THIS IS SOBO-LATION
I grew up leading a tush life, surrounded by tush people. We were the Oluyole Estate, NIHORT – Idishin, Old & New Bodija, Agodi GRA and UI quarters kids. I grew up within a close guarded space that I did not realize that there were other realities apart from the cream, phoneé-blowing life that I was raised in. In our circle, English was the language we spoke and our lifestyle was defined by the things we watched on cable TV and foreign magazines. We did not speak Yoruba much because we were taught that it was vernacular and razz. So, within our space, vernacular was banned. Our aspirations were foreign and that defined the things we opened up ourselves to and also condoned. So it was impossible that I’d ever hear the word “sobolation”.
I cannot recall now when I first heard that word, but I remember that it was a word I picked up somewhere. Yes, I remember vaguely too where I had picked it – and I am certain it wasn’t from my circle of friends, it wasn’t from my school and it was definitely not from my hood. The first time I heard the word was during a visit to my mother’s tailor’s at Mokola. Two girls were tearing each other to pieces with words and that was when it dropped: sobo-lation!
Me, I passed my verdict straight up: razz!
Then I went elsewhere and then I heard it again and again and again till finally, it stuck in my head. Sobolation. The word kept ringing that I had to go seek the meaning out. If our slangs had a dictionary, this will be the dictionary entry for sobo-lation
Sobolation /soboleI∫(ə)n/ n. (spoken) –
(derived from the expression “sobó yo’ké ” plus the English suffix -tion) the act of not minding one’s business and chooking mouth into someone else’ business: sobolation elenu gboro!
SNY: solo makinde, olofofo
Now you are thinking, why Sobolation now?
It’s almost 3 years since I started Awa Ti Ibadan and the passion to meet interesting people and discover sights and sounds still burns in my heart. But much more, I want to tell you of backstories – of things that happened in the putting together of different series. I want to tell you stories of faceless people trapped in a world of their own. I want to ‘gossip’ about the things that happen in my world and to know if our experiences are similar. I want to tell you all about conversations I overhear in Micra cabs and beautiful stories I read on Twitter.
What’s more? I want gatecrash weddings with friends and then tell you all about the parties. Those are the things I want to write about – simple stories showing pieces of our daily lives. In the simple things lie the greatest and deepest truths of life.
Every Friday, I will be here to do sobo lo yo’ke (sobolation) for all friends who love to read juicy gists.
With great joy, I welcome you to Sobolation.
(If you are on Twitter please follow at @awatiibadan and Instagram, @_awatiibadan)
