Roots to the Commonwealth: St Lucia

Seyi Afolabi visiting St Lucia in 2019

In the lead up to Commonwealth Day 2021, we are proud to share several personal connections that CPA UK staff members have with the Commonwealth.

Seyi Afolabi currently works as the Executive Officer at CPA UK. Seyi is deeply passionate about the next generation, expressed primarily in the longstanding role as Youth Mentor to local community youth groups to inspire achievement and self-development. In her spare time she enjoys writing articles, poetry and photography. Seyi has dual Nigerian and St. Lucian heritage which she champions in many facets of her life, including through her writing and poetry.

My maternal line hails from the paradise isle of St.Lucia. My grandmother arrived in London with the Windrush generation and carved out a life for her family in London. My mum, as the eldest of my grandmother’s three daughters, prioritised family holidays to St.Lucia for my siblings and I.

Trips that I warmly recall with memories of white sand beaches, the bustle of Castries, star filled nights in Mon Repos, street parties in Anse La Raye, the tranquillity of Soufriere and the glamour of Rodney Bay. My most recent trip back to St.Lucia at the end of 2019 was a strong reminder of how proud I am to be a diaspora daughter of this tiny island with its warm people, luscious landscape and rich history.

Mother Tongue

Hearing your native accent,

Heavy on top of your English,

Is simply - beautiful.

The innate intonations

And quickness

Or slowness

And sounds.

All piled on top of your English,

It’s simply - beautiful.

Some call you immigrant,

But I call you,