NIGERIAN SOCIETY AND THE MISCONCEPTION OF BERET USE, WRITTEN BY BENJAMIN OGUNLAMI

As an educator, my responsibility is solely to educate the populace and bring them out of ignorance. I cannot continue folding my arms seeing more than half of the country wallowing in perpetual ignorance.

It’s the use of berets. If Nigerians don’t understand a thing, they gullibly demonize it. They rather, exhibit ignorance than make proper findings on whatever supersede their intellectual capacity. In fact, ignorance has been nationalized, even by people you think are educated.

Moving on, according french-beret.com “a beret symbolizes diverse concepts based on its context, ranging from artistic creativity and bohemian non-conformity to military authority and political resistance.” Its exact meaning depends heavily on its color and who is wearing it.

The beret became a universal symbol of artistic expression, creativity, and “intellectual freedom”. For bohemians, it represents a non-conformist rejection of mainstream societal norms.

In the military, green beret is often worn by special forces and commandos. Maroon/Red beret is typically used to represent airborne (paratrooper) or medical corps units. Black berets universally linked to armor corps, tank crews, or general service.

During the 20th century, the beret was adopted by revolutionaries and activists. Symbols like the black beret (famously worn by Che Guevara and the Black Panther Party) signify defiance against oppression, revolutionary zeal, and political dissent.

Today, in South Africa, we have Julius Malema of Economic Freedom Fighter, leading the struggle with red berets. In Uganda, we have a musician, politician and lawyer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu known as Bobi Wine of National Unity Platform, leading the struggle, also with red berets. In Nigeria, we have Omoyele Sowore of African Action Congress/TakeitBack, leading the struggle with orange berets.

In our respective religious houses (for some Christians), the choir uses different kinds of colourful berets. What it means to them, I don’t know.

Berets usage for comrades, is a symbol of resistance against oppression. Therefore, it will do us greater good to stop demonizing what we know little or nothing about. #WeCantContinueLikeThis