Dwarfs with giant dreams •Story of ‘tall men’of Lagos
Pix by D’Toyin
Theirs is a special world. Cheated by nature and humiliated by tall men, Ayodele Owonibi explores the world of dwarfs. Her report:
For many people, giving birth to a dwarf is like giving birth to a child with an acute case of Down’s Syndrome which is like a stigma to both the parents and the child. Dwarfs have been in existence since the beginning of time, much to the distaste of regular people who sometimes regard them as acutely retarded, contagious and highly capable of bringing bad luck, especially if you meet one early in the morning as the case may be.
For many dwarfs in Nigeria, the stigma they have to face each day is more than that of a normal person with sores all over his body as they are subjected to all forms of ridicule, as they go about their normal business.
Though small in size, even smallish really, but one cannot claim not to notice their presence. They are the cynosures wherever they are: on the expressways, markets, churches, schools, just name it. They have the height of children but the physique of men and women.
Welcome to the lives of Nigerian dwarfs, people who have stunted growth not by their own making but because of an acute genetic disorder. The New International Webster’s Comprehensive dictionary describes a dwarf as “a person that is unnaturally small, especially an adult human being less than four feet tall.”
For dwarfs in Lagos, the atmosphere has not been too friendly, according to one of them, they are subjected to the most inhuman forms of treatment due to their height and physique.
According to Joseph Evans, a dwarf from Cross River State, and a self professed DJ who resides in Alagbado, life has been good but it could get better only if people would learn to accept them the way they are. (...)
Tall Dreams
Gone are the days when dwarfs were regarded as retarded people who should be feared and abhorred. In Lagos today, they have made names for themselves, especially in the movie and music industry. These days, dwarfs have surpassed the age of staying indoors to avoid being mocked at. Now, they mingle freely with other people, though conscious of their height disadvantage but not deterred. They say it boldly that they are dwarfs, but they are proud!
According to Ken Keni, a native of Nasarawa State, who currently resides in Lagos, the journey has been rough, the caring love of her parents and siblings have kept her going.
“I am an Hausa, born in Keffi, Nasarawa State. I’m the last child in a family of three. I am the only one born a dwarf, growing up was quite normal like any other child but I missed the motherly love because my mother died when I was only a little child. I didn’t have much education. I stopped as soon as I got my First School Leaving Certificate. I learnt to plait and braid hair at an early age. With the small money I was making, I was able to take care of myself until I ran into the cast of the Dwarfs Association of Nigeria(DAN). (..)
Our next President?
According to Osas Don Little, the sky is the limit, as he hopes to further his education and become someone to reckon with in the Nigerian society.
“Nobody should look down on us because we are extremely talented people, capable of re-shaping our society for good. The only challenge we are facing right now is that people do not recognise us including the government we call our own. There is nothing wrong with us because we have overcome our limitations and hope to achieve something.”
As a parting shot, Don Little said he hopes to become the first dwarf President in Nigeria if given the chance. “What a tall man can do, a short person can do better,” he concluded.
Dwarfs with giant dreams •Story of ‘tall men’of Lagos
