Ayoola World

20/02/2025

Si Baba mi Owon, it sounds nice. Since you are with Him, let me greet you with the most blessed greeting: As-Salam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu.

I've always had the urge to write about you, but due to my limited knowledge of who you are, I didn't write anything. I was fortunate enough to have met you, even though it was for a short time.

Ya Allah, as we approach the Holy Month of Ramadan, I pray that You forgive and grant my father Al-Janatul Firdaus. Lastly, I pray that if there was anyone he offended, whether intentionally or unintentionally, make their heart soften to forgive him.

Till we meet again in the promised land for believers.

18/10/2024

18/10/2024

This writer would love to clear her throat before giving this unsolicited opinion. The word "unsolicited" was once used by a friend of mine who chose to ignore my question, but here I'm ignoring public opinion. You might want to ask what this is about. I'm here just for that. But before I say anything, I'll love to crucify myself before you do.

I'm not a big fan of Nigerian movies, not that I don't watch them. I do, but only if the movie features some of my favorite actors or is recommended by a trusted person. When watching, I try my best to set aside personal feelings and expectations. I look forward to seeing new ideas, talents, and something that will make me feel like it was totally worth it!

This brings me to why I'm doing this. For the past few days, I've been seeing clips and reviews about Mummywa's movie, "My Sunshine." Due to my not-so-busy schedule, I was unable to watch it immediately (I know you're not interested in knowing my schedule, but...).

I will start by sharing my first thoughts about the movie before diving into how I felt while watching it and afterwards. The first title I saw on the first page was "Nigeria Korea Movie." Honestly, it got me hooked, and I began to ruminate about what the movie would be about. I love the fact that she thought completely outside the box. It was a fresh, beautiful, and innovative idea.

A whole lot of questions ran through my mind: What's the plot? Who's in the cast? Is the language spoken only Korean or with some English? Before sharing how I felt while watching, let me offer my "unsolicited advice." The first clip I watched was Toyo asking them to move. I saw absolutely nothing wrong with it, which made me decide to watch the movie.

Here comes the unsolicited advice: let's appreciate our own because no one will do it for us! I'm not one to compare, but there are foreign movies where our dialects are spoken, and pronunciation isn't a problem. Instead, we see it as comic relief. Hmmmm, the irony of life!

Now, back to how I felt while watching the film. It doesn't matter to you, but I'll say it: it was MAGICAL! I felt butterflies in my stomach at some scenes and sadness in others. One thing I loved was the movie's simplicity! I don't know who suggested the cast, but it was one of the best! Apart from the fresh idea, the cast killed their roles, though it was a bit messy. Mistakes help us grow!

One of my favorite scenes was when the main leads bumped into each other. I expected Charis to say something stupid or act coyly, like her friend did, but she said, "Are you blind?" Also, the incorporation of typical Nigerian mothers' behavior, like when she wanted to attend Gerald's party and told her mom her religious friend would be there too. Seriously, Nigerian mothers and their behavior!

Overall, did the movie meet my expectations? Yes, it did. But was it 100% satisfying? No, but it was more than average. Oh, I almost forgot to mention my favorite cast members: Khalid, Mummywa, Motola, Angel, and Mr. Heelariouz.

Hey, I'm not a reviewer; I just love appreciating outstanding works of art. This movie hit me at the right spot. I'm not forcing my opinion on you; remember, this is my unsolicited opinion.

Before I stop here for now, answer this question in your mind: assuming this was produced by a famous foreign country, would pronunciation and diction be a problem?

To the cast and crew of "My Sunshine," take your flowers.

18/10/2024

My new daily mantra: "Don't think, just do it."

"Ashiata, you've changed!" This was said to me by a few people who know me. "You, who was shy and always kept to yourself." All these and more were said solely because of my active use of this social media. Hey! They weren't trying to make me feel bad, but they were shocked at how much I've changed. And I still remember my civic teacher saying that "change is the only constant thing in life." I'm so elated that the changes noticed were positive, Alhamdulilahi! Because I could have changed to something worse that I wouldn't be proud of.

And before I forget, I promise to publicly appreciate some special people God sent to make my life easier and worth it. I can't wait to shed tears while writing it. You unknown heroes behind this little girl deserve praise.

After getting those comments from more than one person, it dawned on me that I am doing the right thing. It also made me reflect on my past and my present. I know I didn't mention my future; that's because it's in the hands of my Maker. (Actually, I thought about it...) Don't say anything about my little side comment! OK, we're all free to think about the unknown, but I just plan and leave the rest to my Master to handle. Learn to trust God and witness how smooth your life will be.

I won't dive into my past because it is the past. But all I know is that the past is there for us to look back and appreciate God, people, and yourself. Now, to the present. To me, it means gift. And when you are unwrapping a gift sent to you by someone, you are either excited, anxious, sad, or neutral about knowing what is in the box. Because of what the person has sent to you before or you know what might be in the box. So is the present, when you are living, trying to unwrap your plans and expectations. Your mood is determined by your past and your anxiety about what the future holds.

Should I let you in on one of my little secrets? Then it won't be a secret anymore, but it will be a lesson for those who care. I was extremely worried about what my future holds, so I began to worry. But do you know what happened? Firstly, I stopped living in the moment. Then I began to overthink (maybes became my favorite words, and also "if only I had..."). Finally, I remained in a spot. Hmmm, I regret doing that, but it's never too late. (Before you ask, I have one of the most supportive and loving people in my life - my family). If I were to advise my younger self, I would say, "LET IT GO." I also want to thank myself for taking baby steps and for being who I am today. It wasn't easy getting here, but guess what? You did it! You might not be where you want to be yet, but with Allah, everything is possible. In the process of becoming this new Ashiata Gambari, I cried, prayed, talked, smiled, and believed.

By the way, I'm still that little shy girl.

14/10/2024

The best way to entertain yourself? Act like a fool and sit back to observe how others behave. The reaction is priceless!!!