the feminine side of their otherwise male personalities.

Why Would a Man Want to Cross-dress?

Truthfully, there’s no one reason. Every individual is different. It’s simply a form of self-expression that some people identify with. The choice to wear a summer dress, for instance, can be a means of embracing femininity or simply enjoying the comfort and freedom it provides, regardless of one’s gender identity.

Most times, I wonder what could have triggered such behaviour of not being satisfied with one’s own gender or rather, what is the stand of Crossdressing and transgender in a culture filled country like Nigeria?

Could it be due to environmental causes (like for those who attended same sex boarding school)?

Could it be due to spiritual forces or based on previous/ multiple heartbreaks from opposite sex?

Could it be triggered by molestation (mental state ), or due to trauma?

Could it be triggered by biological hormones or just exposure?

Or could it be a means of adventure and exploring beyond the normal (curiosity)?

Anyways, what ever may have triggered such behaviour, I do believe that the World is evolving and the people in it are also following up with the trend. But personally, it’s actually a crazy thing to not be satisfied with one’s own gender because everyone has a unique feature and are created for specific great reasons which we ought to fulfill before taking our last breath.

The negative impact of these act(cross-dresing and transgender) includes the following:

• It leads to lack of contentment and expression of ingratitude

• It leads to low self esteem and lack of confidence in oneself

• It leads to competition among peers and siblings

• It leads to committing major sin before the Almighty

• In the case of transgender, going under the knife and multiple surgeries could damage the original body system or even lead to early death.

In Nigeria today, we have quite a number of fast growing Crossdressers and transgender who claim that they engage in such act for fashion or rather, believe that they would do better as women than men. But in the real sense, they’ve turned it to a money making business and an opportunity to go viral on social media. They have taken steps each to reject traditional gender norms in their country, breaking away from the strict binary of “man” and “woman” and carving out their own unique identities.

The likes of these Nigerian men are:

• Idris Olanrewaju (aka Bobrisky)

• Daniel Nsikan (aka Jay Boogie)

• Okeke Onyebuchi (aka Deevah)

• Chukwueze Obialor (aka James Brown), amongst others who are not popularly known.

The Nigerian government obviously wanted to clamp down on the trending cross-dressing culture in Nigeria. But the government was also aware of the fact that any direct move in that regard would earn it the whip of the Western powers.

In case you ever wondered why President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron moved against then-President Jonathan and, in an unprecedented manner, worked against his re-election in 2015, do note that it was because, on Monday, January 13, 2014, Dr. Jonathan signed a law criminalising same-sex relationships and its appurtenances.

Although the law was strictly on criminalising same-sex relationships such as gays and lesbianism in the country, Nigerian young men are normalising the crossdressing/ transgender practices and using it as major means of livelihood.

Therefore, in order to safeguard, direct and protect our younger generation to the right path, the law should be reviewed and amended, banning the practice of Crossdressing and transgender in Nigeria and Africa at large.