Clothing, Creative, Fashion, Photography

Kindness is Always in Fashion

“Good afternoon oga, please na who get this Napep?” I asked with so much confidence, you’d think I wanted to buy the yellow Keke Napep, there and then.

This had been a very eventful morning.
It was a public holiday that had me up at 5:00am trying to sort out the two outfits I intended using for the photoshoot Tomi slated for that day.

Still half-asleep, I tried the black dress on and went to the mirror to see if it gave me the overall picture I had painted in my head.

You see, there are usually no mirrors at our photoshoot sites, so I mostly have to make sure I’m seeing first-hand, in the mirror, the effect we intend to produce – in pictures. I gave a nod of approval to myself, by myself, lol and sluggishly walked to my brother’s room.

“Tomi it’s 6 O’clock” I yawn. I was half-hoping he’d yawn back and say “I’m tired jare, can’t we do this shoot some other time?”. I think we both knew that if we didn’t suck it up and get it done once and for all, we would keep pushing the shoot for the next few weeks. Plus, you know that saying of procrastination being the thief of time and the one of not putting off till tomorrow what you can do today?

Anyways, we hit the road in search of ‘The Spot’. I wanted brick walls so badly, hence, we started off with Dominos at Falomo. Let’s just say the mallam at Chicken-Republic dinnor get the kindness memo ’cause he vehemently refused us parking in their compound.

We picked up our remaining pride and headed to the Dominos at VI and yes guys, yes, they were so accommodating! The staff kept peeping at us like I was Genevieve having a photoshoot with Kelechi Amadi-Obi. We really did have a fun shoot there.

We decided we’d had a really great one and we wrapped-up for the day (this was around 9am o.. before you start thinking I’m vain) and we headed home.

On getting to the street before our street, we remembered we had to check-out one Keke Napep that we spotted when we were leaving in the morning. The Napep was parked outside the compound of a really big house. You know the way Lagos houses are nauw – big house, no parking space.

I alighted from the car and strolled to the gate where I met another mallam. “Me and mallams today sha” I muttered under my breath..

“Good afternoon oga, please na who get this Napep?”…
“My oga” he replied. At this point, Tomi had joined me at the gate. “We fit follow your oga talk?” I ventured further. He obliged us and went to help us call Oga.

So that’s how the Oga came out o, the oga was looking like a tall bar of dark-Chocolate. However, what was not so inviting about the chocolate bar was that, he was not smiling.

Wait, why exactly did I summon this respectable gentleman again sef? I was already imagining how irritated he will be when he hears why he had been called-out of his comfort place. The effontry! Ghen! Maybe I should just say “sorry sir, wrong address” and be on my way. But will I nauw ditch Tomi ni?

While my mind and I agreed to take the easy way out, my legs decided to have a mind of their own… they were glued to the high-levelled ground.

The mallam’s oga was at this point towering right over me. His gaze held a “Well, yeah?” … I quickly picked up the pieces of courage I had left and ventured, “Hello sir, please sir, I was wondering if you would please indulge us by letting us use your beautiful yellow mobile box for a Fashion Shoot.”

“Fashion Shoot?” He asked with a confused blink and I went ahead to explain our goals and objectives.. lol..

“Oh, yeah, go ahead” he muttered. “Ah, thank you sir, we will just hurry home to do a quick change of outfit, and we will be back in a jiffy”. We disappeared.
We drove home gladly, did an outfit change and headed back to our yellow-box props.

Lo and Behold, a black jeep had parked side-by-side the Napep, making it absolutely impossible for it to be useful for the shoot.I was just weak. “What’s all this nah” I lamented, in frustration. I approached the man-by-the-gate. “Na who get this jeep” I asked, which sounded more like an accusation. Lol.

“My oga” he replied. Now I was ‘shook’. Why did he nauw block the Napep after he had assured us freedom-of-usage. Did he change his mind? Abi he was just putting us on scale.
We implored the man to help us call this ‘Our Oga’ out a second time.

Baba sauntered out..
“SIR, your jeep is blocking the Napep” I whined, “hope you don’t mind removing it” I added, which sounded more like a command than a request. Ah sometimes, I have guts sha. Lol. He looked at me in amusement.

“It’s okay,” he said. “Not a problem.” He had a warm smile on his face and true admiration in his eyes. He was a good man for its own sake and required nothing in return.

He got into his jeep and started the engine to get it as far away from his Napep as possible. Lol. On top his own property. 🀣. We got talking and I asked if he was Hausa, “I’m from Southern Kaduna” he replied in the most patriotic way. “You?” he asked. “I’m a Yoruba girl, sir. And it is sooo nice to meet you.”, I beamed.

In no time, under the efficient hands of Tomi, the shoot commenced.
Passers-by on the street nicknamed me “Fulani” and kept hailing me throughout the shoot… it was so hilarious.. do you guys think it had something to do with my dressing?

A few minutes later he came out from his compound and said his teenage daughter asked if she could watch our shoot. He left after politely requesting we bring her back into the house when we were done.

In a world where kidnap and dishonesty is now so rampant, we were immensely touched that after willingly letting us disturb him for his Napep, he could still blindly trust us, strangers, with his precious young daughter.

The world isn’t always a friendly, happy place, but there are some nice people out here who spread kindness just because.

I like to re-echo kindness when I experience it. Thank you, Mr Southern Fulani; with that simple act, you unknowingly taught me that kindness is a National Commodity.

Guys, let’s learn to be kind even when it’s not convenient and especially when we expect nothing in return. Won’t hurt to do something nice to one random person this Christmas.

Say hi to the security man on your way out, ask after your colleague’s family, help that old lady cross the road, stop at the zebra crossing for pedestrians to pass, make extra food for that person that can’t afford a good meal, be kind, be kind, be so kind… most times it costs absolutely nothing!

This one is from Lagos with love; wishing you a kindhearted weekend! πŸ€ͺ

41 thoughts on “Kindness is Always in Fashion

  1. Awwwww….this made a very interesting read. The words were calming…. Thank you for always blessing us with your blog posts.

    1. Thank youuuuu for always being kind enough to read them all. Love youuuuuuuu β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘β™‘!

  2. Girllll!!! Truth!!!
    First – the Dress!!! Southern Fulani with the bamboo bag😊😊😊.

    Your post warms my heart knowing that everytime and in every way a few persons are still being Rare gems and touching lives one smile at a time.

    Thanks Babe..

    1. Thank youuuuu, Sister Love. 🀣🀣🀣 I knowwwwww! The outfit burst my brain πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ€£πŸ€£πŸ€£πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ€£πŸ€£πŸ€£. So Southern Kadunan. I feel like I was made for that tribe 🀣🀣. Lol. Thank you for your kind words babyy β™‘

  3. You won’t stop to amaze me. Without in-depth effico about writing, this is an excellent attempt at critical writing. See why you are a genius! Wonderful arts in the hand of a colossus and the products are just beautiful. A true lesson on kindness, gregarious and courage.
    Now, I understood Maybe this epic prayer, “O ye gods render me worthy of these noble damsels.”
    Merry Christmas and a kindhearted celebration. Please, “Thou shalt not kill at Christmas, ” I trust I speak your mind, dear Le Bon mot!

    1. Lmao Daddy 🀣🀣🀣. I am not worthy of this kind remark, coming from a profound Genius like you πŸ™‡β€β™€οΈπŸ™‡β€β™€οΈπŸ™‡β€β™€οΈπŸ™‡β€β™€οΈπŸ™‡β€β™€οΈπŸ™‡β€β™€οΈ. I’m beaminggggg. Hahahahaaa thannk uou sir. I’m only trying to follow in your footstep. Thank you for the great example. Definitely looking forward to a kind-hearted celebration πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½

  4. You won’t stop to amaze me. Without in-depth effico about writing, this is an excellent attempt at critical writing. See why you are a genius! Wonderful arts in the hand of a colossus and the products are just beautiful. A true lesson on kindness, gregarious and courage.
    Now, I understood Maybe this epic prayer, “O ye gods render me worthy of these noble damsels.”
    Merry Christmas and a kindhearted celebration. Please, “Thought shalt not kill at Christmas, ” I trust I speak your mind, dear Le Bon mot!

  5. Wow……nice !nice!nice!Your write ups are AmazingπŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘!!!I served in southern Kaduna, a place called Zonkwa…They are very nice people!!!I can attest to that and they don’t like being caller Hausas or Fulani….Lol…And that’s why he sharply answered I’m from Southern Kaduna Instead of saying I’m a northener but not Hausa Tribe…Way to go girl and welldone to my adopted Broda…TixelsπŸ˜πŸ˜πŸ˜πŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒ

  6. Amazing!!!😍😘😘😘😘nice !nice!nice!what an Amazing write up…wonderful Dress and costume!!!πŸ€©πŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒway to go girl….thumbs up Tixels!!I served in Southern Kaduna, In a Town called Zonkwa…..That’s how they proudly Identify themselves…they don’t like been called Hausa or Fulani…πŸ‘ŽπŸ‘Žbut they are kind people….very very accomodating, I can attest to that….πŸ˜„welldone Guys….more grace to your elbows😘😘😘😘

    1. Imagine! There are beautiful hearted people in this countryyyyyyyyy! It is so exciting! Hahahaa. He is Southern Kadunan and proud! Awwhh you must have had such an amazing time serving in Zonkwa. So glad you enjoyed this. Thank you babe

  7. Driving straight to my heart !! VoooooooooomπŸ’¨,kindness kindness! Rare but when I see one , it gladdens my heart , I love every bit of the write up , so warm and seem like I was somewhere in that scene watching everything from when you got permission, to your thoughts and to the very end…. I just love it 😍, the world ain’t ready yet ❀️

    1. So glad you felt the warmth πŸ˜ŠπŸ˜ŠπŸ˜ŠπŸ˜ŠπŸ€—πŸ€—πŸ€—πŸ€—πŸ€—. Thank you for sharing your kind thought, Olajumoke πŸ–€

  8. This story telling is on another level,I can literally visualize the drama that happened. Kudos to your dark chocolate bar

  9. I sincerely read this severally the whole story was captivating, speaking of kindness i hope your brother would be so kind to take my photos ☺ Tolu please permit me to tap in your anointing to be a very good writer as you are. Enjoy favour dear friend the sky is your beginning 😘

  10. A really nice write-up. I very much enjoyed it. You never cease to amaze me with your insights. Kudos to you, ma’am!

  11. I sincerely read this severally the whole story is just so captivating, speaking of kindness i hope your brother would be so kind to take my photos because he’s so good at it. Tolu please permit me to tap in your anointing so that I’ll be a very good writer as you are πŸ˜€. You are a child of a King and have access to unlimited favor so enjoy it, the best is yet to come😘

  12. Nice write up Fola!

    Thanks for sharing and teaching us to stick to kindness!

    This made my evening

    Thank You

    1. πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½πŸ’ƒπŸ½ Ore mi, Banji . Thanks for reading dear. So glad the article was helpful.

  13. Tolu my sweet friend. You are an amazing writer. Wish it didn’t end. You are one of the few people I know with a heart of gold. Always smiling. Your happiness is contagious. Can i relocate next to you?

    1. Hahahhahahahahhaaa πŸ˜‚πŸ€£πŸ€£πŸ€£ Abi me I should relocate next to you … so that I will be in the abroad too. Lol. Thank you, Yele β™‘

    1. Thank youuuuu babyyyyyyyy πŸ˜†πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜

  14. Girrrrrrrl! You never Disappoint. I felt like I was at the scene. Delivering such good message with so much calmness 😘😘.
    All in all, EVERYBODY MATTERS.
    Keep it up my darling. πŸ€—πŸ€—

  15. Kindness doesn’t belong to a race or tribe. It flows abundantly in the heart of whoever allows it.
    Many people have commended the write-up but I think the selling point of that fantastic composition is the picture of you; that your signature smile tho…with the β€œmy mummy” touch.
    Kudos and merry Christmas to you too.
    Love you plentiful.

  16. Hey there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone
    3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts!

    Keep up the superb work!

  17. Generally I do not learn post on blogs, but I wish to say that
    this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do so!
    Your writing taste has been surprised me.
    Thanks, quite nice post.

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  19. May I just say what a relief to uncover someone that genuinely understands
    what they are discussing on the internet. You actually realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
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  20. Hello there! This article couldnΓ­t be written any better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I will forward this information to him. Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Thanks for sharing!

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