LOW ODDS BUT STILL POSSIBLE...



I had just concluded reading a really interesting Nigerian novel, Hafsatu Bebi by Fatima Bala. Mehn, it was so interesting that the storyline and plot twists blew my mind. For one, I've learned to enjoy a story while ensuring I don’t get so carried away that I forget the important parts.

My favorite aspect of any piece of literature is figuring out the coded message the writer is trying to convey. As I read between the lines, I almost instantly fell in love with this writer for pointing out a truth we often neglect through her story.

One of the many lessons I drew from this book is that before you claim not to be like your parents in specific behaviors you find wrong, ask yourself if you've done any intentional work on yourself to validate that claim.

"I'm not my parent" is not something you say lightly. We share an origin and a unique design! It takes more than mere confession to truly break free from patterns inherited from them.

We often forget that our parents are human—they make mistakes and missteps. Yet, we judge them harshly, hating parts of them. If there's one thing I know about rage, it’s that it’s a sign you haven’t healed.

In the words of Mr. Pojo, "If you hate without proper reasoning, you end up in it." Like it or not, we become what we hate. We become the very monsters we loathe if we do not learn to understand, reason, and forgive.

As I watched the story unfold, and the gentleman Saqid come to the realization that he’s his father’s son, I smiled. Because I know firsthand that running away from a thing doesn’t make it disappear. Denial, hate, and disgust toward something without a basis of understanding is vain.

Dearest reader, allow me to repeat this for the 100th time: Heal from your trauma, lest you become the very thing you hate. Forgive the people who hurt you—it’s a step in the right direction. And never deny your roots; they can determine what you are capable of and who you turn out to be. Instead, embrace them, understand them, and then decide to transcend them (become a better version of yourself).

Another day to remind you that African literature is bae 🥳



@favvy_Okwansđź–¤. 

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