Olabisi Ajala's Daughter

Aurora Mizutani, originally named Dupelola Osaretin Ajala, is the daughter of the esteemed journalist Olabisi Ajala. In 2012, she embraced her passion for storytelling by writing and publishing her debut children’s illustrated storybook, “Little Boy & Mr Scary Snake,” through Ajala Legacy Forum Publishing House. At the time, Aurora was still married to her first husband and chose to publish the book under the pseudonym D. A-Gravill, which reflects her ex-husband’s surname.

Additionally, she has penned her memoirs, sharing her life experiences in a book that shares the same title as her father’s work. Her autobiographical piece, “An African Abroad,” was also released by Ajala Legacy Forum Publishing House. In 2016, Aurora married a Japanese national and adopted the name Aurora Mizutani. Her father’s journey began in North Africa, where Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala was born.

Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala made a remarkable journey to America, achieving significant success along the way. His daughter, Dupelola (Aurora), often pondered the source of her father’s fame. From local newspaper features to roles in Hollywood films, his rise was nothing short of extraordinary. The only explanation Aurora could devise for her father’s rapid ascent was that he must have received some form of assistance. Olabisi Ajala was a regular at Roosevelt University in Chicago, and Aurora speculated that it wouldn’t be surprising if he had joined a fraternity during his time there. She understood the profound influence that such organizations can have among peers — a brotherhood that transcends temporary college friendships, creating lasting connections. The support from a fraternity can be monumental, shaping many of today’s prominent politicians. Another intriguing aspect of Aurora’s father is that his biography was edited by one of his common-law wives while he was residing in Australia, one of the numerous countries he explored. In his celebrated work “An African Abroad,” Olabisi Ajala provided insightful commentary on Australia’s economic and social landscape. Aurora herself is a talented writer with a strong academic foundation. She earned her degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from London Metropolitan University and is also a graduate of Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. Like her father, Aurora has had the privilege of meeting various heads of state and has accumulated a wealth of remarkable experiences.

Among these experiences is Dupelola’s formal introduction to the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, as well as notable figures like Jeremy Corbyn MP and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Aurora Mizutani then Dupelola Osaretin Ajala with British politician Boris Johnson, London, England, 2010

Among these experiences is Dupelola’s formal introduction to the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, as well as notable figures like Jeremy Corbyn MP and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Aurora, known as Dupelola, was born in Nigeria, West Africa, and moved to Italy at the tender age of three with her mother and two sisters. In the early 1980s, her father, Olabisi Ajala, made a memorable visit to Italy to see Aurora and her family. She pursued her education in Italy until she turned fourteen, at which point she relocated to London, United Kingdom, in January, 1990. Following in her father’s footsteps, Aurora faced her own legal troubles and was arrested. By the age of seventeen, she found herself in the childcare system in London, where she experienced the harsh realities of being in custody. In 1993, she began taking on various jobs, primarily working as an exotic dancer while grappling with challenges associated with substance use. After traveling across Europe and the West Indies, Aurora married her first husband in 2003 and settled in East Yorkshire, England. In 2007, she welcomed a son into the world after meeting a Russian man, following her separation from her husband. A series of challenging circumstances led her back to education in 2009, where she was struck by the uncanny parallels between her life and her father’s. Aurora then ventured to Japan, furthering her studies in Osaka. In the years that followed, she authored a satirical travel guide titled “Easy Japan,” which was published in 2022. While she didn’t set out to mirror her father’s extraordinary accomplishments, the awareness of her strong heritage inspired her. Aurora envisions a remarkable achievement: uniting all the children of Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala to celebrate the legacy of their extraordinary father.