For one resident of Lagos, the journey back home to Rivers State offered more than just a change of scenery—it provided a fresh perspective on the beauty and diversity of their homeland.
Belove Olocha, originally from Port Harcourt, recently travelled back to her city after living in Lagos for some time.
Reflecting on the trip, she shared, “There has been a mindset shift, I would like to say I’m wiser now, and I have a better understanding of a lot of things.”
The journey itself seemed to stir emotions in her as the pilot announced their descent into Port Harcourt International Airport.
Gazing out the window at the familiar rusty rooftops, Olocha smiled and quietly whispered, “Home.”
Upon stepping out into the cool October breeze, she experienced an unexpected sensation. “I can’t quite describe this feeling, but I was smiling ear to ear,” she said.
Although Olocha had made this trip numerous times before, this visit felt different—more intimate, safe, and revitalizing.
While she expressed fondness for the fast-paced life in Lagos, she acknowledged that her mind needed a break. “I felt sane,” she added.
Her arrival at home was marked by a warm embrace from her family, especially her mother. “My mother’s tight hug was like a baptism, just washing all the craziness I had felt all year long away,” she recounted.
In addition to the emotional reconnection, Olocha rediscovered the city’s evolving landscape and its culinary delights.
“This time, the taste of the food felt like heaven,” she said after sampling local dishes. She marvelled at the linguistic richness of Rivers State, which boasts over 28 Indigenous languages, with pidgin as the state’s common tongue.
The unique way people spoke caught her attention. “The diction of Port Harcourt people is so beautiful, the choice of words, the accent, the charisma, the fearlessness is out of this world,” Olocha remarked.
Turning to local cuisine, Olocha couldn’t resist praising Port Harcourt’s famous bole.
“No shades to my Lagosian peeps but Port Harcourt Bole went to Harvard,” she quipped, describing the roasted yam, plantain, and fish dish.
The sauce accompanying it, she noted, was nothing short of transformative. “The sauce can make a hungry man hunger no more.”
Olocha also expressed admiration for the city’s iconic fisherman soup, which she humorously declared to be of academic excellence.
“Our fisherman soup has two Ph.D degrees from Oxford University,” she said, emphasizing the abundance of seafood in each dish. “The level of seafood in one plate of food will make you understand why Peter toiled all night without catching any fish because Rivers men already emptied the sea,” she joked, rating the dish “a hundred out of 10.”
Despite the rainy season, which she acknowledged could be bothersome, Olocha encouraged others to appreciate the cooler climate.
“Have a taste of Canada without a visa,” she said with a laugh.
For Olocha, the trip back to Port Harcourt proved to be more than just a visit—it was a therapeutic and eye-opening experience.
“Truly, Port Harcourt is a gem, the city is rich in culture and tradition,” she concluded. “I can say my trip back home was so therapeutic, and calming and it opened my eyes to the rich beauty of my city.”
Belove Olocha proudly hails from Port Harcourt City.
