TOLU'S DIARY

TUESDAYS 10AM

Hi diary,

I’m back with too much juice and sauce.

Never skip a shot of my drink because it might be suicidal - lol.

Looking into the mirror opposite my writing table, I saw strands of grey hair in my black beards. My reflection for this episode comes as a result of the ‘beard gang’ look.

Growing up, I always tried to look good (a trait I inherited from my late maternal grandfather; he was a dandy). Incisions into the forehead by the clipper every now and then all in the name of showing dexterity as the peacock; blessed with so much hair (hair fall on me).

In my early twenties, I could probably compete with Osama Bin Laden in the beard category. Beards became trendy years ago which brought about memes such as ‘’a male without beards is not a man’’ (that is a weird school of thought). Guys looked cuter in beards which made my late grandfather say, ‘’how I wish I can go back to my youthful days’’.

Meanwhile my mom hated it. She'd always say to me

‘’you are looking much older than your father, please cut it off’’.

The pressure she put on the matter, made it feel like a crime of felony.  She often urged me to see her pastor. On the other hand, damsels love this beat, especially that line from an artiste that says ‘’I’m not that old now, fami ni irugbon (drag my beards)’’.

I like the switch in personality that having beards bring. Once, I visited a Muslim dominated community. A sheikh greeted me , saying Asam-alekun which I responded as if I was a fellow believer. I knew I was addressed the way I dressed my face. There was a case of impersonation when I sat at the rear of my uncle’s jeep. Police on the highway looked at the driver (my uncle) and saluted me expecting some wads.

Having bulky beards is the new hot! But, I had to cut it off when I joined the force.

 I know you have something to say about today’s reflection so I leave you to drop your comments in the spaces below the diary. Catch you later dearies.

Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel is a budding poet and novelist. He has featured in two ebook publications; Woman vs Man: A cultural difference and 'A woman's pot, a man's stomach': A collection of poem on delicacies both by Sandra T. Adeyeye. He has a B.Sc Hons in Microbiology from Adekunle Ajasin university, Akungba-Akoko Ondo state. A lover of artwork, music and football. Tolu hails from Akure in Ondo state. The single Youngman is interested in taking Africa to the world with his style of writing.

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