My Tattoo and Its Consequences: I am a Good Girl With a Tattoo But Nigerian Men Would Rather Date Bad Girls Without One

My Tattoo and Its Consequences

I wonder where I should start from. It is important that you understand how I feel about. I schooled abroad from my secondary school so you may probably understand the culture shock I encountered when I got back ti Nigeria. I came back him e at the instruction of my dad to settle here and get a job but coming home was a rude shock for me.

I have a thin line of tattoo running from my neck line down to my butt crack. It spells out a bible passage close to my heart because it was hat my mum insisted on writing on her grave before she died. When I got the tattoo, everyone said it was nice, not that I did it for them but I never heard bad word from even my family members. But then, I came to Nigeria and I could not believe what I was made to go through.

Because of work, I cover up but when I am away from work, i never bother to cover it. II find that Most guys assume I’m cheap or irresponsible or both. Initially I tried to explain that a tattoo does not describe my individuality but I got tired and just let people believe what they want.




I dated a guy who I thought didn’t mind my tattoo but whenever we visited his parents, he would insist I cover up. I later realized he was ashamed of me having a tattoo which led me to break up with him. He has now married a girl without a tattoo ho has cheated on him twice in their marriage

Why are Nigerians so hypocritical? Why does a tattoo mater so much?

Having art on my skin does not mean my heart is black. It doesn’t change my individualism and my core. Nigerians, I have come to understand are hypocrites and I get so angry at how perceptions change about me as soon as people, especially men see my tattoo.

I find it really rude when people say “why did you get a tattoo?” Like why did I choose to commit murder. I wanted a tattoo since I was 14 but my parents didn’t allow it until I turned 21. It was for no reason at all but the fact that I was fascinated by it. I chose them, I am 100% confident in my decisions and I have no apologies.




Judging a group of people based on a choice they made, without giving the individual any responsibility for their choice is bad. I am not irresponsible, I am educated and have a well paid job, it is is frustrating that this treatment is meted to me here in Nigeria. A guy once told me, “If you were smart, you wouldn’t get a tattoo.”

I told him, “If you were smart, you’d get to know me first”.

Written by Liz T. For Diaryofanaijagirl.ng

P.S: The Image is not Liz.