BBC Radio 4, September 30, 2022 and BBC Sounds

On belonging, cultural expectations, fear, and womanhood.

As the impact of the ELS test spreads across the world, we travel to Nigeria for Uche’s tale.

Surely if this gene has just been discovered, it must have been around and evolving for a while, and it makes sense that there are communities that devised their own ‘traditional’ methods of testing for a longer life.

Puberty is one of the first markers that you could use to estimate likely length of life. That could apply to all genders, but Uche’s story focuses on a young woman’s journey and the expectations placed on women by her society – and the fear used to manipulate them.

The aforementioned traditional method involves a simple enough hypothesis: if you start your periods late – significantly late – then you are likely to experience everything late, including death by natural causes. That logic tracks, but the error rate is high… plus where do you draw the line, the cut-off point? That sets off an interesting debate and an exploration of the decisions some of Uche’s sisters make.

A wise female elder – big sister – has created a sanctuary where women who are expected to live long lives can belong, can become part of a community they feel safe within. The logic tracks here too, sadly, as many women know. Is this less about whether these women have ELS than the choices that are available to them wherever their place is in the world? Isn’t that also true of the reality we live in?

Verdict: How does a woman break out of the cages her culture builds around her? 9/10

Claire Smith