Atimomo’s The Colours of Love as an Art of Reinvention

Yinka Olatunbosun

Retirement can be either rewarding or dull, depending on the choices one makes. For 77-year-old retiree Jolomi Atimomo, staying at home to watch television was never an option. While she relishes international travel to carefully chosen destinations, her post-retirement business—run successfully for 15 years—eventually collapsed under the strain of the notorious Apapa gridlock, forcing her to shut down her hospitality venture. Faced with this setback, she resolved to remain productive.

“When I returned from my travels, reality dawned on me,” she recounted at an intimate press parley in Surulere, Lagos. “You can’t sit at home every day. When your friends are still employed, you can’t visit them all the time. I considered trading, but I realised I wasn’t suited to it.”

In March 2024, the author, entrepreneur and philanthropist made her literary debut at the age of 75 with Colour Blind. Her journey underscores the idea that intellectual and creative contributions can emerge at any stage of life. An alumna of Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls’ Secondary School (Class of 1966) in Yaba, Lagos, she attended Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) before furthering her studies at South West London College in the United Kingdom. Prior to venturing into entrepreneurship, she enjoyed a successful corporate career, notably with Nigerian Breweries Plc.

Following her retirement from the corporate sector in 2005, she transitioned into the hospitality industry, demonstrating a strong entrepreneurial drive long before turning to literature.

The COVID-19 lockdown proved to be a creative turning point. To counter social isolation, she began drafting stories inspired by the lived experiences of friends and family she had observed over several decades.

Her writing typically explores themes of unconditional love, shared humanity, and the breaking of cultural and biological barriers—ideas that resonate strongly with the “humanity first” ethos often discussed in contemporary Nigerian intellectual circles.

Today, alongside her writing, she spends her time travelling, gardening, and composing poetry, remaining actively engaged with Lagos’s arts and culture scene. Her latest 401-page novel, The Colours of Love, serves as a sequel to her debut. Speaking to journalists about her influences, she noted that her voracious reading habit has significantly shaped her work.

“I draw inspiration from everywhere. My books are fictional, yet deeply rooted in reality, reflecting what is happening in our society—especially sensitive issues such as incest and same-sex relationships. The Colours of Love is about forgiveness, kindness, redemption and compassion,” she said.