ETP Weekly 013

[Letters from Lagos 007]

Feb 02, 2026

Happy New Week and Happy New Month all. I hope my words find you happy and healthy as we step into February. At this point, I’ve accepted that time defies my comprehension, because it doesn’t feel real to say we are in February 2026 (2021 was 5 years ago??), but here we are! As my time in Nigeria draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on my days here, what I’ve learned and how I’ve grown as a person, if at all.I hope it goes without saying that I’ve enjoyed myself. Over the past two months I have spent quality time with family, met incredible people and had experiences I will hold close to my heart. I’ve observed a sense of proactivity and relentless self-belief that has inspired me at this stage of my life, I’ve learned not only about myself but about my family at large and ultimately I feel nourished and prepared to tackle this season that’s shrouded in so much uncertainty. Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting parts of Nigeria which I hadn’t previously seen, namely Ife, Ilesa and Osogbo. The trip was an eye opening one, as I experienced Nigeria outside the Lagos/Ibadan context that I had become somewhat familiar with. The novel settings still held a sense of familiarity though,and in a way I felt like I was witnessing scenes that I had previously seen. OAU Campus, however, felt like stepping into a whole new world. It was like seeing my Uni experience transposed into a Nigerian context - bigger and more animated. Exploring the grounds, watching the dramatic arts students in a rehearsal and eating at a joint on campus, I felt myself imagining what it would have been like to be a student there. I say that in no way to romanticise the Nigerian university experience, but a general theme of this trip has been observing the parallels between my life as it is and as it could have been and trying to make the best of those worlds. In any case, here are some things I’ve been thinking about this week.

Ancestral Veneration

Ancestral veneration is an integral element of Yoruba spirituality, with ancestral spirits serving as protectors, intermediaries with the divine and sources of wisdom. While I am a Christian and I do not have a shrine to my ancestors, I do think there’s something profound in the idea of those who preceded you acting as guiding forces as you navigate life. In writing this, I’m laughing to myself as I’m reminded of Avatar the last airbender - Aang is able to tap in with previous avatars for guidance on his journeys. This trip has made me realise that I too am blessed to be able to commune with my ancestors, but in the physical realm. It is an obvious assertion in the literal sense but my previous association with the word ‘ancestors’ was to imagine someone in precolonial Ileogbo living a life far removed from mine. In acknowledging that my parents and my grandparents are my most direct ancestors, the significance of their presence in my life has dawned on me immensely. I am incredibly grateful to have loving parents who have supported me through life’s inevitable highs and lows. As I get older, this sense of gratitude is only amplified, as I can lean on their counsel while I navigate the jungle that is adulthood. Seeing my grandparents last week filled me with gratitude as I observed them not only through my eyes but through the eyes of my friends who had never met them before. In witnessing my grandmother’s encyclopaedic knowledge, my grandfather’s charismatic wit and their generous hospitality I felt honoured to know that I descend from a lineage of people who I admire. You cannot choose the family you are born into, so I thank God for blessing me with ancestors, both living and deceased, who I can look to with pride.

Acts of Faith

There’s a line on Show Dem Camp’s ‘Kele’ which states that “when you bet on yourself is like an act of faith”. At this moment I find myself in, that line has been reverberating in my head. The Bible defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” and as I’ve ruminated on both lines I’ve understood that if betting yourself is an act of faith, that is to say it is an act that demonstrates a belief in the manifestation of intangible aspirations. Last week I had two conversations with people who’ve bet on themselves by pursuing aspirations that don’t necessarily align with conventional logic but most definitely align with their sense of purpose. It was very encouraging to learn about how they’d navigated uncertainty on their journey and how their faith has been rewarded in different ways. Ultimately I was reminded to lean into the thing that makes me unique. This sentiment echoed as I watched Improv Circle’s brilliant performance this weekend. Yimika had explained his vision to bring Improv Comedy to Nigeria when we’d met previously so I was incredibly moved to see the manifestation of that vision play out in real time. these conversations and experiences have impressed on me the depth of the rewards that lay on the other end of faith and for that encouragement I am very grateful

Tokunbo

Last week, I visited the state I come from, the state my friend comes from as well his Alma Mater. These trips compelled me to think about the idea of ‘return’. One of my names translates to ‘The crown has returned from abroad’ which leads me to question why it had to leave in the first place. Whatever the answer may be, it seems as though there is a gravitational pull that draws one to return to the source. Speaking for myself, I have always felt a desire to understand my heritage, something that could partially be attributed to being in antagonistic environments but in doing so I have felt I developed a deeper sense of self. Return therefore seems to bear a spiritual dimension. I think of the importance of reconnecting with one’s inner child, the sense of innocence, the audacity and it seems that the acknowledgement that no matter how far/much you g(r)o(w), in some sense you will always need to return.