The creation of Alọ́ was a journey I will never forget. It was emotional, draining, exhilarating, and at the climax of it all, I had a rushing thrill of success I had never felt before. Of course, I had felt success, but this was different. It was a project that I was so passionate about because of my own story. It was a path that felt so lonely, I did not know if I could see it through. But I did! And even now that I have left Ajayi Crowther University, it continues to live on. I have a motherly pride and protectiveness towards this magazine-turned-journal, so I want the soul to remain evergreen.
During the last years of my study in English, I became depressed. I went from loving literary fiction to hating it with all my soul. The study of English, which I had chosen as a passion and hobby, became a depressing job. I felt like despite the fact that I was studying a creative course, all the creativity and whimsy had been sucked out of it. More so, all the stories felt the same – extremely political, extremely realistic, and always driving at the same point.
Writing was no longer a beautiful form of self-expression and creativity, but a stoic perfectionist craft. I went from writing every day to having the longest writer’s block I had ever experienced. I went from reading consistently to having a reader’s block that I could only break out of by totally abandoning the literary fiction genre.
And in this sad and hopeless state was Alọ́ born. Alọ́ was created as a solution to this problem, a haven for creatives who need a space for self-expression that is free of judgment and rules. The point is for everyone, in whatever creative stage they are in, to come as they are.
So, artists, authors of different genres, photographers, everyone, I welcome you to a space for healing, freedom, and the celebration of imperfect beauty.
With Love,
Olufemi Oreoluwa.
