Hello , I trust you've been faring well. It's been a while since I last wrote you an email. This isn't intentional. Life, sometimes, is like a leaf afloat a turbulent sea-- it carries the leaf (me) wherever it wills. Other times, I am the captain of a ship afloat a turbulent sea, sailing carefully to avoid wreck. Whatever the situation, one thing remains constant-- we keep going!

Here's something new (maybe not), that I'd love to share with you. It's about the boy child initiative. Ever heard of it?

The Boys Are Not Stones Initiative (BANSI) is a movement founded by John Chizoba Vincents, Maazị Jaachị Anyatọnwụ, Adéwálé Àlàdé Ebubechukwu Nwagbo and Onyemaechi Maxwell Opia-Enwemuche in 2018 to highlight the ignored plight of the boy child. This initiative is geared towards creating awareness, giving voice and showing concern that the boys are not immune to abuse, sexual harassment and emotional wrecks. It was our first attempt at amplifying the silent groans of the boy child who implode the trauma and hurt of abuse because of what the world would say. It was loud and controversial. The boy child movement was greeted with mockery. We weren’t deterred. This baby step was a huge success.

The following year 2019, we put up another call for submissions. In all honesty, I dropped tears reading the submitted stories– true life stories that wouldn’t have been told, hadn’t we given the male folk a platform to vent, and tell, and rant. We discovered “A Country of Broken Boys“, hoping on time to heal them.

For 2020 edition, we decided to extend a hand of friendship to non-binary genders. Some of the entries are bold, telling stories of homosexual adventures in a homophobic culture. Told unashamedly, the writers draw our sympathy and invite us to read them without sentiments.

Haven told the sad tales of the boy child in previous editions of BANSI, this year 2021, we hope to celebrate masculinity. A call for submissions for BANSI IV, 2021 edition shall be announced soon. I believe there are men– fathers, brothers, uncles, mentors, cousins, heroes– in your life worth celebrating for their unselfish love, beautiful sacrifices, and uncommon dedication to doing good. You do want to celebrate those men, don’t you? The boys can’t thank you enough when you join us.

Get your stories ready, and get copies of BANSI I, II & III. Boys Are Not Stones collections are available on Poemify Bookstore. Click here to get a free copy.

PS: If you have a boy child story to share with me, I'd be extremely delighted to read and give you feedback.

Till I write you again, breathe!

Jaachi Anyatonwu