Akande of Ibadan: A Gentle Soul Misunderstood at Home, Tested by Loss, and Shaped by Silence

There was a boy named Akande, a quiet and gentle soul originally from Ibadan, Oyo State. Akande was known for his calm nature and respectful behavior. He obeyed instructions, listened to elders, and always tried to live up to his parents’ expectations. He went to school on time, avoided trouble, and found true happiness in making people smile. For Akande, peace came from seeing others happy.

Later in life, Akande and his family moved to North Bode Saadu, where he lived together with relatives. Among them was a boy named Ajisefini. Though many people believed they were full brothers, the truth was different. Ajisefini was the son of Akande’s aunt; they did not share the same father. Still, they lived under the same roof and attended the same school, appearing like one family to outsiders.

At school, Akande was loved by many. He had a natural gift for humor. He cracked jokes, eased tension, and made classmates laugh. His presence brought light into dull moments, and people enjoyed being around him. Even when lessons were difficult, Akande believed laughter could make learning easier.

But everything changed whenever school closed and they returned home to North Bode Saadu.

At home, Ajisefini behaved differently. He often acted superior and looked down on Akande. Whenever Akande tried to be himself, Ajisefini would report him to Akande’s father, accusing him of not taking his studies seriously and claiming that all he did was joke and make people laugh. To Ajisefini, Akande’s kindness and humor were weaknesses.

Akande’s father listened to these reports and frequently scolded him without hearing his side of the story. Each scolding cut deep. Akande was hurt—not only by the punishment but by the betrayal. Ajisefini repeatedly reminded him, directly and indirectly, that they did not share the same father, making Akande feel unwanted and small in a place that should have felt like home.

Slowly, Akande began to change. The boy who once made everyone laugh started keeping his pain inside. He smiled less at home and spoke less about his dreams.

Then tragedy struck.

Before Akande could graduate, his father passed away. The loss shattered him. The man whose approval he had always sought was gone forever. Akande carried grief, regret, and unspoken words in his heart. When graduation finally came, it felt empty—more like an ending than a celebration.

After that, Akande chose a different path. He stepped away from pain, comparison, and misunderstanding. Communication between him and Ajisefini gradually faded until they stopped speaking entirely. Life separated them, and silence replaced what little bond they once shared.

Yet, despite everything, Akande refused to let bitterness define him. The boy from Ibadan, shaped by hardship in North Bode Saadu, learned that kindness does not always shield one from pain—but it gives the strength to endure it.

Akande continued his journey quietly, carrying scars but also wisdom, choosing peace over anger, and holding on to the goodness in his heart—even when the world failed to understand him.