A West Midlands busker, Nehanda Ferguson, has spoken out about the daily sexual harassment she endures while performing on high streets across the region and beyond. Ferguson, who loves to "spread happiness" through her singing, says the unwanted attention makes her "skin crawl with violation" and has prompted her to adopt new safety measures.
Ferguson, who performs in areas including Coventry, Walsall, Rugeley, Lichfield, Nottingham, and Derby, described a range of distressing experiences. These include men rummaging through her handbag, being held in a headlock, persistent requests to stay in a hotel, and being filmed while subjected to lewd comments. A recent incident in Coventry, where three men made inappropriate remarks, even led her to change her clothing choices, opting for jeans in summer instead of her usual attire.
To combat the harassment, Ferguson has begun live streaming her performances on social media platforms like TikTok. She believes this acts as a deterrent for potential troublemakers and allows her substantial online following, which exceeds 100,000, to intervene or alert help if needed. Videos of her directly confronting men during her performances have garnered thousands of views, highlighting the prevalence of such issues.
Despite busking for seven years, Ferguson initially tried to put negative experiences behind her. However, a recent surge in unwanted attention pushed her "over the edge," leading her to publicly call out the behaviour. She stated that she feels violated by men who she believes feel entitled to objectify women, but she is determined to use her voice and platform to challenge this.
Ferguson hopes her stance will encourage others subjected to harassment to speak out, though she emphasised that this should only be done if it is safe and comfortable. She clarified that her message is not to discourage positive interactions, but rather to insist that comments remain respectful and free of sexual or objectifying undertones. She also noted a positive trend of people holding others accountable online for inappropriate behaviour, which she finds encouraging.
While acknowledging the disheartening nature of these incidents, Ferguson remains committed to her passion. She stated that the "exchange of joy" with her audience is the most rewarding aspect of her work, and she will not let negative experiences deter her from performing.