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Lola Akinmade
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Category: Asia

This section spotlights travel experiences, articles, and photography covering places and regions I’ve explored in Asia – from Southeast Asia to central Asia and more.

Photos: Istanbul in low light

by Lola AkinmadeAsiaPosted on November 13, 2019December 17, 2020No Comments

These night photos of Istanbul truly transport me back.

Japan for families: Things to do in Nikko

by Lola AkinmadeAsia, Reviews + PartnershipsPosted on October 31, 2019December 17, 2020No Comments

Saying my daughter is fascinated by Japan is quite the understatement…

My visual story from Uzbekistan

by Lola AkinmadeAsia, Reviews + PartnershipsPosted on November 6, 2018November 7, 2018No Comments

Here is my image bank with several galleries filled with memorable photos of Uzbekistan.

72 Nepal Photos + Video: Local Living in Panauti

by Lola AkinmadeAsiaPosted on October 13, 2018October 19, 20184 Comments

Because slowing down gets you closer…

The Serengeti in black and white

by Lola AkinmadeAfrica, AsiaPosted on September 3, 2018September 5, 2018No Comments

Seeing the Serengeti in black and white evoked a whole new set of feelings…

Postcard: A stormy day in Hong Kong

by Lola AkinmadeAsiaPosted on May 8, 2018No Comments

On my way to Zurich, I had a long layover in Hong Kong…

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  • "If you could wake up excited every morning and do the one thing that you love everyday, what would it be?" This was the question my friend @yahnnysanluis asked me during our long overdue heart-to-heart call this morning. "Hmmm," I started. "It would involve three things - writing, photography, and traveling. Maybe as a resident storyteller somewhere. In short, all what I do now, but without the burden of having to worry about finances." I already know my "WHY" and "WHAT", but the "HOW" often eludes me. The "HOW" often eludes most of us who are living out our purpose. After that beautiful conversation, I went right into another soulful one with my friend @baiba.ziga, where we talked about life coming full circle, and pulling us back to spaces of healing, so we can continue to grow and evolve. Our conversation was about redefining what success truly means. We talked about the world's 1% making insane amounts of money per hour, and the disingenuity of it all. For me, success is about the freedom and flexibility that comes with tearing yourself away from following someone else's standard. Not dimming your light for someone who you would never even take advice from in your personal life. "It's also about taking care of our communities," Baiba said. "About charging the big bucks in service to our communities, building generational wealth, and creating alliances to co-create. The moment we start organizing as communities, we're so much stronger." So, I asked Baiba the same question Yahnny asked me. "If you could wake up excited every morning and do the one thing that you love everyday, what would it be?" "I already wake up excited with the possibility of my own potential even though I don't know where all this is heading," Baiba told me. "I'm showing up with intention and doing my part. I'm starting and finishing the day by loving myself through meditation, exercise, good food, reading, and just taking care of myself in different ways." "I don't worry about the 'HOW'", Baiba went on to say. "The 'HOW' is the work of the divine." And that was the reminder I needed... (READ THE REST IN THE COMMENTS)
  • Every year, I pick out a focus word. A word that governs various aspects of my life that year in lieu of resolutions: focus (2009), discipline (2010), growth (2011), nurture (2012), surrender (2013), challenge (2014), connect (2015), strength (2016), self-care (2017), evolve (2018), simplify (2019), energy (2020), release (2021), structure (2022), grace (2023), and trust (2024). ======================== My word for last year was all about letting go. Not only was it a process of releasing control, it was also an intentional act of cleaning house metaphorically to make abundant space for alignment and all that 2025 is bringing. It’s one thing to trust. It’s another to move like you believe it’s already done. And this is why my focus word for 2025 is… MANIFEST The dictionary defines MANIFEST as to: - make evident or certain by showing or displaying - prove and put beyond doubt or question - show something clearly through signs or actions - attempt to attain (something desired) by thinking or focusing intensely on it, especially as a spiritual or self-help practice My focus word for 2025 came immediately after the US elections last November when 92% of Black women felt the rug pulled from under our feet. While deeply processing the aftermath, a dear friend mentioned that maybe we have to grow even thicker skin to weather this storm and more challenging times ahead. While I understood what she meant was from a place of love, I told her growing thick skin was the last thing I as a Black woman needs to do. I already have thick skin bordering on leather-tough. It is this ability to stay strong and weather storms that also strengthens the stereotype of the “Strong Black Woman”. We no longer need to always have thick skin. That keeps us less protected, less respected, and not taken care of. So, on the contrary, I am manifesting the soft life in every possible way. We’re in our “Soft Black Girl Era”. I am about to enter the season of my life only God can take credit for. Here’s wishing you all the 2025 of your dreams too! #focusword #focusword2025 #manifest #manifesting #faith #softblackgirl #softblackwoman #softlife
  • When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” – Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1897) ===================== The mind is a funny thing. Unless you tame and completely disarm it with gratitude, it can convince you that hope is lost in the midst of your most difficult challenges. So it was that hymn above that truly kept me afloat this year. It kept me in a constant state of gratitude, counting blessings and incredible opportunities that came my way despite personal challenges. For my focus word this year, I picked “TRUST”. When I picked it, I said I was going to start 2024 with a blank slate of trust and flow. It was a word that would help me voluntarily release control instead of unwillingly surrendering it. A word that will help me battle undue stress within my control and ensure I finally let go. So, how did it go? I can’t even begin to describe the atrocities we’ve witnessed and continue to witness in 2024. Genocides. Corruption. Deeply entrenched systemic racism. Prejudice. Islamophobia. Anti-Semitism. Trump. Greed. Horrific justification of all these. Words are long gone. The world is becoming desensitized. As an empath, I must protect my energy, otherwise I won’t be able to show up in any way to be helpful or useful to anyone. Personally, this year dragged me. It dragged me so completely that I had no choice but to let go and trust God fully and completely. So, what were life’s billows? LINK IN PROFILE -> Too long to post on Instagram. ======================= I am so grateful and thankful for every single one of you who continue to support me in tangible and intangible ways. I see you and I appreciate you. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 💚 #trust #gratitude #yearend #reflections #2024inreview
  • "How to Find your Voice in Travel, Evolve and Connect with others - in conversation with Lola Akinmade Åkerström" In my latest podcast interview, I chat with the incredible Dolores Semeraro @dolores_semeraro on Season 4 of "Truth Behind Travel" @truthbehindtravelpodcast about: - My journey into travel writing and photography - Navigating social media and storytelling integrity - Audience engagement and evolution - Balancing client expectations and personal brand - Fighting for representation and creating opportunities. - Impactful travel experiences and cultural connections - Balancing personal and professional life - Thoughts and advice for aspiring storytellers Give it a listen here -> LINK IN PROFILE Thank you for a lovely and insightful discussion! 🫶🏽 #womenintravel #podcast #truthintravel #storytelling #travel
  • If you missed my interview on @newscentraltv’s Literati with @judithatibi discussing both @ineverymirror and @notenough.book, you can catch the replay tomorrow at 2pm WAT / 3pm CET (LIVE link at @newscentraltv). Once I get the full link, I’ll share later 🫶🏽❤️ Thank you @newscentraltv and @judithatibi for the warm invitation 🇳🇬
  • Rejections received today alone - 5 2 work opportunities 1 tech accelerator 1 grant application 1 film festival And I’d already received several more rejections earlier this week. You see, when you are audacious and innovative, you will get rejected a lot. You will meet lots of closed doors and you will meet people who demand you prove yourself over and over again. Or, as my friend and mentor Yomi Abiola @yomi_abiola always says… “People often only see as far for you as they see for themselves.” While we primarily share our professional highlights and amazing news on LinkedIn, we don’t talk enough about the sweat, the “failures” (I call them lessons and redirection), and the constant rejections we often get when we’re creating, building, and innovating. Following your purpose isn’t for the faint of heart despite all those glowing accolades🌟 Trust me, I know. But knowing your purpose keeps you from becoming demoralized because you’re fully and completely plugged into your “why”. So keep pushing. Keep creating. Keep going. #rejection #lifelessons #womenintravel #womeninbusiness #innovation #purposedriven #entrepreneur
  • ”The scrotum of a ram may swing like a pendulum but it will never fall off.” - Yoruba Proverb Those words were from my mom when I was venting about what a year it’s been so far. Once I got my laughter under control 😂, I received the message. No matter what life throws at you, it will not break you because you’re more resilient than you think. Yoruba language has some of THE best proverbs. We speak in similes, metaphors, and analogies. Thank you @chiefofchief for passing them on. ❤️ #quotes #quoteoftheday #proverbs #yoruba
  • When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
  • Yesterday, I was going through external hard drives looking for old stories and journals, and stumbled across a folder of images of my old oil paintings… Did you know before I became a travel photographer, I was an oil painter? I used to sell my paintings at a farmers’ market when I lived in Ohio and also exhibited when I lived in Northern Virginia. When I traveled, I used to take photos of scenes, places and objects I wanted to paint when I got back. Then I realized I was duplicating effort in a way and started exploring photography as an additional medium of expression. If you see my photography (Slide 2), you’ll see my past as an oil painter in my visual voice and style. Very vivid with lots of heavy contrast. Do you have any hobbies you’d like to return to in 2025? 🫶🏽
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"If you could wake up excited every morning and do the one thing that you love everyday, what would it be?" This was the question my friend @yahnnysanluis asked me during our long overdue heart-to-heart call this morning. "Hmmm," I started. "It would involve three things - writing, photography, and traveling. Maybe as a resident storyteller somewhere. In short, all what I do now, but without the burden of having to worry about finances." I already know my "WHY" and "WHAT", but the "HOW" often eludes me. The "HOW" often eludes most of us who are living out our purpose. After that beautiful conversation, I went right into another soulful one with my friend @baiba.ziga, where we talked about life coming full circle, and pulling us back to spaces of healing, so we can continue to grow and evolve. Our conversation was about redefining what success truly means. We talked about the world's 1% making insane amounts of money per hour, and the disingenuity of it all. For me, success is about the freedom and flexibility that comes with tearing yourself away from following someone else's standard. Not dimming your light for someone who you would never even take advice from in your personal life. "It's also about taking care of our communities," Baiba said. "About charging the big bucks in service to our communities, building generational wealth, and creating alliances to co-create. The moment we start organizing as communities, we're so much stronger." So, I asked Baiba the same question Yahnny asked me. "If you could wake up excited every morning and do the one thing that you love everyday, what would it be?" "I already wake up excited with the possibility of my own potential even though I don't know where all this is heading," Baiba told me. "I'm showing up with intention and doing my part. I'm starting and finishing the day by loving myself through meditation, exercise, good food, reading, and just taking care of myself in different ways." "I don't worry about the 'HOW'", Baiba went on to say. "The 'HOW' is the work of the divine." And that was the reminder I needed... (READ THE REST IN THE COMMENTS)
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"If you could wake up excited every morning and do the one thing that you love everyday, what would it be?" This was the question my friend @yahnnysanluis asked me during our long overdue heart-to-heart call this morning. "Hmmm," I started. "It would involve three things - writing, photography, and traveling. Maybe as a resident storyteller somewhere. In short, all what I do now, but without the burden of having to worry about finances." I already know my "WHY" and "WHAT", but the "HOW" often eludes me. The "HOW" often eludes most of us who are living out our purpose. After that beautiful conversation, I went right into another soulful one with my friend @baiba.ziga, where we talked about life coming full circle, and pulling us back to spaces of healing, so we can continue to grow and evolve. Our conversation was about redefining what success truly means. We talked about the world's 1% making insane amounts of money per hour, and the disingenuity of it all. For me, success is about the freedom and flexibility that comes with tearing yourself away from following someone else's standard. Not dimming your light for someone who you would never even take advice from in your personal life. "It's also about taking care of our communities," Baiba said. "About charging the big bucks in service to our communities, building generational wealth, and creating alliances to co-create. The moment we start organizing as communities, we're so much stronger." So, I asked Baiba the same question Yahnny asked me. "If you could wake up excited every morning and do the one thing that you love everyday, what would it be?" "I already wake up excited with the possibility of my own potential even though I don't know where all this is heading," Baiba told me. "I'm showing up with intention and doing my part. I'm starting and finishing the day by loving myself through meditation, exercise, good food, reading, and just taking care of myself in different ways." "I don't worry about the 'HOW'", Baiba went on to say. "The 'HOW' is the work of the divine." And that was the reminder I needed... (READ THE REST IN THE COMMENTS)
1 week ago
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1/9
Every year, I pick out a focus word. A word that governs various aspects of my life that year in lieu of resolutions: focus (2009), discipline (2010), growth (2011), nurture (2012), surrender (2013), challenge (2014), connect (2015), strength (2016), self-care (2017), evolve (2018), simplify (2019), energy (2020), release (2021), structure (2022), grace (2023), and trust (2024). ======================== My word for last year was all about letting go. Not only was it a process of releasing control, it was also an intentional act of cleaning house metaphorically to make abundant space for alignment and all that 2025 is bringing. It’s one thing to trust. It’s another to move like you believe it’s already done. And this is why my focus word for 2025 is… MANIFEST The dictionary defines MANIFEST as to: - make evident or certain by showing or displaying - prove and put beyond doubt or question - show something clearly through signs or actions - attempt to attain (something desired) by thinking or focusing intensely on it, especially as a spiritual or self-help practice My focus word for 2025 came immediately after the US elections last November when 92% of Black women felt the rug pulled from under our feet. While deeply processing the aftermath, a dear friend mentioned that maybe we have to grow even thicker skin to weather this storm and more challenging times ahead. While I understood what she meant was from a place of love, I told her growing thick skin was the last thing I as a Black woman needs to do. I already have thick skin bordering on leather-tough. It is this ability to stay strong and weather storms that also strengthens the stereotype of the “Strong Black Woman”. We no longer need to always have thick skin. That keeps us less protected, less respected, and not taken care of. So, on the contrary, I am manifesting the soft life in every possible way. We’re in our “Soft Black Girl Era”. I am about to enter the season of my life only God can take credit for. Here’s wishing you all the 2025 of your dreams too! #focusword #focusword2025 #manifest #manifesting #faith #softblackgirl #softblackwoman #softlife
Every year, I pick out a focus word. A word that governs various aspects of my life that year in lieu of resolutions: focus (2009), discipline (2010), growth (2011), nurture (2012), surrender (2013), challenge (2014), connect (2015), strength (2016), self-care (2017), evolve (2018), simplify (2019), energy (2020), release (2021), structure (2022), grace (2023), and trust (2024). ======================== My word for last year was all about letting go. Not only was it a process of releasing control, it was also an intentional act of cleaning house metaphorically to make abundant space for alignment and all that 2025 is bringing. It’s one thing to trust. It’s another to move like you believe it’s already done. And this is why my focus word for 2025 is… MANIFEST The dictionary defines MANIFEST as to: - make evident or certain by showing or displaying - prove and put beyond doubt or question - show something clearly through signs or actions - attempt to attain (something desired) by thinking or focusing intensely on it, especially as a spiritual or self-help practice My focus word for 2025 came immediately after the US elections last November when 92% of Black women felt the rug pulled from under our feet. While deeply processing the aftermath, a dear friend mentioned that maybe we have to grow even thicker skin to weather this storm and more challenging times ahead. While I understood what she meant was from a place of love, I told her growing thick skin was the last thing I as a Black woman needs to do. I already have thick skin bordering on leather-tough. It is this ability to stay strong and weather storms that also strengthens the stereotype of the “Strong Black Woman”. We no longer need to always have thick skin. That keeps us less protected, less respected, and not taken care of. So, on the contrary, I am manifesting the soft life in every possible way. We’re in our “Soft Black Girl Era”. I am about to enter the season of my life only God can take credit for. Here’s wishing you all the 2025 of your dreams too! #focusword #focusword2025 #manifest #manifesting #faith #softblackgirl #softblackwoman #softlife
@lolaakinmade
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Every year, I pick out a focus word. A word that governs various aspects of my life that year in lieu of resolutions: focus (2009), discipline (2010), growth (2011), nurture (2012), surrender (2013), challenge (2014), connect (2015), strength (2016), self-care (2017), evolve (2018), simplify (2019), energy (2020), release (2021), structure (2022), grace (2023), and trust (2024). ======================== My word for last year was all about letting go. Not only was it a process of releasing control, it was also an intentional act of cleaning house metaphorically to make abundant space for alignment and all that 2025 is bringing. It’s one thing to trust. It’s another to move like you believe it’s already done. And this is why my focus word for 2025 is… MANIFEST The dictionary defines MANIFEST as to: - make evident or certain by showing or displaying - prove and put beyond doubt or question - show something clearly through signs or actions - attempt to attain (something desired) by thinking or focusing intensely on it, especially as a spiritual or self-help practice My focus word for 2025 came immediately after the US elections last November when 92% of Black women felt the rug pulled from under our feet. While deeply processing the aftermath, a dear friend mentioned that maybe we have to grow even thicker skin to weather this storm and more challenging times ahead. While I understood what she meant was from a place of love, I told her growing thick skin was the last thing I as a Black woman needs to do. I already have thick skin bordering on leather-tough. It is this ability to stay strong and weather storms that also strengthens the stereotype of the “Strong Black Woman”. We no longer need to always have thick skin. That keeps us less protected, less respected, and not taken care of. So, on the contrary, I am manifesting the soft life in every possible way. We’re in our “Soft Black Girl Era”. I am about to enter the season of my life only God can take credit for. Here’s wishing you all the 2025 of your dreams too! #focusword #focusword2025 #manifest #manifesting #faith #softblackgirl #softblackwoman #softlife
2 weeks ago
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2/9
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” – Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1897) ===================== The mind is a funny thing. Unless you tame and completely disarm it with gratitude, it can convince you that hope is lost in the midst of your most difficult challenges. So it was that hymn above that truly kept me afloat this year. It kept me in a constant state of gratitude, counting blessings and incredible opportunities that came my way despite personal challenges. For my focus word this year, I picked “TRUST”. When I picked it, I said I was going to start 2024 with a blank slate of trust and flow. It was a word that would help me voluntarily release control instead of unwillingly surrendering it. A word that will help me battle undue stress within my control and ensure I finally let go. So, how did it go? I can’t even begin to describe the atrocities we’ve witnessed and continue to witness in 2024. Genocides. Corruption. Deeply entrenched systemic racism. Prejudice. Islamophobia. Anti-Semitism. Trump. Greed. Horrific justification of all these. Words are long gone. The world is becoming desensitized. As an empath, I must protect my energy, otherwise I won’t be able to show up in any way to be helpful or useful to anyone. Personally, this year dragged me. It dragged me so completely that I had no choice but to let go and trust God fully and completely. So, what were life’s billows? LINK IN PROFILE -> Too long to post on Instagram. ======================= I am so grateful and thankful for every single one of you who continue to support me in tangible and intangible ways. I see you and I appreciate you. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 💚 #trust #gratitude #yearend #reflections #2024inreview
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When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” – Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1897) ===================== The mind is a funny thing. Unless you tame and completely disarm it with gratitude, it can convince you that hope is lost in the midst of your most difficult challenges. So it was that hymn above that truly kept me afloat this year. It kept me in a constant state of gratitude, counting blessings and incredible opportunities that came my way despite personal challenges. For my focus word this year, I picked “TRUST”. When I picked it, I said I was going to start 2024 with a blank slate of trust and flow. It was a word that would help me voluntarily release control instead of unwillingly surrendering it. A word that will help me battle undue stress within my control and ensure I finally let go. So, how did it go? I can’t even begin to describe the atrocities we’ve witnessed and continue to witness in 2024. Genocides. Corruption. Deeply entrenched systemic racism. Prejudice. Islamophobia. Anti-Semitism. Trump. Greed. Horrific justification of all these. Words are long gone. The world is becoming desensitized. As an empath, I must protect my energy, otherwise I won’t be able to show up in any way to be helpful or useful to anyone. Personally, this year dragged me. It dragged me so completely that I had no choice but to let go and trust God fully and completely. So, what were life’s billows? LINK IN PROFILE -> Too long to post on Instagram. ======================= I am so grateful and thankful for every single one of you who continue to support me in tangible and intangible ways. I see you and I appreciate you. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 💚 #trust #gratitude #yearend #reflections #2024inreview
4 weeks ago
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3/9
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"How to Find your Voice in Travel, Evolve and Connect with others - in conversation with Lola Akinmade Åkerström" In my latest podcast interview, I chat with the incredible Dolores Semeraro @dolores_semeraro on Season 4 of "Truth Behind Travel" @truthbehindtravelpodcast about: - My journey into travel writing and photography - Navigating social media and storytelling integrity - Audience engagement and evolution - Balancing client expectations and personal brand - Fighting for representation and creating opportunities. - Impactful travel experiences and cultural connections - Balancing personal and professional life - Thoughts and advice for aspiring storytellers Give it a listen here -> LINK IN PROFILE Thank you for a lovely and insightful discussion! 🫶🏽 #womenintravel #podcast #truthintravel #storytelling #travel
4 weeks ago
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4/9
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If you missed my interview on @newscentraltv’s Literati with @judithatibi discussing both @ineverymirror and @notenough.book, you can catch the replay tomorrow at 2pm WAT / 3pm CET (LIVE link at @newscentraltv). Once I get the full link, I’ll share later 🫶🏽❤️ Thank you @newscentraltv and @judithatibi for the warm invitation 🇳🇬
1 month ago
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5/9
Rejections received today alone - 5 2 work opportunities 1 tech accelerator 1 grant application 1 film festival And I’d already received several more rejections earlier this week. You see, when you are audacious and innovative, you will get rejected a lot. You will meet lots of closed doors and you will meet people who demand you prove yourself over and over again. Or, as my friend and mentor Yomi Abiola @yomi_abiola always says… “People often only see as far for you as they see for themselves.” While we primarily share our professional highlights and amazing news on LinkedIn, we don’t talk enough about the sweat, the “failures” (I call them lessons and redirection), and the constant rejections we often get when we’re creating, building, and innovating. Following your purpose isn’t for the faint of heart despite all those glowing accolades🌟 Trust me, I know. But knowing your purpose keeps you from becoming demoralized because you’re fully and completely plugged into your “why”. So keep pushing. Keep creating. Keep going. #rejection #lifelessons #womenintravel #womeninbusiness #innovation #purposedriven #entrepreneur
@lolaakinmade
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•
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Rejections received today alone - 5 2 work opportunities 1 tech accelerator 1 grant application 1 film festival And I’d already received several more rejections earlier this week. You see, when you are audacious and innovative, you will get rejected a lot. You will meet lots of closed doors and you will meet people who demand you prove yourself over and over again. Or, as my friend and mentor Yomi Abiola @yomi_abiola always says… “People often only see as far for you as they see for themselves.” While we primarily share our professional highlights and amazing news on LinkedIn, we don’t talk enough about the sweat, the “failures” (I call them lessons and redirection), and the constant rejections we often get when we’re creating, building, and innovating. Following your purpose isn’t for the faint of heart despite all those glowing accolades🌟 Trust me, I know. But knowing your purpose keeps you from becoming demoralized because you’re fully and completely plugged into your “why”. So keep pushing. Keep creating. Keep going. #rejection #lifelessons #womenintravel #womeninbusiness #innovation #purposedriven #entrepreneur
1 month ago
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6/9
”The scrotum of a ram may swing like a pendulum but it will never fall off.” - Yoruba Proverb Those words were from my mom when I was venting about what a year it’s been so far. Once I got my laughter under control 😂, I received the message. No matter what life throws at you, it will not break you because you’re more resilient than you think. Yoruba language has some of THE best proverbs. We speak in similes, metaphors, and analogies. Thank you @chiefofchief for passing them on. ❤️ #quotes #quoteoftheday #proverbs #yoruba
”The scrotum of a ram may swing like a pendulum but it will never fall off.” - Yoruba Proverb Those words were from my mom when I was venting about what a year it’s been so far. Once I got my laughter under control 😂, I received the message. No matter what life throws at you, it will not break you because you’re more resilient than you think. Yoruba language has some of THE best proverbs. We speak in similes, metaphors, and analogies. Thank you @chiefofchief for passing them on. ❤️ #quotes #quoteoftheday #proverbs #yoruba
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”The scrotum of a ram may swing like a pendulum but it will never fall off.” - Yoruba Proverb Those words were from my mom when I was venting about what a year it’s been so far. Once I got my laughter under control 😂, I received the message. No matter what life throws at you, it will not break you because you’re more resilient than you think. Yoruba language has some of THE best proverbs. We speak in similes, metaphors, and analogies. Thank you @chiefofchief for passing them on. ❤️ #quotes #quoteoftheday #proverbs #yoruba
1 month ago
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7/9
When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
@lolaakinmade
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When Wizz Air's @wizzair inflight magazine was looking for a Stockholm travel story, I knew which story needed to be told, especially during these times. There is an incredible group of people who contribute to our beautiful city in so many outstanding ways yet sometimes don't get the space, accolades, and recognition they fully deserve... Swedes of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. From restauranteurs and culinary artists to sculptors and curators, meet some of the Afro-Swedes shaping modern Stockholm in the December/January issue - https://lnkd.in/d8C-jBJd Thank you Duane Paul Shepherd @therumenthusiast @canerumsociety, Coumba Badin @petitplaisir.se, Yemisi Wilson @yemisiwilson, Marcia Harvey Isaksson @marcia_harvey_isaksson @southnord.artspace, Michael Barrett @mlawbarrett @etnografiska, Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah @georg.ette_, Katarina Chintoh @aworldofcraft.se for your time and contribution to this article. Also mentioned are "Dirty Thirty" (run by @mamfoon / @wedehculture) in the opening scene and @allies.cosmetics (run by @iamayshajones under the ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ @theafroswede pullout). Thank you to my editor Claire Köksal for understanding why this story is important! Thank you 🙏🏽 #visitstockholm #afroswede #sweden #travel #stockholm #womenintravel @visitstockholm @visitsweden @varldskulturmuseet
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Yesterday, I was going through external hard drives looking for old stories and journals, and stumbled across a folder of images of my old oil paintings… Did you know before I became a travel photographer, I was an oil painter? I used to sell my paintings at a farmers’ market when I lived in Ohio and also exhibited when I lived in Northern Virginia. When I traveled, I used to take photos of scenes, places and objects I wanted to paint when I got back. Then I realized I was duplicating effort in a way and started exploring photography as an additional medium of expression. If you see my photography (Slide 2), you’ll see my past as an oil painter in my visual voice and style. Very vivid with lots of heavy contrast. Do you have any hobbies you’d like to return to in 2025? 🫶🏽
Yesterday, I was going through external hard drives looking for old stories and journals, and stumbled across a folder of images of my old oil paintings… Did you know before I became a travel photographer, I was an oil painter? I used to sell my paintings at a farmers’ market when I lived in Ohio and also exhibited when I lived in Northern Virginia. When I traveled, I used to take photos of scenes, places and objects I wanted to paint when I got back. Then I realized I was duplicating effort in a way and started exploring photography as an additional medium of expression. If you see my photography (Slide 2), you’ll see my past as an oil painter in my visual voice and style. Very vivid with lots of heavy contrast. Do you have any hobbies you’d like to return to in 2025? 🫶🏽
@lolaakinmade
@lolaakinmade
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Yesterday, I was going through external hard drives looking for old stories and journals, and stumbled across a folder of images of my old oil paintings… Did you know before I became a travel photographer, I was an oil painter? I used to sell my paintings at a farmers’ market when I lived in Ohio and also exhibited when I lived in Northern Virginia. When I traveled, I used to take photos of scenes, places and objects I wanted to paint when I got back. Then I realized I was duplicating effort in a way and started exploring photography as an additional medium of expression. If you see my photography (Slide 2), you’ll see my past as an oil painter in my visual voice and style. Very vivid with lots of heavy contrast. Do you have any hobbies you’d like to return to in 2025? 🫶🏽
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
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