WHEN THERE IS A THUNDERSTORM IN SURULERE

                    source: pinterest 

Hold up.

No really, chill.

This blogpost will make zero sense if you don't listen to Lady Donli.

A little more than zero if you do, but you haven't heard my favourite jam of hers, "Thunderstorm in Surulere".

So you should listen to it first before reading this.

Or let it play while reading this, whatever you decide, hehehe.

All set?

Okayyyy, so here's the thing. I used to be deathly afraid of thunder<keyword for my opps: used to>.
I still hate thunder. It is too loud and it can be really terrifying I mean, I am just a girl?
Before, I'd really panic when there was a thunderstorm buuuut this blogpost is not about my response to terror, that would be giving too much information to my enemies.
This is about how all of that changed a lot when I discovered Lady Donli's "Thunderstorm in Surulere".
<warning: I am about to be super dramatic>.

When Lady Donli's "Thunderstorm in Surulere" comes on, it is like I no longer exist in this place.
Time assumes the shape of a sphere and unwraps itself as a cool evening in the late 1970s.
I find myself unfurling with time as someone else.
I have an afro twice the size of my head and a stick of cigarette tucked somewhere in all of that hair, like the super cool black girls in movies.
I am wearing thick lace styled into oleku— the scandalous version of iro and buba. There are many silver bangles on my wrists and my lips are coloured bright red.
I am one of the anti-imperialist student leaders desiring democracy, detesting military dictatorship and all its tools of suppression and, writing articles about my displeasure that I publish in one of the local newspapers under the pseudonym, "L'orage".
In this time and place that the music creates, I am not afraid of anything.

There’s a thunderstorm in Surulere
And I just want to get to you before it ends
There’s a thunderstorm in Surulere
Just want to hold you close to me
Before it ends

I am not afraid of anything. Not even thunderstorms. So while it is raining I am bravely making my way through the downpour in my Peugeot 404 sedan to meet my lover and hold them close. I am not afraid of anything. I am in love. I love them enough to drive to them during a thunderstorm. I am in love. I am loved. I am not afraid of anything.

Imaranma Eziokwu
You’re so good to me
You blessed my soul
Imaranma Eziokwu
Ayyy
Imaranma Eziokwu
You’re so good to me
You blessed my soul
Imaranma

The clouds are under my feet and lifting me up.

Higher up.

Higher up.

I am not afraid of anything. Not even thunder watching me from the corner of the sky and seething. Her lightening has crept away from her and weaved itself into a crown that now sits on my head and she is furious, but I am not afraid of anything. I am content. I am happy. I am dancing.


Go shawtie
Go shawtie
Go shawtie
Go shawtie
Go shawtie
Go shawtie
Go shawtie

I am dancing, they are cheering for me. My limbs do not make awkward movements, my waist is fluid.
My ancestors are peeping through heaven's windows. They are cheering for me. I am not afraid of anything, not even thunder.

<wipes lone tear from underneath right eye and smiles>.







Author's note:

Tell me, do you hate thunder too? Yes? Ouuu we are twins!
I love how art makes me feel; paintings, books, music?? I love how they carry me through times and spaces that I have never been to before. I think they create these many tiny portals that I can use to go anywhere I want and I love it so much.
I used to think I was a bit weird for being too heavily invested in these things but apparently I'm not the only one? I read a bunch of articles about the connection between art and emotions one time. This one about music was my favourite:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130418-why-does-music-make-us-feel-good

I am jealous of people that make art. I like to think that I make art too but I don't know?
<giggles in imposter>.
I hope I become one of those people that make the type of art that will make people feel things you know? I hope you read the things I write and feel less alone, and giggle a lirru, and feel seen and feel beautiful, and wonderful and stuff you know?

Enough about me, be a darling and recommend songs that make you feel things and travel places in the commentssss pleaseeee?
<you love me, don't air me>.

P.S Lady Donli, if you ever see this, I think you are super cool.

Oh and support my blog here, thanksss.

Ok thanks bye!