A Sitdown With Rasheed & Ibiso Danjuma

So we’ve come to the end of the week, I hope you’ve enjoyed being reacquainted( or meeting) with Rasheed & Ibiso. Anyway, I found this little piece from a sit down I had with these two. It was right after Jabir’s wedding. I cornered them and we had a small chat. You know Rasheed is not a media person however with his wife’s new found fame, he is adjusting but only indulged me for a couple of minutes. Enjoy……………………………………………

I sit at the edge of my chair with my tape recorder. This couple spent months with me but after their wedding we kinda lost touch. Now they have a handsome baby boy. There’s a knock on the door and in walks Ibiso followed by her husband, Rasheed. Her smile is contagious so I relax a bit and returned the emotion. Rasheed on the other hand acknowledged me with a head nod. He wore a serious expression. He had one hand on the small of Ibiso’s back and the other one was holding his phone to his ear. He was engrossed in conversation. I could tell it was business and he was trying to get the person off the phone.

“Ah Unoma, it’s so nice to see you again,” Ibiso said.

“Same here. You look stunning,” I responded.

I meant it too. She had on a high waist, multicolored, pencil cut Ankara skirt that stopped below her knees. It had a high slit that stopped at her thigh. She wore it with a white short sleeved lace blouse. To compliment her look, she had on some red stilettos and a red clutch bag. Her make up flawless and her low cut was on point. For a minutes I wondered if I could rock my hair that low

By this time Rasheed gets off the phone. “Unoma, you look good.”

“Hey you and don’t flatter me. I’m so tired from dealing with your brothers but thanks anyway.”

Rasheed chuckled. “You gave yourself that job, writing their stories. So that’s on you. Besides they are not that bad.”

“You are so wrong but you can have that,” I said.

Rasheed grabbed Ibiso’s hand as I ushered them to the love seat on the other side of the table.

“Okay I gotta catch a flight back to Atlanta and I know you Rasheed are headed to Lagos in the morning so this is going to be quick,” I said.

Rasheed : “Good deal.”

Unoma: “So how has married life been?”

The couple look at each other and smile. They then turn to me and say “Great.” in unison.

Ibiso : I mean it’s been great in general. Do we disagree? Yes. Does he still get buried in his work and I get on him? Yes. But we keep communication open and listen to the other to understand and not to respond.

Unoma : Nice. I’m so happy. How is Sodienye?

Rasheed: Still getting on my nerves.

I raise my brow. Ibiso laughed and kissed her husbands cheek.

Rasheed: Seriously though, we now have an understanding that she (he points to Ibiso) is all me now. I exist for her and my son. He gets it for the most part but still tries to baby her. I’m the only one allowed to baby my wife.

Unoma: Aww that’s so sweet.

Ibiso: I’m blessed.

Unoma : That you are. So how has parenthood been?

Rasheed : The day he was born I wept. I wept for God to give me the strength and guidance to be to him what mine never was to me and more.

Rasheed puts his head down briefly and Ibiso rubs his back in a circular motion.

Ibiso: And you are baby. A great father.

Ibiso then turns to me. : It has been great. Between my husband, mom and Mama D I have more than enough help. I had enough systems in place to not work in my restaurant for 6 months after giving birth.

Unoma :Wow that was a long time.

Ibiso: Yes it was. I know not everyone can do that but I’m glad I was able to. YoYo and I had so much fun.

Unoma: YoYo?

Rasheed furrowed his eyebrows at Ibiso: I told you to stop calling my son that.

Ibiso laughed “RaRa, why now? It’s cute.

Rasheed :Okay I see you want to be in time out.

They carried on for a few minutes teasing each other like I wasn’t in the room. The love in their eyes couldn’t be denied.

Unoma : Okay, I got one more question for the both of you. What’s next for Danjuma Group and Bisso Bites?

Ibiso: I have finally opened a branch in Lagos. As you know I have a new location here in Abuja. It’s no longer just Amina and I. I am living my dream. A husband and child I adore, my family and I are on great terms and my new family is fantastic. Now that we are done with Jabir’s wedding I cant wait to see what is in store for Kammy.

Rasheed cupped the back of Ibiso’s head and drew her in to place a kiss on her forehead.

Rasheed: Danjuma Group is expanding to East Africa now that we have West Africa down. Next will be South Africa. But that would depend on the environment and the Xenophobia currently going on.

Unoma: I have never understood the reasoning behind xenophobia.

Ibiso: Me either. I got an email from a Mrs. Rice about catering her son’s wedding in South Africa but my baby here isn’t too happy about it.

Rasheed: The only way you are going is if I’m with you.

Ibiso: Yes sir (she gave him a military salute)

Rasheed: Cut it out SoSo.

Unoma: Both of you are so cute together.

Rasheed opened his mouth to object at the term but was interrupted by none other than Kamal Danjuma bursting in the room.

Kamal: Oh my bad. Y’all still in here. Unoma, Stone Cold ain’t got that much going on so what can you possibly be asking him?

Ibiso: Kammy, leave my husband alone.

Rasheed: Leave him to keep running his mouth. He’ll be walking to the airport when it’s time for him to leave in a couple of weeks.

Kamal: Stop threatening the kid. Alright I’m gone.

Kamal walked over to me and pulled me into a hug. “Unoma,  don’t be having me looking corny in your little book.

Rasheed: Bro, get out of here man let her finish. I need to get my family home. I’ll be gone a week I need to make sure my wife is good.

Rasheed winked at Ibiso, She blushed and Kamal made gagging noises.

Kamal: Imma about to go. I ain’t trying to hear all that. Sis, don’t forget to hook those snacks up for me.

Kamal gives us the peace sign and walks out.

Unoma: Okay guy, I’m going to let you go. I think I have enough for the fans. Thank you so much for your time.

I and the couple exchanged hugs and took a couple of pictures before they left. This couple started the Sons of Ishmael series. If you haven’t read their story, you can get it here for $1.99

Blessings

Unoma