Thinking
Before I booked a six week trip to Nigeria in July, I’d been homesick for months. I moved to Accra in January, so the homesickness hit me quite early. I didn’t think I would miss home this much when I left, and to be honest, I didn’t imagine there would be much of a difference.
I moved to this city about 500km west of Lagos, where I used to live, and completely minimized the two French-speaking countries in between and the fact that Ghana was a whole sovereign nation, and told myself it was “just Accra”. But the ways that Accra was different from Nigeria kept hitting me until it beat me to the ground and I lay there gasping for air, and it still didn’t stop. Dramatic, I know. But that’s what it was - a very brutal and unexpected change - emphasis on the unexpected part.
When I first moved to Lagos about 3 years ago, I couldn’t stop pointing out how different it was from Abuja where I grew up and moved from. I enjoyed spotting those differences, and leaned into changing my behaviour and adjusting to the new city. But for some reason, I forgot to do that in Accra until I got “beat up”. Looking back now, what I’ve described as a beating was actually a molding. In the making of a thing, there is force applied. This force is meant to create a reaction or a change in state. Now I realize I should have stayed soft instead of resisting.
Part of my resistance to the new was a fear of leaving the old behind. After all, if I came to call Accra home, will Lagos still bear that name? A person is from a place if it says it is from that place, and the place claims him back. I discovered that Lagos claimed me on my last trip, just as much as I claimed it. That knowledge also came with the clarity that it will always be home, if I claim it to be. As I develop even stronger and deeper roots here, I look forward to claiming Accra, and here’s to hoping it claims me back.
Watching
Undone - This was made by the same people who made Bojack Horseman so it’s heavy on mental health. I enjoyed it thoroughly and would 100% recommend if you're into that kind of stuff.
Hacks - I liked seeing two women on screen 89% of the time just living their mostly fucked up lives. If you do too, this will give you plenty joy. It’s also extremely good as an added bonus.
The Chair - This one was made for literature nerds, and it gave everything it promised. It gets extra points because Sandra Oh is in it and she absolutely killed it.
Starstruck - Again, a woman on your screen 89% of the time, living her best fucked up life. There’s also a veryy fine male character, if you’re into that type of stuff.
Ted Lasso - A very heartwarming tv show about a manic pixie dream dad*** that I shamelessly enjoyed.
A.P. Bio - I really like this show, so I fully recommend. Some people think it isn’t funny and I think those people have bad taste. I would admit that season 3 was not it, but in the show’s defence, WE WERE IN A PANINI.
Reading
Blitzscaling - I gave a presentation on this topic at work to a room of 8 startup founders and some of their team members, so I got to read the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it is a must read for everyone in the tech/startup industry. Like every single person, not just founders.
bookbear express - This is a very heartwarming newsletter publication, with stellar writing, my friend Bobs recommended to me. Read it.
Listening
The Smart Money Tribe Podcast - My former manager & co-founder of She Leads Africa (SLA) made a podcast about money and finance in both her business and personal life and I found it truly insightful. Added bonus was some unexpected closure I got from hearing about her experience on the job from her POV. Top notch content, you should fully listen.
The Read Podcast - This episode of The Read that I don’t remember a lot of details from but was a very fun background companion during a very busy work week.
Feel Good, Mohbad - I can’t explain why I loooooove this song, but I do.
Cocaine, Dai Verse - This is an afrobeats love song, and that’s the only explanation you need to listen.
Still Sun, Obongjayar - Affirmations, affirmations, affirmations and some more affirmations.
Need for Speed, Olamide - Another afrobeats love song, so you know I’ll die there.
Remembering
“If we are to preserve culture, we must continue to create it.” - Reid Hoffman, Blitzscaling.
Love & Light
***A fitting modification of manic pixie dream girl I heard from this honest trailer video.
P.S: I changed the structure of the newsletter and I’d love your feedback. Click on the button below to share your thoughts with me anonymously.
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Hope it claims you soon!
Moving countries is such a complex thing and the homesickness is some mind fuckery cos where you are coming from is the ghetto so it's like why do I miss it??.