LOUD WHISPERS: When There Are No Words
Friday April 20th 2018 was one of the worst days of my life. A very close friend of mine lost her 27 year-old daughter the same day she was burying her 98 year old father. We had all gathered to celebrate the life of a wonderful man who had spent all his life raising generations […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Grandma’s Funeral
My voice has gone. My feet hurt so badly. People are talking to me and I am nodding my head but I can’t hear a word of what they are saying. I have a four-hour drive ahead of me because I have to make it to Lagos no matter how late it is. There is […]
LOUD WHISPERS: A Mother’s Pain
There is this saying, ‘You can’t dance at two weddings’. It is meant to emphasise the fact that it is hard to perform more than one task at a time. Apparently, those who coined this saying are not Nigerians. Yesterday, I literally danced at three weddings in two different cities. However, there is a price […]
LOUD WHISPERS: My Prophecies for 2018
In January last year, I wrote an article called Prophecies and Common Sense. It was basically a rant against fake prophets and their prophecies who show up at this time of the year. A friend of mine jokingly asked a few days ago if I would be making any prophecies for 2018 since this is […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Where Has The Year Gone?
If you borrow money in January And promise to pay back in June Be sure to remember that time is slippery The year goes whistling by June comes and you have excuses Bad business, late salary, school fees, father sick Regardless of how many times your chickens cross the road The year barrels on December […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Five Things That Made Me Happy Last Week
There is always so much bad news locally and internationally, one cannot help but be jaded by it all. Everyday there is someone who has been murdered, raped, kidnapped. Money has been looted (with looters conveniently not found or walking free), accidents happen on death traps which pass for roads, people waste away due to […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Being Present
I could not stop jumping up and down last week Wednesday when I got a WhatsApp message on my phone. I stared at the images over and over and kept jumping, laughing, almost screaming in my excitement. The message was a set of images from the printing press where my new book ‘Loud Whispers’ was […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Hunting The Hunter
I would like to first apologise for the delay in posting this week’s Loud Whispers. I usually finish the first draft of my articles by Saturday evening, then I give it a few more reads and make corrections till it is time to post on Sunday night. I was very pleased with myself that I […]
NIGERIA@57: Love, Hate or Confused
Nigeria is an awesome country. It is a place of rich history, endless opportunity, amazing resilience with an inexplicable capacity to absorb shocks that have splintered many a nation. As Nigeria marks its 57th year of independence from British colonial rule, here are 57 things that make you love or hate Nigeria, or simply leave […]
LOUD WHISPERS: The Death of Shame and Compassion
Recently, after the death of a good friend of mine had been announced, my attention was drawn to comments on one of the popular websites. Whilst there was some outpouring of sympathy, I was appalled at the remarks of people speculating on how my friend died, what/who could have been ‘responsible’ and so on. My […]
LOUDWHISPERS: Pythons Do Not Dance
When my son was young, if I returned from a work trip, he would pester me for details of where I had been and what happened there. There was one story in particular that became his absolute favourite. Anytime he wanted to amuse himself, or get himself out of trouble, he would say, ‘Mummy, please […]
LOUD WHISPERS: A Time To Mourn (For Nike Disu)
To everything there is a season There is no wisdom here today Please leave now I have no words of encouragement I am in dire need myself If you are here for words to inspire I am sorry there is no desire Should you choose to stay I thank you I wish I could sing […]
LOUD WHISPERS: The Strategy Meeting
This is unbelievable! How did this happen? When will these lawmakers stop treating us like second-class citizens? Making us beg for rights that should rightfully be ours? How come they can’t make a connection between the low status of women and the inability of our country to meet any of its development goals? How come […]
A Great SHero Dances Away : Prudence Nobantu Mabele (1971-2017)
‘Life is very short and what we have to do must be done in the now’- Audre Lourde Over the past couple of weeks, I have received the news of the loss of three very good friends. A senior friend, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin died on June 4 th at the age of 68. […]
Valar Morghulis:Ten Lessons From Game Of Thrones
I apologise in advance if I am about to confuse people who have no idea what Game of Thrones is. Just think about how some of us have no clue when you go on about your favourite football team. A few months ago, I was having a conversation with the son of a good friend […]