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Mary Onoŋokpono

@drononokpono

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CAS (Centre of African Studies) Welcome reception this evening. Had to get a picture of the fit. @kyani.idara will remember me knocking out this jumpsuit on my industrial singer sewing machine and overlocker, many many moons ago now, when she was a tyke. Yes, I made it. It fits like a dream. I think the overlocker is still at the family home which I haven’t visited in an age for…reasons 🙂‍↔️. It had better be! I intend to collect it, soon. Was wonderful meeting the new MPhils. I was one of them, exactly 9 years ago. taken in University of Cambridge by @drononokpono

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4 days ago

Brazil! Goodness! I don’t even have words. I have so many pictures and videos. A selection of some of my final days out there. While in Brazil, I laughed as I haven’t laughed in some time. I cried. I railed at God —real talk, let me just be honest, as September marked the 10 year anniversary of something that completely shattered my baseline reality and irrevocably altered the way I perceive and move through the world. It was good to have some temporal and spatial/geographical distance from it so I could finally begin processing and writing about it in earnest. I made a serious dent in some much overdue academic work, commenced some creative work, took in loads of art, much of which I will have to post separately, unscrambled my thoughts, experienced my first ever NFL game preceded by a very posh tailgate (truly wild stuff 🤪). I met so many absolutely incredible people! My heart is full of gratitude.

My heart is also somewhat heavy this morning after tuning into the funeral service of a family friend who died far too young, it was the first news I received upon disembarking my flight yesterday morning. I just realised he died the day I flew out to Brazil but no one told me until I got back as they didn’t want to ruin my trip. I am devastated, particularly for his family, but God is merciful. He is no longer in pain. Ultimately, you have to take the bad with the good. That’s life 💔.

I’m still processing my trip. I’m spending the weekend recuperating (I suddenly became poorly just as the plane was touching down), organising (it’s the start of term at Cambridge University and I need to hit the ground running) and getting back to work. I had a wonderful month. I am absolutely sick of steak and rice —I didn’t even bother with the chips which came alongside rice with practically every meal I ate out 🤪😩. I brought home some farofa —for the Nigerians out there, it’s effectively raw garri toasted in oil and they put it on absolutely everything. I just mixed some with a yaji blend and the entire thing has been elevated! It was desperately missing some elite spicing and heat. I’ll be playing around with it in dishes in the coming days ❤️ taken in Brazil by @drononokpono

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13 days ago

Throwback to early summer. I just got home after an exquisite month in Brazil. I say exquisite and it really was despite it raining for most of my stay. It’s spring in Brazil but I didn’t realise spring means weather reminiscent of a typically wet English autumn and I didn’t pack for that weather at all. My immune system has been under pressure in recent years and since I didn’t fancy falling ill, I was effectively benched by the weather, which is not a bad thing. I got loads of writing done, though not as much research as I’d have liked. I’ll post highlights from Brazil when I’m feeling less exhausted. I’m back in Cambridge and it’s the start of Michaelmas term so next week will be hectic. Given what happened in August (RIP Professor Arday), there’s a lot I am unhappy about, but it is officially time to poke my head back above the parapet. No more hiding due to dealing with people moving demonically when I’m burned out and running on fumes and adrenaline. I decided it was high time to leave some things on the Rio side of the Atlantic, the keeping my head below the parapet being one of them. Sharing these because there was a period of time during the pandemic in which I took hardly any pictures of myself and as I was reminded today, upon disembarking from my flight, life really is a whisper. RIP Kolapo Sodipo 💔. Devastating news. I can’t be at the funeral tomorrow but I will be tuning into the livestream so it is well. Huge love to the Sodipo family ❤️❤️❤️. taken in University of Cambridge by @drononokpono

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15 days ago

Some weekend tings. Copacabana beach. The birthplace of Bossa Nova ☺️💃🏾. Yo M won’t take the mark though I swim with sharks 🤪. Street dancing at Largo da Prainha. Highlights include the all women band and the gorgeous LGBTQ+ young men with the SERIOUS moves. They could DANCE!🕺 taken in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro by @drononokpono

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a month ago

The ocean is my favourite place. Such healing energy, even when I’m not dressed for it. Few things quite like being enveloped by that sea salt tang.

Rio is beautiful 😍 taken in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro by @drononokpono

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a month ago

I just opened the draw of the bedside table to my right. I opened the draw to my left and put stuff in it when I arrived, but not that to my right. Found these books, which is fascinating. I’m always curious as to what others are reading. 2 Chronicles 32-33. Interesting. taken in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro by @drononokpono

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a month ago

I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a sexier group of people than Brazilians. It has been chucking it down with rain, I have absolutely no idea what is happening, but I am here for it! Stumbled across a Frida Khalo bar, there is music and dancing in the rain around the corner, I have encountered several beautiful male queens and the bar I am in is playing Queen, Rio is spoiling me, I feel right at home (the sexier version) and I am grateful 🤪❤️❤️❤️ taken in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro by @drononokpono

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a month ago

September is all about BRAZIL 🇧🇷 💃🏾

Rio is spectacular. It’s just wonderful. And reminds me so much of parts of Nigeria, from the climate, the people, the topography, even down to the urban planning. Also the produce. I can’t find cocoyam and cassava in Cambridge without going on a mission but it’s just chilling, here. I’m looking forward to my stint in Salvador.

Blessed. God is good and it is well! ❤️✨ taken in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro by @drononokpono

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a month ago

Twinsies ☺️. The ONE person I really wanted to see the weekend before last was @robertglasper. And I bumped into him at random and we happened to be twinning! I went for some of my favourite hip hop artists, too, The Roots, Nas, Common, Yasiin, but Robert Glasper is the one artist on that set list I had never seen live. I kept missing him. Thankfully, that has been rectified now and I am thrilled that The Blue Note is opening a London venue. I will be away for the opening next month but I am very excited to head down for the first time in November to see the genius that is the extraordinarily talented Mr Glasper. Something beautiful to look forward to in Michaelmas term! ❤️ taken in London, United Kingdom by @drononokpono

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2 months ago

So it all went down at The Roots Picnic in Crystal Palace the weekend before last. An epic couple of days of the best music and beautiful vibes. Ignore the dodgy filming, I was too busy enjoying myself and kept forgetting I had a dying phone in my hands. I was in the best company with our kid, @akaraett. I even ran into man like the phenomenal Robert Glasper. I have to post that photo separately. A stunning weekend. Saturday 8 August 2026 will go down in my memory as the best day, this year, to date. God, I needed that. I didn’t realise how much so until I was there. Beautiful memories ❤️❤️ taken in Crystal Palace Concert Bowl by @drononokpono

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2 months ago

Vigil for Cambridge University’s youngest ever black Professor, Jason Arday, who was cruelly hounded to his death in an anti-black witch hunt by the British media on nothing more than the whims of a self-described eugenicist. The entire situation is heartbreaking and incredibly vexatious. I hope Jason’s family are given room to grieve. I also hope that this marks a turning point in the way Black scholars are treated in Cambridge and by extension, in the academe, which, as it stands, are profoundly anti-black.

#JusticeForProfessorArday taken in University of Cambridge by @drononokpono

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2 months ago

And just like that, I no longer have a teenager! I have a 20 year old, a young adult child. Time really does fly!

I look back over the contours of my life and being tasked with being a mother to this young woman is easily the most difficult and rewarding thing I have ever done. Her presence is a gift and I am grateful for her life.

Happy 20th birthday @kyani.idara. You are still my best thing. My prayer for you is simple: May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance on you and grant you peace.

You are blessed, darling girl. Always the head, never the tail. It is well with you ❤️❤️❤️

#HappyBirthdayKiki by @drononokpono

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5 months ago