When you hear about a young Nigerian woman who is successful and has carved a niche for herself, you might be tempted to look at her background. She’s probably the daughter of an oil tycoon. She went to Harvard University. She was born in London and other privileges of the rich Nigerians.
In some cases, our speculations may be true, but there are many others who, like the general public, had to strive for the levels they attained. There are many others who had to overcome stigmas, labels and scars just so they can become stars shining a wholesome light. Dolapo Adeleke is one of such persons.
Dolapo Adeleke, popularly known as LowlaDee, is an award-winning Nigerian filmmaker, writer, producer and director. You might have seen one of her movies shot in Kenya ‘Just in time’. It debuted on Netflix on March 12th 2021 and starred our beloved Mawuli Gavor (Ghanian actor and 53 Extra host). That was a really good movie.
From Scars
“Be healthy from your mind to body, do more, speak less. Don’t overwork”. – LowlaDee
But LowlaDee, CEO/Founder of LowlaDee Originals Inc. (formerly Doreen Media) and the Cofounder of Giraffe Productions, Nairobi wasn’t always in the spotlight. Her life changed dramatically after the accident.
Although born in Kano on September 6th 1990, she and her family moved to Lagos because of the unabating crisis in the North. She attended Providence Nursery and Primary School, Iju, Dansol High School, Agidingbi and Covenant University, where she obtained a BA in Mass Communication and graduated with a second-class upper. By this time, she had published two literature books.
To quote Entrepreneurs.ng, her dream was to own an NGO and become either a United Nations Children Fund or World Health Organization (WHO) representative. She also wanted to be on the TV screens, like Oprah. So she took part in humanitarian activities while in high school.
The incident that changed her life occurred on August 2oth 2007, while she was 16. She had just gained admission into CU when she was involved in a brake failure accident that took multiple surgeries and left her with scars on her forehead. (Hence, the signature fringe hairstyle).
LowlaDee wouldn’t take pictures, she felt stared at, she felt unpretty and so it was no surprise when depression set in. Her go-to for succour was The Mindy Project TV show. She revealed this on her Instagram page. The fringe hairstyle was her weapon to rising above the trauma and effects of the life-changing accident.
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To Stars
“Just do it. Jump off the cliff and trust your wings. Be wildly bold!” – LowlaDee
In her second year in CU, she noticed that the scars had begun to heal so she decided to document the process with pictures using her friend’s webcam. Then she began to edit with Picasa, next she learned to compile movies with Picasa, then she moved to Windows Movie Maker, recording videos of herself singing and chatting with friends. The students loved it! That was when she knew she wanted to make good videos.
She got an A in her final year project for making a short film and her big break in the movie industry after producing a short film titled ‘Brave’ in 2014. The short film went on to win Best Short film at the Best Of Nollywood Awards and also nominated in two categories at the prestigious African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) for Best Short Film and Best Actor in a Drama. Her other films are A place called happy, This is it, Plan B and some others. See Wikipedia for her career journey.
It wasn’t just a healing process, it was an eyeopener to understanding that your challenges can either make or break you. LowlaDee chose the former. What will you choose?
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