A little over a year ago, I left Abuja and flew 1,200km west to Accra. As far as moving lives went, I hit the jackpot. I met other people who came from other places and became part of a small group of friends that explored the city and the country together. The loneliness from leaving everything I was familiar with stayed with me, like a low hum in the background. I picked up new hobbies (including this newsletter) to fill the gap and spent all my time talking to friends back home on Instagram. The hum never left and I dreamt of moving back every other week.
Four months ago, I packed my things again and flew east from whence I came 365 days yonder. I’m sometimes reluctant to share my excitement about being back because, my Ghanaian friends might take leaving after only a year as an indictment of their country (it's really not) and Nigerians are very skeptical at best, and terrified, at worst, at the idea of anybody moving back home for extremely good reasons.
Over the last couple of years, my accidental nomadic lifestyle has forced me to come to this realization - you don’t take anything with you when you move. Although you’ll try - bags bursting with all your favorite clothes, food just so you have a buffer between when you land and when you find a market, memories of the place and the people you’re leaving - and even with your best efforts, you’d still be arriving with just you and yourself.
I somehow sense that I’ll move again. I’m not sure where to or when it’ll happen, but I can feel it. Even though I have done this many times - uprooting myself and rendering null the life I built in that time - the moving takes its toll. But historic data has shown that I will not just be okay, I’ll thrive because, èmi ọmọ ọpẹ́.
I’ve seen maybe 30 or 40 TV shows in the last four months but these are my top 5.
Abbott Elementary - This is a workplace comedy about elementary school teachers in Philadelphia. Everything about the show is perfect. I’m not joking.
Love Life - This TV show about the love lives of some 30-somethings is that good. It’s very wholesome with well-rounded characters you’ll root for, flaws and all.
Bel-Air - Remember all the teen shows from the 2000s (The OC, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill) with an all-black cast? That’s what this reboot of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is, so if you enjoyed those shows, this would be right up your alley.
Mood - This mini-series portrays the life of a runs girl/escort/sugar baby without condemning or glorifying the lifestyle. It’s also a musical, so it has some great original songs, and the lead actress is a delight to watch.
Little America - Any japa enthusiast should watch this anthology series about immigrants in America. It’s a bit like Kim’s Convenience, but grittier.
If you’re looking to discover new music, I’ve made a playlist of songs I’ve enjoyed recently. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer with the links below.
“Loneliness, longing, does not mean one has failed, but simply that one is alive.”
― Olivia Laing, The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone
the end.
Special thank you to Dunni, Mobisola & Olamide for the Yoruba translation and the edits.
What would say is the biggest negative impact/consequence of frequent mudanza that you have experienced?
Moving can be so stressful but at the same time liberating…. I know I just moved down to my present location but I still have this feeling that I’ll relocate sooner than I think… Great read