5 Lessons I Learnt From 5 Years Of Blogging

Essay, Stories4 Comments

I am in a state of wavering disbelief right now. I am having a hard time believing I have actually blogged for five whole years! Every week, every Wednesday, I have shared my thoughts, feelings and opinion on wide-ranging subjects—when I was excited—and when the last thing I wanted to do was write. I have battled the imposter syndrome; written essays that barely got a hundred views and been misunderstood for my blogging intentions. But I have also enjoyed unbelievable goodwill from strangers: people who overestimated my talent and called me a genius.

Don’t Be A Storyteller; Be Consistent

Essay2 Comments

Last weekend, he hit the 20-goal mark for a sixth successive Premier League season. His name is Sergio Kun Aguero, and he is the epitome of consistency. Aguero’s lone goal was the difference between league title contenders, Manchester City and hard-to-beat Burnley Football Club. The Argentine is only the second ever player to return 20 goals or more six times in a row in England’s elite football competition. The goal that helped him equal Thierry Henry’s record was not spectacular, but it was effective. One man doing what he knows how to do best. Doing it well. And more importantly, doing it consistently.

Between Independent Thinkers And Clout Chasers

Essay2 Comments

I find the bandwagonism that pervades the virtual space annoying. It only takes one influential social media personality to say something and their horde of followers are quick to lap it up. The dearth of independent thinking—the ability to analyse an issue dispassionately—and put forward a personal opinion is a reality of these times. Whether it pertains to more serious issues like police brutality, ethnic or racial profiling, gender discrimination, or matters of less importance such as the debate regarding who’s the greater legend between Michael Jackson and Beyonce, people are often inclined to pitch their tent where the greater population leans. But things have begun to change.

Tiger Woods: Of “Unpardonable” Sins And Stone-Casters

Opinion Pieces6 Comments

After over a decade, he roared back in the loudest decibel possible. Tiger Woods reminded us again why his name fits aptly. Finally clawing his way back from the doldrums of despair that became synonymous with his personality for such a long time; it was a remarkable feat that has had many people applauding and a few unimpressed. Those on the other side of the divide remind us of the ignominious way he fell from the heights of adoration to the depths of contempt. He wasn’t supposed to come back from the scandal and series of setbacks that have marred his career and personal life. The bookmakers were wrong. Critics are gobsmacked. This is one man who has refused to stay down and some people can’t seem to wrap their minds around it.

The World Won’t Leave You Alone

LifestyleLeave a comment

Time was when I assumed a lifestyle of staying in one’s lane and doing one’s thing in their little corner of the world would exempt them from the lens of critics and haters. When anyone was enmeshed in controversy, I believed they must have courted it. I mean, mind your business, do the right things and be a good person, and conflict would steer clear of you, right?

Wrong.

Double Wrong.

I Hope You’re Growing

Inspiration4 Comments

It’s the six-letter word everyone aspires to. The evidence that we are not where we used to be. Proof of our progress. The desire for growth is embedded in the human psyche; there’s hardly anyone who, for instance, would not have it listed as a new year resolution—either overtly—or covertly. The quintessential human aspires to…

The Better Way To Tell

Lifestyle2 Comments

“I’m the best in this field, no one does it better.”

“I may not have any hits or even put out any music, but I know I’m better than Davido and Wiz Kid put together.”

And the most common of them?

“I have made six figures every week since I started this business. If you’re interested in being like me, comment ‘Yes’ below.

More often than not, people who make these sort of pronouncements are noisemakers and nothing more. 

Ethiopian Air Crash: The Thoughts That Plague Me

Essay4 Comments

My friend request still lingers on his Facebook profile.

Now I know it’ll never be accepted.

When rumours of his death began to gain traction on social media, I was slightly alarmed but quickly dismissed it as the usual negative excitement that often accompanied bad news in the virtual space. Knowing that people have a penchant for peddling fake news because they cannot be bothered to wait for credible news sources to report events, I muttered a prayer in the hope that it emanated from some mischief-loving individual.

And then it was confirmed.

Then They Fell Again

Flash FictionLeave a comment

“Livinus, I’m telling you that this time around, things go dey different. This new candidate don talk sey him go dey show face well. Sey all the things wey our community need, him go make sure sey him do something about them when him enter.”

Livinus wasn’t convinced. Over the years, they had heard different variations of the same lie, and at the end of the day, nothing changed. The politicians they had voted in the past had let them down. Once they secured the mandate of the people, they instantly became inaccessible, and now their constituency was a mess. Nothing worked. The roads were in a deplorable state, power supply was worse than ever, children of school age were out of school hawking wares, and the youths were idle.