Life With Dolapo

  Click to listen while reading  Take the A Train! ❤️ When I first embarked on the journey of crafting Fade and Lele’s story over a month ago, I was at a bit of a loss. The spark was there, but the words eluded me. I knew I had to keep my blog alive with fresh content—despite the whirlwind of daily life and my own wavering mental state. So, I began to explore familiar themes and settings, looking for inspiration.  Names were essential, and I turned to Google for a list of male and female names. However, nothing quite captured the essence of the story I hadn’t fully formed yet. Then, out of the blue, I heard someone call out "Fadekemi." It struck me as a great idea, but I decided to simplify it to just “Fade.” I chuckled at the thought that some of my international readers might pronounce it as "Fade" (/feɪd/), while others might say it as "Fadé."  As for "Lele," it was born from my playful twist on the name "Leke." But what really blew ...

Click to listen while reading  Enduring Hope ❤️ Dollz’s Story at the summer camp  I was five years old  When I looked into the mirror and saw the most perfect little girl my parents adored  Then six years came 6 successful years of revolving round the sun When my class teacher Miss Joan  With the maroon red lipstick told me  “You’re simply too slow”  As I struggled to get my sums correctly.  Then at church  Max, the half American full of curiosity Asked me, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Why are you too black?” I had no reply for him  But the question definitely sent me to my mirror.  And in front of my mirror  I couldn’t help but notice new lines and cracks reflecting back at me. Between the ages of six and ten,  The vibrant memories of love and perfection began to fade.  Those years were marked by tumult—the beginning of my double life- A half and quarter with my mum  And whatever was left with my dad As my...

  Click to listen while reading  Wait for Me Fade had the summer of her life in Lagos—a full season bursting with the thrill of her wildest dreams and an unexpected spotlight that drew in not one, not two, but three charming guys. It all kicked off at the end of her first month in Lagos when she jumped into one of the most talked-about summer camps for teens, organized by the church her aunt and she attended. As the days counted down to camp, Fade decided to throw herself into the musical production. After a nerve-wracking audition, she snagged a pivotal role, singing in the scene that would close the entire show, bringing all the cast members together for a grand finale. As she took the stage to kick off the performance solo, she poured her heart into every note. The applause that erupted afterward confirmed that it wasn’t just in her imagination—everyone was raving about her performance.  Suddenly, she was the girl everyone recognized. Everywhere she went, she was met w...

Click to listen before reading❤️  Ololufe Mi Owon Lele felt a tight knot of anticipation in his stomach as he returned home after sorting through a mountain of urgent bills with the help of his friend, Prince. The moment he stepped through the door, one name echoed in his mind: Fade. He had promised her a message, and now it was time to follow through. Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through his notes until he found her number. His heart raced as he dialed, but the thrill quickly turned to confusion. Instead of Fade’s familiar voice, he found himself face-to-face with a torrent of Hausa being unleashed by a Mallam on the other end. Shocked, he instantly hung up, his mind racing. Surely, this had to be a mistake. He tried again, but the same fiery voice greeted him. Panic set in. Had Fade accidentally given him the wrong number? Or worse, had she intentionally misled him? "No way," he thought, shaking his head in disbelief. “We were both vibing too well for that.”  Feeling ...

  Click to listen while reading❤️  Count on You How quickly time slipped away from them without their notice was nothing short of astonishing! Three hours had vanished in the blink of an eye, filled with laughter and deep conversations. Both of them sensed that if they had a whole day, they would barely scratch the surface of all they could discuss. Curiosity sparked an endless stream of questions, drawing them closer, like siblings discovering shared secrets. In those fleeting moments together, he felt an undeniable pull toward her—a desire to learn everything about her and to weave her into the fabric of his everyday life. He was captivated by the way her mind worked, and he knew, deep down, that there had to be a next time. And if she was willing, he wanted there to be many more moments like this.  These thoughts swirled in Lele’s mind as he waited alongside Fade for a tricycle (Keke) to fill up with passengers. Just as the tricycle was about to move, he gathered his c...