Throwback Thursday: To Our Grannies and Grandpas – The Original Legends

Ah, grandparents. The real MVPs. The OGs of wisdom, humor, fashion and endless care. This Thursday, we’re throwing it all the way back to celebrate grannies and grandpas—the people who shaped us in ways only they could.

Grandmas first. Their fashion game was unmatched—from iro and buba to shimmering damask, with gele so high it looked like it had its own postcode. Their special love for jewelry? Timeless. Those chunky gold bangles, bold necklaces, and rings they wore proudly—whether real gold or “Abebi” gold-plated, it didn’t matter, not leaving behind their white powder and tiro and of course, the matching slippers or block heels to complete the look. When grandma stepped into church or an owambe, you knew royalty had arrived.

Grandpas were no less stylish. They dusted off their agbadas well tailored, with fila tilted just right. Some preferred their english wears with chains dangling, paired with leather sandals that could last decades. And let’s not forget their radios—always tuned to Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Ade, Oliver De Coque or Osadebe. The music was their groove and you couldn’t convince them otherwise.

Beyond the fashion, it was the love. Grandmas had a way of shielding you from your parents’ anger—“Leave this child alone, is it not just plate he broke?”—and slipping you that ₦200 note when school was resuming. It might not have covered your textbooks but it made your heart swell. Grandpas too had their subtle ways. They’d call you over, pretend to be giving you an errand and sneak money into your palm with a firm handshake—“Don’t tell your parents.” That ₦500 could turn you into the king of meat pie and minerals at the school tuck shop.

Their humor was elite. Grandmas always had myths ready: “Don’t whistle at night or snakes will visit,” “If you sit at the door, you’re blocking your future husband” “Don’t swallow seeds or a tree will grow in your stomach.” And we believed every word. Grandpas, on the other hand, were full of one-liners and proverbs that could silence a room. Their pep talks were lectures disguised as gist—“My son, life is like a football match. Play your role well and don’t dribble too much.” You’d laugh, nod and still remember it years later.

The care was endless too. Grandmas force-fed us with, “Eat, you’re too thin!” while grandpas told you stories of “our time” that always ended with how much harder life was then, yet how much stronger it made them. Both had a way of making you feel seen, loved, and important.

Throwback to those nights of listening to folk tales by lantern light, the scent of ori (shea butter) rubbed on your skin after bath, the loud laughters of grandpas with their friends under mango trees and the sweet warmth of grandmas fussing over you like the apple of their eye.

So today, we celebrate them—the grannies with their iro, damask, gele and gold; the grandpas with their agbada, radios and timeless proverbs. They may not have had much but their love, humor and wisdom gave us everything.

Happy Throwback Thursday, family—grandmas and grandpas will always remain our first superheroes.