Kehinde Ajose: Don't Put Your Identity in Other People's Hands

Kehinde Ajose sat in a modest office in Lagos, the hum of the air‑conditioner a backdrop to the soft thud of his bass strings. The room smelled faintly of coffee and old paper, evidence of the many newsletters he had printed while still a student. He had never imagined that this same rhythm would one day echo across radio waves, podcast microphones, and the pages of a national newspaper.

When the editor of a national daily once teased him about juggling too many roles, Ajose laughed. The remark was a mirror of the reality he lived: writer, journalist, broadcaster, podcaster, author, media entrepreneur, and bassist. Each title, he said, was a different expression of the same corecreativity, communication, media, storytelling. The bass had been his first language, the guitar in church and with local bands, before the written word captured his imagination.

The editor’s comment was not a critique but a gentle poke at the multiplicity of Ajose’s pursuits. It highlighted how outsiders often see a single, tidy profession, while inside the mind of a creator, the pieces shift and recombine. Ajose’s response was simple: labels can help people understand but also trap. He had always resisted being boxed into one identity.

His journey began on campus, where he published motivational newsletters and a mini magazine. Even as an undergraduate, he wrote for national newspapers, a practice that would later shape his journalistic ethos. After graduation, he fully immersed himself in media, becoming an entertainment journalist who interviewed entertainers, charted careers, and narrated stories of popular culture. His experience taught him that careers are rarely linear; interests evolve, industries shift, and the next role can be vastly different from the previous one.

Ajose’s storytelling talent manifested in multiple forms. He hosted “Star Lounge” on an online radio station and later co‑hosted a business programme on Max FM with his friend Kehinde Olagbenjo. These platforms sharpened his ability to find stories and engage listeners through conversation. Today, his podcast “Conversations With Kenni” features guests like Seyi Awolowo, Jide Awobona, Mojisola Adebanjo, GT Da Guitarman, and Diva Gold. Each episode is a thread in the tapestry of his narrative craft.

Beyond individual projects, Ajose has built a media business of his own. When asked what he does, he answers: “I create, communicate, and tell stories, and I build ideas within the media and creative space.” The platforms may change, but the thread remains constant. His journey from bass strings to broadcast waves illustrates a broader truth about Nigerian creators: identity is fluid, and the most resilient are those who refuse to let it be confined.

As a writer, I am struck by how Ajose’s career mirrors the dynamism of Lagos itselfa city that never stops reinventing. His refusal to be boxed into a single label is not just a personal stance; it is a blueprint for the next generation of African storytellers who must navigate a rapidly shifting media landscape.

Looking ahead, Ajose plans to expand his podcast reach across West Africa, bringing more diverse voices into the conversation. His next project, a digital platform for emerging writers, promises to democratize storytelling further. In a world where identity can be outsourced, he remains a living testament that the truest self is forged by continuous creation and fearless self‑definition.