by Dayo Olugbemi

I guess you’re wondering how there could possibly be a good side to this Ebola Virus mayhem. Well this is it, since the spread of the disease and subsequent deaths of hundreds of people, a reasonable number of relationships have ceased to blossom, physically. I’m still here in Monrovia where like Conakry, Freetown, and at one point, Lagos, sexual relationships have been on the decline. Its almost totally dead in Monrovia.

Almost. Since I arrived here I observed the number two favourite past-time is infidelity (Number one is alcohol consumption; they can gulp anything alcoholic and pride themselves in the number of bottles and mixtures of liquor per sitting). Almost every single person I have come across is promiscuous. Including folks that hold high positions in churches and mosques. I’m not going to even talk about political office holders and company staff. Married and otherwise, young and old, these people go all the way in satisfying their lust. Its no holds barred out here. A taxi driver (Nigerian) once told me women here are cheaper than clothes. And like I have personally experienced, the women will come to you if you delay in going to them, he was right. They have sex on the beach and in parked cars along the streets, in broad daylight. They openly talk about sex like its the weather they’re talking about. And when you witness any two women having an argument its usually about the genitals and where its been.

Even the Pope has to be careful if he ever needs to come to Monrovia, they screw anything. Seeing as he wears a gown…

From some months back to the last few weeks its been every man for himself, so to speak. Even smooching suddenly became a risk. But seeing as the menace has died down, folks are returning to business as usual. I’m hoping some would’ve learnt to be faithful but I’m guessing that’s almost impossible. As impossible as the camel and the needle-eye

If not for the deaths I’m just about certain that some people appreciate this sanity that Ebola brought to Liberia and wouldn’t mind if it (Ebola) hung around for a while longer.

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Dayo Olugbemi lives and works in Liberia. He is married with a son.

Op-Ed Editor