Jun 16
Yanga Tolotolo
I love to look good. Who doesn’t really?
But truth is some people are more concerned about how they look than others. My mother told me I had always been part of the former, even as a little child. She said as far as I was concerned, there was nothing like ‘Sunday-Sunday clothes’ and that ‘bottom- box’ never really made sense to me. I wanted to look good every day, even as a child. I also remember that while I was growing up, I experimented a lot with hairstyles. I knew I could do anything with my hair and because everyone used to tell me I had great hair, I always made sure my hair was in perfect condition. Well, not all the time. I remembered that one time I had an infestation of lice and my Mum had to scrape off my hair to get rid of the invaders and restore normalcy to my head. But apart from that period, I always paid proper attention to my hair, well, till I started losing it. That’s another story.
By the time I got to the university, I had perfected the art of looking good, at least as far as my own style was concerned. I knew how to look good on a very lean budget. I couldn’t afford to buy the designer shirts and pants but I knew where you could find clothes that were uncommon and inexpensive- Tejuosho Market in Yaba and Mandilas on Lagos Island were my favorite shopping spots. That was also the era of crested shirts. Many student could not afford to buy original designers clothes but they ‘managed’ with knock-offs even if sometimes the crest had a horse without a rider or had ‘ori ologbe’ [Dead man’s head or Versace’s crest] wrongly placed. But I was more comfortable with what was rare and nice. You didn’t want to wear a shirt to class and find about 3 or 4 of your classmates wearing the same shirt. It happened a few times though but my clothes were ‘exclusive’ most of the time.
Every semester, I went to school with almost the same number of items for my wardrobe- 3 pairs of Jeans  [Black, blue and any other color], 10 shirts, 2 pairs of shoes [Moccasins and loafers] and a pair of trekkers and did I rock them? No one could have guessed my wardrobe was that limited. I combined the items so creatively that you would have thought I had a room full of clothes. I also borrowed a shirt or two from my room mate to refresh and upgrade my looks a few times, especially for those occasions that demanded original crested shirts for which my limited wardrobe might have seemed inadequate but those were far and in between.
And why did I put myself through all this wahala?
I wish I could tell you it was only because I loved looking good but that would be a lie. I did it to impress the ladies. I learnt that ladies [in fact people in general] loved to be seen with good looking people. They may be with you because you are smart, rich, funny but you need to be ‘attractive’ enough for them to want to find out more about you. Please don’t get me wrong, when I say good-looking, I do not mean Taye Diggs or Halle Berry kind of good looking, but at least presentable enough to earn a second look or pique someone’s interest.
That was what I had attempted to do one day in school, at the University of Ibadan. I really can’t remember who I was going to see that day but the preparation had been the same. The ritual usually started around 6.30p.m. I would take a shower, wear one of my jeans, brush my teeth, wear deodorant and a cologne, whenever available, and then decide on which of my shirts to wear and of course complete the effect with my rugged but lovely mocs [I remember my roommates used to joke that if I placed my mocs in front of my room and commanded them to go to Queens or Idia Hall, they wouldn’t miss their way].
After I had completed what I thought was a knock out look, I left my room in Tedder Hall, feeling like a million bucks and headed towards Queens Hall, ready to impress. Halfway through my trek,  in front of Trenchard Hall [for those familiar with U.I], I noticed someone was trying to catch my attention but whoever it was didn’t know how much I hated it when people use ‘Ksiiiiii’or ‘ptooo’ to call me. I am neither a goat nor a dog. So I walked on and refused to answer. But the guy was persistent and he increased the pitch of the infuriating sounds but I snubbed him still. Moreover, by this time, I had crossed the road between Trenchard and Queens Hall and my mind was fully focused on trying making the right entrance into Queens Hall, especially with the bevy of beautiful babes that were standing in front of the hall.
Just as I was about to enter the hall, I felt someone pull at my shirt. I knew it was the same guy who was trying to get my attention earlier, so, I turned, reluctantly; ready to give him a piece of my mind.
Guy: Parley
Me: Yeah! [Irritated]
Guy: Your toothbrush dey stick out from ur back pocket
Me: Jesus! [Taking the toothbrush out of my back pocket and shoving it into my front pocket, where no one could see it.
Me: Thank you [nicely and really embarrassed]
Guy: I dey try call u but u no answer
I looked behind us and noticed that some of the ladies in front of the hall had seen the toothbrush as well and I was totally mortified. My habit had finally caught up with me. You see, I had a habit of brushing my teeth after wearing my pants and more often than not I tuck the toothbrush in my back pocket afterwards but I almost always remember to take it out before wearing my shirt and leaving the room. I had forgotten on that most embarrassing of days and it wasn’t funny at all.
Yanga tolotolo. See wetin yanga don cause.
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LMAO
toothbrush in back pocket? that’s a first
and u reminded me of trekkers
and I’m FIRST!
I am saving this on my system to read it later cos my eyes refuse to stay open and my stomach is complaining of lack of nutrition but I can’t resist to be the first. I am? Since I have so joined the bandwangon. No thanks to Afrobabe!!!
Yep! am 1st.
lol! yanga tolotolo indeed.
U always av a way of making me laugh with ur stories.
I so dislike when pple use Ksiiiiii to call me.
Howz the fam?
Marking register, lemme go read
Lmao, all because of babes.
Which year did you leave UI?
LMAO,
Well look at it this way, at least they know you have fresh breath and clean teeth now abi?
Come on this is like taking cake from a baby. Didn’t some blogger do that recently at a party? Anyway, I can’t believe that I just might be first at 007’s blog!
Off to read your masterpiece…
“I am neither a goat nor a dog.”
Indeed, but you are a back pocket-forget to remove my toothbrush-kinda guy. lol! This was quite funny. So, you started losing your hair ehn? You don become gorimapa? That was supposed to be the title of my post today at …Easier… but I didn’t want to embarrass one of my sons. But, the more I think about it, the more I realize that it will be the focus of discussion next week, unless something hilarious trumps the gorimapa story. lol!
BTW, thanks so much for taking the time to read Thunder & Lightening. I truly appreciate it!
Lol…very funny story….Nice illusration u have on your blog wall
no comment yet?
1st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lollllll@ Crest without a rider.
My brother would say the rider went to pick the ball!
I remember those days jare, decking up by force.lollll
Guess it will make a good description…….the guy with the toothbrush…..could even make you popular with the girls.
Be thankful it was not something as awful as tucking ur shirt into your pants/boxers or go around with a stained skirt as a lady.
You are even lucky you got someone to tell you what if that guy wasnt so persistent?
lol…the true confessions of a metrosexual…oya come clean oga, did you do jerry curls?
abeg I respect you for toothbrush thing jo cos I once had to tell an ex to brush…it kinda killed the moment…
btw you need to share ‘The Art of Re-Rocking’ with us…especially with the rise of fb
buahahahahaha
dis post so remind me of…dem go dey pose, dem go dey denge-denge, lol!!!
@ infobaba…thanks for dropping by
@bumight…i loved trekkers to bits
@Oluwadee…iyawo, e ku ipale mo o…my people dey o, thank you.
30+…i left in 2000.
Zena…i wonder if that actually counts where ladies r concerned
SSD…lets hear the gorimapa gist jare.
Femi B…thanks for stopping by
Darklecee…lol @ decking by force…’I must happen by force’
Olanike…thank God for that guy, i for fall my hand completely if i had entered that hall with the toothbrush
Shubby Doo…Didnt have to do jerry curls…had natural curls…art of re-rocking?
BLOGVILLE IDOL 08 is coming soon..please check my blog for more details
na only toothbrush dem see u r yarning! i bin think say ur flyer dey open & ur kiniko was peaking out.
Yanga tolotolo gan. ‘Hope the toothbrush was washed b4 being shoved in the back pocket, lol.
LMAO @ Freeflowing Florida.
Yanga tolotolo gan. ‘Hope the toothbrush was washed b4 being shoved in the back pocket, lol.
LMAO @ Freeflowing Florida.
Amazing how so many people think they are first. Well, as they say…the first shall be the last (and the last shall be the first).
LOL. After all the shakara you were doing, you left your toothbrush hanging? Ah, you mess up o! But uhm, like someone stated earlier, @ least everyone would know your breath was McClean! Haha
ope o! i just complained about not being able to post comments here on my latest post.
am off to read now, just wanted to be sure i’d be able to comment…lol
ROTFLMAO!
too hilarious!
toothbrush in back pocket ke? yanga tolotolo gba!
na wa for u o black007.
just musically tagged u, i know u’ll be a little mad, but pls humor me… mwah! *wink*
LMAO!! I agree with florida, I thought it would be something more ridiculous…like, maybe you had a trail of toilet paper stuck under your shoe or something…abi the toothbrush was dirty? lol
Yeah,right I am first indeed, 2nd position isn’t bad anyway. I laughed o. This reminded me of a day I was being ‘Ksiiiiii’or ‘ptooo’ by some guy. I was so annoyed to answer him too. Only for me to find out that the guy wanted to tell me about either my stained dress or the opened zip of my skirt where my undies was showing kule!! See me see trouble o
And yes I remember this too, 2 guys where ‘ksiiii’ me at another time too. I refused to answer until they screamed “ur money go fall o”. I soji immediately and grabbed the pocket at the back of my jeans trouser. I for cry that day
Na God cash u na! lol!
hw r u tho?
Inlaw mi atata, i hope the toothbrush was in good condition??:D
How’s sexy eyes??
Lol @ FF/Florida. I hope that brush was washed before being shoved into the back pocket! now that would have been really embarrassing.
I just love the realness in your posts!
Nothing do you my guy at least the ladies would know you do proper oral care before you leave your room but where small wahala go dey na if na Angola toothbrush or those other 30 naira toothbrush na im you dey use. oh shit i 4got they were actually laughing at you. it must have been Angola….lol
nice post
@ablackjames bond…lol…you said you rocked your clothes in such a way that each ensemble looked like a new outfit…there is an art to that!
LOL @ Ksiiiiii’or ‘ptooo’ I had to repeat those words out loud to fully appreciate the phonetics.
Hmph! Shakara oloje
See what VANITY can do to you!lol…at least it means you brush..trust me it could have been worse
first time on ur blog and liking it and the picture/illustration in your header is tres cool
Really nice blog.
I like very much.
lol…tooth brush in pocket…Na God catch u…
Lol.. its not that bad now.. its just a toothbrush… have you seen a pretty lady forget she still had her shower cap on?
Oh oh…
How are u?
LOL… so you were one of those guys who were always so absorbed with their looks? And you were part of the crested shirt era :)…LOL… I blogged about that last month. Long time no blog… Hope its all good with you.
@ archiwiz…I’m ok dear…just been busy.
@ Allied…Now that would be a sight. Am ok. U? Its been a while…
Afrobabe…my sista…Shame to bad pple. They fitnt get me.
Aphrodite…interesting name.
Tiwalade…It really could have been worse.
A-22…Fela don warn me but i no gree listen.
O ga o blackjamesbond upon all this comment I left, u didnt even acknowledge my contirbutions in your response to our comments. Wetin I do u? I am takin it personal.
HeHeHeHe. Mocs and Loafers, upside down versace crest. Memories mayne! Toothbrush for the back no too horrible na…at least it wasn’t tear tear shirt or something.
thou mustest respondeth to my taggeth! thank thee
This was too funny!! lol.. gosh. i needed this on bored friday morning at work…
so long as u looked good to babe whey u go visit and she no see the brush……….every other person should kiss ya bum bum……..lol
toothbrush ke? this guy, you don disgrace me oh…for front of girls hostel…make ground open, make person enter
…this post has inspired a new post on my blog
LMAO, horse without a rider. lol. I’d rather not wear the sumtin jere. lol. I ignored ‘Ksiiii” one day only to find out that pink and black polka dot panties had been exposed by a broken zipper. (in my defense, the underwear was cute).
my mum uses that cat call once in a while cos she’s like she doesn’t want to be shouting my name in public. It’s not like these oyinbos can pronounce my name anyways. I had to tell her very nicely to ‘never do that again’ lol.
…lol…i’m with free flowing…all this over them seeing you with a toothbrush in your back pocket?…at least they knew you brushed teeth…funny nonetheless…
Baba, you too much. ‘ptooo or ksiiii’.
What a story.
lmao… i can almost imagine that your trek from teddar hall past trenchy to queens hall.. na wa… lol
nice story telling …keep flying high
Very nice!!
Basically we did everything just to impress the ladies..girls y’all should give us more credit cos in a way we deserve it…just saying