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Rolake 💖💖

@therollyma

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🌶️ Storytime, the smoky red rice that taught me what a party was.(Full version + recipe on the Substack 👉 link in bio)

It was 2004. My fifth birthday. My parents had decided to throw an owambe, the kind of party where everyone comes: family, cousins you didn’t know you had, your mum’s friends, your grandparents’ friends, and at least three uncles nobody can quite place.

I was the celebrant. I was, therefore, the pageant.

Cream gown with little gold detailing (felt like gold to me). Cross necklace. Hair clips. Small sandals. I was serving.

But before all of that, before the guests, before the gifts, before the pageant, my mother took me to the market. To blend the pepper. 🫠

Because when you’re cooking for an entire owambe, home blenders won’t survive. You go to the market women with the big industrial machines that grind everything down into a smooth, thick, red base. Faster, better, non-negotiable.

Five-year-old me did not understand this. Five-year-old me was being a BRAT the entire day. There are photos. The face is doing everything.

But then. The pot came out. The jollof came out. And even I, celebrant brat that I was, understood immediately that this was something else.

Party jollof does not taste like home jollof. The smoke sits in every grain. The bottom of the pot has that char aunties will literally fight for. It’s in the same family as Persian tahdig and Spanish Socarrat, deliberate scorched rice, celebrated as its own thing.

I ate three plates, I mean, was the celebrant. Nobody could stop me.

Somewhere between plate one and plate three, I forgave everyone.

Since then, every time I see jollof, I know I’m about to party hard. 🍚

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Full story (the market, the history, the Jollof Wars, the Confession from the Kitchen) is on the Substack. Link in bio. 🌶️

#NaijaNoir #Jollof #PartyJollof #OwambeJollof NigerianFood

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happy friday! two things today.

(1) this is my friend and former colleague @therollyma and i'm so thankful we had the opportunity to make some portraits together in the springtime.

thanks rola!

morolake (rola) is incredibly generous and kind, plus she's super thoughtful, sharp and insightful, graduating with her master's degree in political science from memorial university in 2025.

i happen to think she looks incredible in these warm monochrome tones and i hope you agree! clearly born to be a star, i lit her in a spotlight that i think resonates with the power of her presence.

(2) it's happening - i'm launching my business Gryphon Photography at the end of August!

so i'd love it if you joined me to celebrate on august 30 in st. john's!

here is the facebook event with all the details:

https://www.facebook.com/share/17swYGafrc/

we'll have a free raffle and some discounted portrait session giveaways, so please join me and feel free to bring family and friends!

if only to hang out, have a coffee/tea with me on the afternoon of sunday, august 30, and chat about photography and making art. very chill.

hope to see you there!

#portraits
#monochromeportraits
#gryphonphotography
#launchparty

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With pleasure, JULY🧚🏾‍♀️🌷💌

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🌿 PriVillaged Backyard

Creating a sanctuary for local Biz Bees—a place to celebrate overlooked talent and the treasures made by local makers.

Always in search of wildflowers. 🪷

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🌿 PriVillaged Backyard

Always in search of wildflowers. 🪷

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The decor pulled us in. The staff made us feel at home. The food kept us there. Haveli Restaurant - Stop 3 of the Quest Series. 🛕✨ #havelirestaurant #stjohnsnl #resturanthopping #places&plates #places

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No. 4 cathedral did not disappoint.
Generous portions, beautiful ambience, and we left feeling like round potatoes
9/10 from us.
Where next?
#resturanthopping #stjohnsnl #places&plates #no4cathedral

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Happy birthday gorgeous 🎉❤️❤️

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Restaurant hopping girlies in st. john’s 🍽️✨
next stop 📍Grilleopatra Grills & More
because staying home was not an option 💅 #resturanthopping #stjohnsnl #grilleopatra #foodieadventures #explorenl

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Beautiful people!🥹❤️ Isn’t this love? I don’t have everyone featured in this post but I hope you see this message and know that I feel loved and supported by y’all! Thank you so much

I believe @tz_esyme deserves a shoutout here but I couldn’t get a photo of her in action! Thank you for assisting me with organizing my booth! I appreciate you❤️

This is not my last post about the past week so stay tuned for more 😂🙈

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February 21st 🖤✨ Our Black Excellence Summit was nothing short of unforgettable!
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21 Février 🖤✨ Notre Sommet de l’Excellence Noire a été tout simplement inoubliable!

📷 @wasigraphy_

#blackhistorymonth #community #canda #civicrootsfoundation #summit

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New series unlocked 🍽️✨

We’re hopping around St. John’s one plate at a time, trying spots, rating vibes, and seeing what the city has to offer.

First stop: Jack Astor’s #plates&places #stjohnsnl #stjohnsfood #resturanthopping

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