Dolly Parton: A God-Given Gift That Reached Me in Africa

Dolly Parton has always inspired me. I am truly moved by her extraordinary body of work, her beautiful songs and the warmth, faith and humanity she shared through her creativity.

Growing up as a child in Nigeria, West Africa, Dolly’s music was played in our home. Her songs travelled across oceans and cultures, reaching a child thousands of miles away and becoming part of my memories. That alone demonstrates the extraordinary power of her gift.

Great creativity does more than entertain us. It enters our homes, accompanies different seasons of our lives and sometimes awakens gifts within us that we have not yet found the courage to explore.

Dolly possessed that rare ability. Her music could feel personal while speaking to millions of people. Behind the glamour was an exceptional songwriter, storyteller, musician, businesswoman and philanthropist whose work brought joy, comfort and inspiration to generations.

Her story reminds us that our beginnings do not have to limit our destination. A gift nurtured with faith, discipline, courage and generosity can travel farther than we may ever live to see.

God is good. If He grants me even a whisper of the extraordinary gift He placed in Dolly, I would be profoundly grateful.

As an artist, I understand that creating something meaningful is both a blessing and a responsibility. Dolly showed us what can happen when a person honours that responsibility and allows their gift to become a source of light for others.

When Faith Makes Room for Love

One of the reasons I wrote this tribute is Dolly’s enduring stance on love and inclusion. She embraced a vast LGBTQIA+ following while remaining open about her Christian faith. That struck a profound chord with me because her example showed that faith does not have to exclude, diminish or dehumanise anyone.

In some African communities, I was demonised and even called a “Yoruba Demon” for being androgynous and refusing to make myself smaller for other people’s comfort. The judgement left me struggling with PTSD, impostor syndrome and, at times, deep self-doubt. It was especially painful when it came from people within faith communities, where the contradiction between professed love and practised rejection can be devastating.

The projection of other people’s fear and self-hatred distorted my reality so severely that I almost internalised it. With the right support, however, I learned to process those experiences with greater clarity and to separate who I truly am from what wounded people tried to make me believe about myself.

I share this because someone else may need to hear it: being different is not a defect. You should be able to look into the mirror and feel proud of the person looking back at you. Find the people with whom your spirit genuinely resonates, live truthfully and build a legacy of good deeds that continues transforming lives long after you have left the room.

Love should never be confused with manipulation, control or false help. Presence does not imprison you. Genuine support does not erase you. Real love helps you return to yourself with greater dignity, clarity and peace.

Being different is not the absence of grace. Sometimes, it is where grace becomes most visible.

Thank you, Dolly, for the music, the stories, the inspiration and the joy. Thank you for reaching our home in Nigeria and touching a young life that would one day pursue music too.

Your physical journey may have ended, but your songs, kindness and creative light will continue travelling across the world.

Rest peacefully, Dolly Parton. Your remarkable gift will never be forgotten.

Àrèmúorin
Artist, songwriter and humanitarian