ASAKE OKIN

Maybe he doesn’t know, but you never asked. Maybe she doesn’t have, but you never asked. You assumed you know her, but her appearance is far from her struggles. You assumed he is happy, but his smile is plastic.  I couldn’t help but notice she wasn’t properly dressed for salaat. I tried to focus on the lecture, but I kept thinking about her. When I finally had the opportunity to speak with her, she said: “I don’t like going to the mosque because people stir at me like I have done something wrong”. I asked her why she was dressed the way she was, but her answer shocked me. “This is the only scarf I have,” she said. A year or a two before that, I had 50 scarfs, it had never crossed my mind that there are people who do not have scarfs for salat. “Asake, she’s fasting but never joins us in congregational prayers. Today, I challenged her, but her response surprised me”, Musa said. “I don’t have a Khimar and our uniform is a short sleeve with jeans, so I pray when I get home” She r...

As I saw the car parked in front of their house, I knew it would be picking one of them.  As she approached their gate, I noticed how simple but elegantly dressed she was.  Even though I watched the car zoom off, it was her outfit I kept thinking of. As usual, I went visiting the next day, our folks have been friends before I was born and anytime my folks needed to send me on “the errand of no return” popularly known as Arodan in Yoruba, I was sent to their house. “Are you here for Arodan?” my Aunt asked, before I could respond she continued “go to the girls’ room, Fao is  looking for you" B, how are you today? Fao said “I love what you wore yesterday” I responded. Pardon my manners, good afternoon sis” I concluded “Really, you can have it” she said. She opened her wardrobe and brought out others, yes you can have them too. From that day till S.G came to whisk her away, she always gave me clothes. She taught me a simple lesson,  as long as they ...

First of all, go down low... Couple of months ago, I wrote about making the first move in Kwanza and now…… Born in a country where men making the first move is the norm ( I mean guy toasting the girl ). I have always waited for the guy to ask me out. 90% guys I really like end up not asking me out. When the ones you don’t like ask you out and you turn them down, some say you are too choosy Few months ago, I met an amazing guy, You know those forever-like kind of guy ? We instantly clicked and I am certain we will make a good couple. It has been 8months and 16days, he hasn't made a move. Asake, do you think I should ask him out? Till next time, don’t be afraid to make the first move, it is either a “yes or a no” don’t settle for maybe. Kwanza: means first Keji: means two or second.