I learned this the hard way when my phone was snatched right out of my hand by a thief on a motorcycle. One second, I was holding my phone, the next, there was the roar of an engine, a face flashing past my peripheral vision, and my phone speeding away, starting a whole new life without me.

My phone:

I just stood there, frozen. My hand was empty, my pockets suddenly useless, my brain struggling to catch up with what my eyes had just witnessed.

The Universe Has a Twisted Sense of Humor

To make it even more ridiculous, this happened just a few days before my birthday.

But wait, it gets better. That very month, I was supposed to make my final payment on the phone. One more swipe of my card, and it would have officially been mine, fully paid off, no strings attached. Instead, the thief got a fully functioning device with all the bells and whistles, while I was left staring at the remaining balance on my payment plan.

If irony were a person, it would have been standing right next to me, cackling.

The Ugly Cry

I wish I could say I handled it with grace and philosophical wisdom. I didn’t.

I went home and bawled my eyes out. Full-on, ugly crying. I cried for the phone, for the money I’d never get back, for the sheer unfairness of it all. And honestly? I still don’t know how I even got home that day. It felt like I was moving on autopilot, my mind replaying that split-second moment again and again, searching for what I could have done differently.

Of course, I went to the police. They listened, nodded sympathetically, promised to “look into it.” But their version of help felt more like vague shrugs and hollow reassurances. After following up a few times, I realised chasing updates was just setting myself up for another heartbreak. My phone was gone!

Welcome to 2015 (It’s 2025)

The weeks after were some of the most frustrating I’ve had in a while. Have you ever gone from an iPhone 14 to an Android that doesn’t even update anymore? It felt like time travel without my consent. Apps kept crashing mid-scroll. Half the features I relied on simply didn’t exist. Every time I tried to do something simple (just open the camera, please), I was reminded of what I’d lost. Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful to have a phone to use. But going from what I’d worked hard to afford back to a phone that could barely keep up? That adjustment was rough.

It was like stepping from 2025 straight into 2015, except without the nostalgia. I laughed sometimes, but mostly to stop myself from crying again.

I found myself missing the little conveniences I’d completely taken for granted: Face ID unlocking my world in a second. A camera so sharp it made me feel like a professional photographer. Software updates that actually... updated. Now I was stuck begging my outdated Android to just open Instagram without freezing for 30 seconds.

But Life, Stubbornly, Went On

Yet somehow, life kept moving. I adjusted. Awkwardly, frustratingly, but I adjusted.

The anger started to fade. The grief softened into something else—something quieter. I realised the thief didn’t just take my phone. They also forced me to pause. To let go. To remember that life is rarely about the shiny things we clutch in our hands, but about the stories we collect, the resilience we build, the moments that shape us. (And yes, I’m absolutely saying this to pep-talk myself, because honestly… it still hurts a little.)

The Plot Twist

Now, months later, I’m smiling more.

I eventually saved up and got a new phone (not a 14, but something that actually updates when it’s supposed to). More importantly, I’m learning to laugh at the absurdity of it all, to find humour in the setbacks, and to remind myself that one bad moment doesn’t get to cancel out the rest of my life (even though it felt like it at that particular moment)

The lesson? Things can be taken from you (sometimes violently, sometimes unfairly, sometimes right out of your hand on a random Wednesday). But you still get to decide what remains.

And if what remains is resilience, humour, and a story worth telling? Then maybe, just maybe, you haven’t lost as much as you thought.

Your Turn

Have you ever lost something important (stolen, misplaced, or just gone) and felt that devastating mix of helplessness and heartbreak? How did you handle it? Did you ugly cry, too, or are you more emotionally evolved than me?

Drop your story in the comments. Let’s commiserate together. 💔

Until next time, hold your phones a little tighter 💛

Stories That Spark Imagination 💡

🎮 Morocco Bets Big on Gaming: $36 Million Hub in Rabat

Picture this: Morocco is stepping onto the global gaming stage with a bold $36 million investment in Rabat’s new gaming hub. This isn’t just about pixels and play; it’s about positioning Africa as a contender in the booming global gaming industry. For African creatives, it’s a loud signal: the world is ready for content made here, for audiences everywhere. If you’ve been toying with an idea for a game, app, or digital story, this might be your cue to level up.

👩🏾‍🍳 Cooking Her Way Into History: Hilda Baci’s Record-Breaking Feast

Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has just cooked up a storm, officially preparing the largest single pot of Nigerian-style jollof rice ever recorded, weighing in at a jaw-dropping 8,780 kg. This wasn’t just about breaking a world record; it was about community, culture, and making something huge that gives people something to rally behind. Thousands gathered; the jollof got served to countless hands; the moment stirred pride. For entrepreneurs & creatives, this shows what happens when you combine ambition + painstaking planning + scale.

🎶 Coachella 2026: Africa Turns Up the Volume

Coachella’s 2026 lineup will carry Africa’s beat, with artists like Davido, Little Simz, and others taking the stage during the April 10-12 & 17-19 weekend in Indio, California. This isn’t just applause, it’s proof that African art belongs on stadium stages. The takeaway? Tell your story loudly, because eyes are watching and ears are listening.

✂️ Africa’s Next Iconic Designer? It Could Be You

Got a design that blends culture, craft, and bold innovation? Fashion Fusion Africa is opening its runway to fresh and established designers alike. If you’ve been sketching in silence, here’s your chance to step onto a stage that celebrates both heritage and vision.

🤖 Donatuz: AI Meets Creator Cash Flow

Tanzanian startup Donatuz has launched an AI-powered monetisation platform that helps creators earn smarter. Imagine uploading content and getting insights on how to monetise more effectively. For Africa’s buzzing creative economy, tools like this mean creators can focus less on chasing algorithms and more on their craft. Lesson: Innovation often comes when you solve your own pain points.

🚗 Uber Safari in Kenya: Rides With a Wild Twist
To celebrate ten years in Kenya, Uber has launched Uber Safari, yes, you can now book a safari trip just like you’d book a city ride. It’s playful, bold, and disruptive. Entrepreneurs, here’s the spark: sometimes the best innovation isn’t creating something new but remixing what already exists in a way no one expected.

🎙️ Spotify Tunes Into Kenya’s Podcast Boom
Spotify’s deep dive into Kenya shows podcasts are rising fast. That’s What She Said! Podcast, Listen, I Have Something To Say Podcast, and BTW Podcast by Celestine are among the fastest-growing shows. The lesson is clear: audiences are hungry for authentic, homegrown voices. Whether it’s your business insights, comedy sketches, or cultural explorations, the mic is open.

🔴Broda Shaggi: The $40K-a-Month Creator

Sure, this is old news, but it still turns heads. Nigerian comedian Broda Shaggi once revealed he was pulling in over $40,000 a month from creating skits and posting them online. Think about it: funny clips shot in everyday Lagos streets, translating into income streams many startups only dream about. The story may have aged, but the lesson hasn’t—digital platforms can transform creativity into consistent, serious money. For every African creator still doubting the worth of their content, Shaggi’s story is proof that your phone could be the launchpad for your fortune.

Need Funding for Your Business?

Here’s your buffet of funding and training opportunities across Africa:

• Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton (Access Bank): For female entrepreneurs across Africa. Prize includes funding + capacity-building for 120 winners. Apply here.

• Techsters Bootcamp 2025 (Virtual): For women in tech. Training in coding, product development, and career pathways. Deadline coming soon. Apply here.

• YIW Innovative Challenge: Up to ₦2 million grant for young entrepreneurs with disruptive ideas. Apply here.

• MTN Foundation ICT & Business Skills Training: Nigerian entrepreneurs can access ₦300 million worth of equipment grants. Apply here.

• Foundry for Her Online Bootcamp 2025: For women-led businesses, offering up to $50,000 in funding. Apply here.

• EU Short Film Competition 2025: For African filmmakers. Prizes up to ₦2 million. Apply here.

• H&M Global Change Award 2026: €200,000 grant for fashion innovation. Apply here.

• Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Fully funded scholarships for Africans (2026/27). Apply here.

• Intermarc DBN Entrepreneurship Training 2025: Up to ₦5 million for Nigerian entrepreneurs. Apply here.

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Where to Show Up: Events You Shouldn’t Miss

• Unstoppable Africa 2025 | Sept 21–22, New York | Networking with private sector, governments, and investors. Register.

• Africa Fintech Summit | Oct 8, Accra | Fintech founders, investors, regulators. Register.

• Moonshot by TechCabal | Oct 15–16, Lagos | Big tech + startup scaling. Register.

• Startup Abuja Conference | Oct 25, Abuja | Digital economy, infrastructure, and innovation. Register.

• UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit | Oct 27, Dubai | For creatives in tourism & hospitality. Register.

• Africacomicade Gamathon ’25 | Sept 28–Oct 4, Online & Lagos, Nigeria | A festival for game developers, digital creatives, and tech enthusiasts across Africa. Register here

📹 What I’ve Been Watching (So Should You)

Sometimes it’s about sharpening skills. Sometimes it’s about feeding your curiosity. Here’s what’s been on my screen:

• Creative deep dives and refreshing takes. Watch here.

• 3 skills every entrepreneur needs. Watch here.

• Turning a school into a home — Human creativity at its purest. Watch here.

• Kenyan entrepreneurs talk real hustle — inspiring stories on growth. Watch here.

Africa’s stage is wide open, and your story could be the next big one. Until next time, stay creating.

Always rooting for you 💪

You grow up thinking being an adult means freedom, late nights, and finally buying whatever you want without having to ask. Turns out it’s mostly budgeting, battling inflation, and convincing yourself in the clothing aisle that you don’t need another black shirt… even though it’s slightly different from the five you already own.

Every day is a masterclass in “Do I need this or do I just hate my life right now?”

Rent is wild. Groceries are wild. A simple life is somehow... the most expensive thing on the menu?

You pay bills, you blink, and your account balance is giving “We need a GoFundMe.” Then you check your inbox and find 7 new charges from subscriptions you forgot to cancel. (Do I need YouTube Premium?? Ads never hurt anyone.)

And don’t even get me started on wellness. Please. I’m out here paying for a gym I haven’t seen since the trial week, but I tell myself it’s an “investment” in my future strength. Spiritually, I lift.

Even when you finally decide to get a job to fund your very basic lifestyle, no one warns you that job hunting feels like throwing your entire personality into the void, and hearing nothing back. And maintaining friendships? Turns out it requires calendars, coordination, and at least two rescheduled plans.

Halsey’s part in Eastside perfectly captures it all 👇🏾

‘Seventeen and we got a dream to have a family
A house and everything in between
And then, oh, suddenly we turned twenty-three
Now we got pressure for taking our life more seriously
We got our dead end jobs and got bills to pay
Our old friends are now our enemies
Now I, I'm thinking back to when I was young’

---

So yeah. Adulthood? Expensive. In money, in energy, in emotional bandwidth.

But we’re still here. Paying bills. Making dinner with whatever’s in the fridge and a prayer. And somehow, still laughing through it. Because maybe being an adult isn’t about having it all together, maybe it’s just about doing your best, staying hydrated, and occasionally sending memes to your group chat.

🗳️ Quick Poll: Be Honest...

Until Next Time...

Thanks for reading an edition of me yelling into the internet (respectfully).
If you’re also trying to survive late-stage capitalism while pretending you know what you’re doing, welcome. You’re not alone.

New post coming hopefully Saturday.

- justthoughts 💛

This one’s for the latter.
This is a letter to the messy, unfiltered, first draft, the one that always shows up before things start to make sense.

Hi, I’m JustThoughts.
That’s the name, and also the vibe. This space is for whatever’s on my mind, big ideas, small rants, weird questions, and random epiphanies that pop up while I’m brushing my teeth. No niche, no pressure. Just... thoughts.

I'll hopefully be posting on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and yes, I know "hopefully" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. But I really do plan to stick with it. Hold me to it. Or don’t. I’m fragile.

Alright, here’s today’s post. A little letter to the part of the writing process we love to hate: the first draft.

‘Hey.

We need to talk.

You came in hot. No structure, no logic, barely any punctuation. Bold move. You had no idea where you were going, but you went anyway.

You repeated yourself. You contradicted yourself. You changed your tone three times in one paragraph. Honestly, it was a little chaotic. Reading you felt like scrolling through my brain at 2 am.

But here’s the thing: without you, there’s nothing. You’re the awkward first meetup. The overly honest text I shouldn’t have sent, but kind of had to. You’re not polished, but you’re proof that I started.

So I won’t delete you (yet). I’ll just clean you up, give you a little shape, maybe cut 40% of what you said. No offense, you’re kind of long-winded.

Still, thanks for showing up. Even in all your weirdness, you got the words moving. That’s more than most drafts ever do.

See you in version two.’
– Me

So that’s my little tribute to the first draft: a bit chaotic but a huge step for me.

👀 Lately in my orbit...

Currently reading:

Call Me Legachi by Adesuwa O’Man Nwokedi. Mezie should be arrested at this point.

Currently watching:

The Rookie. Yes, I’m a Chenford fan. No, I will not be taking questions at this time.

Until Next Time...

Thanks for reading.
If you liked this post, cool. I’ll be back Wednesday-ish with more thoughts, questions, maybe a weird analogy about life. Who knows.

And if you didn’t like it?
Just pretend it was my first draft.

- Pen down (for now), JustThoughts 💛