Let us stop playing this hide and seek. See, when I was in junior secondary school, there was this girl I loved. She had the eyes of the sun and the smile of the moon. She was beautiful. Orifunke, in all fairness, there is no one like this girl. Her name is Taiwo. Yes, she […]
We All Wear Masks
I am about to wear my mask again. I wear it often, in my room, in front of my sewing machine or the glistening mirror sitting gently across the room that reflects my blazing beauty and shields my inner chaos I am Debby, the preacher’s kid with creamy chocolate skin and luscious lips. My friends […]
Flower
I am praying as I type this. Can you hear me? Can you hear it? Can you hear the sound of my tongue unfurling and my voice rising up and down? I am praying for myself primarily but I am also praying for you. In praying for myself, I pray for you. Why is that? […]
On Feminism: Is It Just?
“What is your view on feminism?” It was the first time someone genuinely asked me that question without the mocking glint that usually accompanies such a question. Without judgment, without anticipating argument, not goading me to say the wrong thing. It was just a genuine interest to know my thoughts I won’t lie I always […]
I Am Going To Break Into You
I wanted to title this What Else Do You Want Me To Say. But I had to change it to this. Some days ago, I messaged Flower and told her I needed to get a blog post out this week. It had been a while I published something here and even though I have a […]
A Property Of God
My name, Inioluwa, means ‘property of God’. If you want to say it like I do, you would say, ‘God’s property’. So when I say I am Michael Inioluwa, I am indirectly informing you of a dangerous fact, which is that I am the property of God. I belong to a being higher than anyone […]
#Letter: Tubes and Bras
Dear Uzo, Yes, only family can call us Uzo. I have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity and time is short, so I’ll be quick about it. You’re 15 now. Life is good. Just recently, you got a boyfriend. Your first. Elesha. See you smiling already at the mention of his name. Wake […]
#Letter: Five Sachets of Water and Eggs
My dear 15-year-old self, You’re in a lot of mess and you can’t see farther than this year. Life always seems that way, that’s why we take life one step at a time. It is a crime to be friends with a boy in your school and everyone is talking about you. You didn’t do […]
Looking Into The Past
How am I even going to come here and lie to you all that it did not happen again, that the inevitable did not happen once again? How do these things happen? How do you go for an event and leave your heart behind? And then a black lady picks it up, sees all the […]
#Letter: Enjoy The Fame While It Lasts
Hi Daniel, This is your 20 years old self. I know you’re 15 years now and you feel you’ve achieved a lot, but let me tell you that life is not a bed of roses, you will come to understand that soon. All your life, you’ve always been the boss, you’ve always been the one […]