Copyright expressandstar
The ‘They are not bad words campaign’ - which brought a gynaecological health-themed obstacle course to the West Midlands over the summer raising funds for vital menstrual health workshops in Sierra Leone - has returned with a new song. Dr Aziza Sesay previously took to the streets of Birmingham to speak to the public and test their knowledge on the female body. "It’s all about education, fun, camaraderie and destigmatising,” she said in an Instagram post. Now, the team have launched a song to further spread the message that using correct terminology for the vagina, vulva and clitoris is not shameful. The track, which features lyrical stylings of Dr Aziza and Tonia Daley Campbell, is available to stream on Spotify and to use for social media clips. The lyrics say: “No confusion no shame and no, they’re not the same. We say the words proudly, loudly, devoutly! " Taboo, you say? Oh no that can’t be true Saving lives, protecting kids, That’s what it’ll do We normalising these words for me (for me)and you (and you)Me and you." This piece challenges stigma around language describing Black identity, culture, heritage and encourages people to reclaim words that have been misused or labelled as “bad” when they’re actually expressions of pride and history.
