I am so so excited to share that my short story, “Take aim” has been published in Litro magazine, a renowned literary platform that has been publishing stories for 20 years. “Take aim” is a story about love, obsession and ambition, set against the backdrop of the Paris Olympics, so it is pretty special that it would come out on its anniversary. Link to the story in my bio! It has been a long time coming. The story was initially meant to come out in print (see the second slide) but I am so glad that I finally get to share it with you. I’m really grateful to have been living in Paris in this period; to imagine this time for myself before it happened; to have been able to create my own world through my words. I’m also grateful for the inspiration I received through @zenarchery.lagos and watching Nigerians take on this sport. I would be grateful if you would read it, comment, and share with anyone who enjoys literature. As always, we move, we move and we keep moving! 💨💨

Friends, I am so proud to introduce @inktippedjourneys , a project which sits at the intersection of everything that I’m passionate about; a project which feels like true alignment.   Inktippedjourneys is a community for intentional exploration of the art, culture and texture of places, primarily on the African continent. It is a feast that you can partake in from wherever you may be. Each month, we will immerse ourselves in a different place, through photos you can contribute to; through conversations with creatives and community members who have found home, refuge, or inspiration there; through spotlighting art and truth that have come from it.   Inktippedjourneys has been my constant companion for a while now, invading my thoughts, and my sleep! I am so glad to finally launch it.   Please follow the page (@inktippedjourneys ) , and please share it. This page lives on community, and is for anyone who is interested in learning more about what these places feel like, and what meaning they hold for people who are linked to them. There is so much more to come ☺️

So, my short story, “Tough Love” was published in @afreada and I’m so grateful. For this, in the first place, and then, for the comments and feedback I’ve been receiving, whether it’s on Lolade’s savagery; feeling present at the party; connecting with the story and experiencing the emotions; having a good reflection of high society Lagos; appreciating the mention of Asake’s music 😅… All of it has been so wonderful to receive, and so deeply affirming. It is fuel for this writer journey and please believe I’m on “go”💨 If you haven’t read it yet, it’s at the link in my bio! Would love your thoughts!xx . . . . #writer #shortstory #explore #lagos #femaleempowerment #marriage #infidelity #writer #prose #poetry #substack #substackwriter #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writingprompts #writinginspiration #writerlife #bookstagram #londonwriters #amwriting #nigerianwriters #writersnetwork #lagoswriters #poetsofinstagram #writerstag #authorsofinstagram #poetsofig #poetrycommunity #africanwriter #writingcommunity

A very quick, full, and wholesome trip to Madrid 💕💕

Some moments from my trip to Cameroon a few weeks back, from Yaoundé, to Bandja, to Foumban, to Douala, soundtracked by the song I heard the most while I was there, now a favourite for several reasons. Much more on Cameroon to follow over on @inktippedjourneys ✨

Have you heard people say things like «my village people » or speak with fear/negativity about going to the village? Yeah, me too— I’ve been one of them! I recently went to a village in Cameroon and it made me reflect on my relationship with my own villages (plural), and on what this concept means to me. In this piece, which just might be my favourite substack ever, accompanied by many images, I go into my experiences, into Nollywood, into memes, into my travels in Benin and Cameroon, into history, to finally arrive at my conclusion of where I think this perception comes from and what it means. Read it at the link in my bio!

My best trips have been in Africa, and my best photos too 😜Seriously, I’m grateful to have been able to volunteer, holiday and work across different countries on the continent (mostly holiday, to be fair 😅) Every trip teaches me something new about what it means to be African, and not just Nigerian. Every place holds its own beauty and realities. Every conversation triggers something in my reflection and my creativity. And for this, I’m grateful 💕💕

What’s absolutely insane is that I did not plan this coordination. I got dressed on a friday morning, in this @shopandrewtabitha jacket, hoping to shoot a video for @inktippedjourneys in an African space— because I’m nothing if not intentional— and the spaces I had in mind were closed. So, I walked through the Goutte d’Or neighbourhood, a historic African neighbourhood in Paris, and I spotted this wall. It was so random, and it felt like alignment. As I walk along this new journey, I have definitely taken hold of these little rays of light that make me feel like I’m not walking alone. Being a type-A planner and a perfectionist by nature, @inktippedjourneys has taught me to open myself up to uncertainty and to unplanned things, which have ended up better than I thought. Looking forward to much more ✨✨✨

Here are some of the times that @thedanjuma gassed me up during the @inktippedjourneys ’ “Why we journey” conversation 😅 I had to tell him they didn’t call me an “efiko” in school for nothing 😎 But on the real, being someone who is passionate about Africa travel and creativity, it came easily to lose myself in @wakawakabook as I prepared to speak to Danjuma. Grateful for the time and space he gave for such a rich conversation. Watch it on YouTube on the @inktippedjourneys page! Also grateful to @hibaelamin for the BTS link-up. Having friends who see your vision and want to support you is everything ✨✨ On that note, please do hit me up if there’s an African traveller you think I should be speaking to for future episodes of “Why we journey”. Really excited for what’s next 💕💕

POV: Me, in the arena, fighting for the fullest version of my life. 1. Hours before leaving Lagos for Paris, I decided to make a personal intro for @inktippedjourneys . I put on a cute outfit, begged @melissa.aani to record, and went to a spot I had been obsessed with. Really glad I did it. (In @shop_fss ) 2. To capture the essence of inktippedjourneys, I went to Tarkwa Bay, spoke to people from the community, and filmed them at ease with my phone. (Here with a guitarist who introduced himself as Diaxkyd). I created a sick montage of the day using a basic editing app. Really proud of all the ways I explore my creativity. 3. Back in Paris, I read one of my pieces at a literary salon— the third time I’ve read my words to an audience. It was one of my pieces that tries to share the texture, the feeling of a place, like much of my favourite writing. (In @zephansandco ) Excited to live a big year, and look good while doing it!

I’m so honoured to have my travel essay, “Accra to Lagos”, published on one of Africa’s foremost literary platforms, Brittle Paper. This December, I went to Accra before my annual trip to Lagos, and I was moved to write about all the points of comparison I noted, beyond the usual references to jollof rice and “Detty December”. The piece ends with one of the most out of body experiences I’ve had— a deep sense of “deja vu”; a confirmation of how culture permeates borders. Having my travel writing being published is deeply affirming. I had only thought to submit my short stories, poetry etc to literary magazines in the past, keeping my travel tales for substack. In the last few years, I have written travel tales focussing on my trips in Africa, to share what the places felt like; what texture they brought; what beauty and realities were carried by their people. I’m excited for what more the year will bring with my words and with @inktippedjourneys , where I explore this particular nexus of travel, writing, and art. Read “Accra to Lagos” at the link in my bio, and let me know if you are as surprised by the ending as I was when it happened to me! Shout out to @brittlepaper for the feature, and for making the above image! Ehae xx

When I was thinking about the visuals to accompany @inktippedjourneys , I couldn’t shake the idea of immersion. I kept picturing a gradual approach to the water; a steady nearing to the very centre of things. And this is what @inktippedjourneys is about — moving past a surface level interaction with African countries, to an immersion; to an encounter with the art, culture, texture of these places. Thanks to @melissa.aani and @imoheboh for filming this, for helping me execute my idea, and thanks to all who have joined the journey. It’s going to be something special. ✨✨