My Father Olabisi Ajala

Aurora Mizutani, born Dupelola Osaretin Ajala, is the daughter of the well-known journalist and socialite Olabisi Ajala. Dupelola, an accomplished writer with a remarkable academic background, earned her degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from London Metropolitan University. She is also an alumna of Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, where she focused on International Communication. In 2016, Dupelola married a Japanese national and is now known as Aurora Mizutani.

Aurora re-published the works of her father Olabisi Ajala and established the Ajala Legacy Forum Publishing House in 2022. The re-publication of “An African Abroad” by the late Olabisi Ajala by Ajala Legacy Forum Publishing House, is considered a significant reference for travel writers from Nigeria and other countries. Aurora Mizutani’s memoir “An African Abroad,” tells the story of a direct descendant of the renowned journalist Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala.

Aurora Mizutani’s autobiography stands apart from her father’s biography, as it centers on her personal journey rather than serving as a continuation of his story.

While she does touch on her father’s influence, her primary focus is on her own experiences. Aurora feels that her unique upbringing has imparted important lessons, which she felt compelled to share. Perhaps she aims to clarify her narrative and provide her perspective. Her memoir pays homage to her father’s achievements while also weaving in her own life lessons. Through her historical essay, she seeks to preserve her father’s legacy and her interpretation of it. This essay acts as a vessel for her reflections.

It’s worth noting that Aurora has only explored a small portion of the countries her father traveled to during his remarkable adventures. To date, Aurora has explored twenty-one countries, including Nigeria (Lagos, Benin), Italy (Bologna, Venice, Florence, Milan, Como, Rome, Sardinia, Cagliari), England (London, Newcastle, Brighton, Blackpool, Hull), France (Paris, Lille), the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Roosendaal), Belgium (Brussels), Germany (Frankfurt, Munich), Estonia (Tallinn), Sweden (Stockholm), Austria (Zell am See), Wales (St Davids, Llangadog), Scotland (Gretna Green), Denmark (Copenhagen), the West Indies (Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St Lucia, Dominica), the former Soviet Union (by train), China (Hong Kong, Beijing), Korea, Cambodia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Okinawa). Unlike her father, Aurora’s travels did not involve a moped. Olabisi Ajala, her father, is celebrated for his extraordinary accomplishments.

Similar to her father, Aurora has had the opportunity to meet numerous heads of state and has enjoyed some unforgettable experiences. These include encounters with the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Jeremy Corbyn MP, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In contrast, Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala undertook the formidable challenge of visiting over seventy countries on a moped, meeting various heads of state along the way, and documenting his adventures. He even managed to evade imprisonment in Russia, a fate that could have led to severe consequences, including torture or harsh confinement in the notorious Gulag. While some assert that Olabisi Ajala passed away with limited financial means, the true measure of wealth is often more complex than mere monetary value. Wealth is a concept that varies greatly from person to person. Olabisi Ajala, a devoted pagan, possessed the insight to recognize that material wealth is merely temporary. He had a keen grasp of the game ‘Monopoly.’ Once a player masters it, they come to understand that reaching the end goal is ultimately futile. When the game concludes, all the money and properties are returned to the box.

We cannot carry our riches or belongings into the afterlife. Take the Egyptian Pharaohs, for example; they accumulated immense wealth and buried their treasures in tombs. Today, archaeologists are saidto have unearthed these artifacts, which are now displayed in museums worldwide. Olabisi Ajala chose to invest his resources in life, fully aware that we cannot take anything with us when we depart. It could be said that he left this world with a profound wisdom and a sense of true freedom.

However, Aurora challenges the idea that Ajala passed away in poverty. He left behind around twelve children, perhaps hoping that at least one would continue his literary legacy. Olabisi Ajala’s true treasures were his descendants and his written works, which endure beyond material possessions. Aurora firmly believes that her father died a wealthy man in the truest sense.