From My View: The Geegpay Writing and Storytelling Challenge

Amina's Tori: From Story to Glory

BBC Africa Spotlight

Wahala dey always dey for this life. Sometimes e be like say dem dey throw lemons give us, and to make lemonade from am no easy matter. Na so I, Amina, wey dey 25 years old and wan become photographer, dey feel. But life no gree make my plans work. E con be like say, watin dem dey talk for street now say "no gree for anybody" - na only for my side e dey.

I dey hustle with freelance jobs and I still dey take care of my mama wey don old. E hard me sotay e be like say I dey waka for darkness, like person wey no get value and wan give up. E be like say no hope for me. I just taya, like seriously.

But one day, something wey I no expect happen. I jam one big artist. Wetin dem talk ginger my spirit wey don nearly die. Na so hope just shine for my life wey dey dark.

But the matter no easy at all. Plenty wahala still dey show face. Sometimes I dey doubt myself, dey wonder if I dey chase something wey no fit happen. But as I dey face all these challenges, I come see say I get power wey I never know say dey inside me.

I learn say resilience no be to run away from wahala, but to face am, even when everything dey beg make you run. I learn say true strength dey for to accept say you be human and to gather courage even when everything dey shake.

Small small, I begin change my story. I stop make situation define me and I begin control my own life. I hold onto belief for myself and I no gree let my dreams waka.
I thank God shaa, say everything later end in joy and laugher, for me, my mama, and my small siblings wey dey my back.

Hmm. As burna boy don talk am say "Life E no easy", but na the stronghead wey I get to make am for this journey, na him help me. Anytime I dey wakka for area, and I jam these young aspiring photographers, I dey always tell them my journey from struggle to success. I see say sometimes, the hardest fights fit bring the sweetest victories. Life fit throw us lemons, but na our choice if we wan use am to our advantage.

Thanks for reading 💯👌