“Japa” is an indigenous Nigerian word meaning “to run away.” That’s what many Nigerian families are doing in the search for greener pastures and better life opportunities abroad. The migrations that rose to the peak after the 2019 global pandemic actually started in the 90s and surged in the 2000s. The ‘adoption’ of the colloquial term Japa among the populace to describe this mass outmigration in Nigeria started in the late 90s.
‘Japa’ is a novel term used by Nigerians to describe this outmigration trend of Nigerians into Europe and other parts of the world. This slang has now spread across the West African Sub-region among the scores of different nationals daily leaving for Europe.
The neo-liberal structure of the UK particularly also encouraged this trend. One lesson quickly learned by African migrants is: leaving home means also leaving a lot behind and starting life afresh.
“Life apportions to you, what you have earned commensurate to the pressure you apply on it”, so says the ancient wisdom of our forefathers in Africa. This was the case with young Ademola Olajade Alade Lookman whose life’s struggles with his mum from the deprived streets of Peckham in South East London is well documented. He grew up in Wandsworth estate and having went to school in Peckham. He has carried those memories of hardship with him.
The story of Ademola Lookman’s mum is not too different from those of many immigrant African families that relocated to Europe to seek better living, it is a huge challenge securing decent jobs that could sustain life’s basics for new migrants especially in London because of high cost of living, then culture shock is another factor that limits opportunities abroad. She left Nigeria in the 90s with two kids and her husband and on 20 October 1997 she gave birth to Ademola in London but his two elder sisters were born in Nigeria. As life became increasingly uncertain for the family, her husband had to relocate back to Nigeria with one of the girls leaving the eldest daughter and Ademola with her. Ademola’s mother had to do all sorts of menial jobs all around London to put food on the table, oftentimes far away from home for days leaving the young lad in care of his sister.
During the brilliant documentary ‘South of the River’, he told of how he would eat at his friends’ houses after playing football, knowing there was no food on the table at home.
“Being from a deprived area, a deprived background, that’s always behind you,” Lookman said in a BT Sport docuseries, via Leicester Mercury.
“Coming home from football, because I knew there was no food at home, I’d eat at my friends’ houses.
“At that time I wasn’t going to go to my mum’s room and ask: ‘Mum why is there no food?’ She was away from home quite a lot doing cleaning jobs, being a dinner lady.
“My dad was working back in Nigeria. My older sister used to look after me when mum was away. Left alone at the house, meant more time to play football.”
“Seeing my mum struggle gave me extra fuel and fire. But that drive, that feeling of I can do this, it was love.
“I’m grateful for the struggles, it made me who I am today.”
Ademola didn’t have the opportunity of passing through proper football academy as a kid due to poverty, he instead sharpened his skills in the streets and the iron cages of Wandsworth like the ancient Spartan soldiers. He was overlooked by all London clubs. He started playing Sunday League football for Waterloo right there in the South of London, his calm resilience was forged during these testing times in Peckham.
Ademola’s mum had running battles with him for always escaping from Sunday schools of their local church in Peckham to play Sunday league football. Like every other African mother, the plan of his mum was for him to become an accountant because he was in the category of high school kids called “Top set” (academically gifted) but Ademola secretly had other plans in his mind outside progressing to the college.
“I can imagine no heroism greater than motherhood.” —Lance Conrad, “The Price of Creation”.
Ademola Lookman attended St Thomas the Apostle College (STAC) on Hollydale Road and stood out both on the sports field and in the classroom, where he achieved three A-stars and five As at GCSE.
When Ademola turned 16, about the time his mates were about applying for colleges, while his mum was so optimistic that he’ll easily get into any top college in the UK because he was an academically outstanding schoolboy. He was nursing a fear of not abandoning his secret dream of pursuing a career in football but the occasion of his breakthrough arrived around this time of his secret dilemma when he was selected to play for London Counties in a friendly game against Charlton’s Academy in 2013.
He came in to replace an injured player but his street sharpness, smoothness on the ball and combative skill were quickly noticed by the Charlton coaches, despite his side losing 0 – 1 in the match he was approached after the match and they immediately offered a scholarship, they were even more dazed that no club in London was yet to spot him up till that time despite the huge football knowledge he displayed within the short time he spent on the pitch that day, the Charlton officials were practically mesmerised by this prodigious talent.
Ademola Lookman was shocked in disbelief after this promise was made to him and he immediately called his mum to break the unexpected news which she received in utter dismay too. This was the moment destiny knocked on his door and a turning point in his life to pursue his dreams and escape from grinding poverty, the lad took heed to this call of destiny and grabbed the opportunity so seriously. So from Sunday League football at Waterloo FC, Ademola Lookman joined Charlton Athletic’s academy in 2014, a youth football club based in the London Borough of Lambeth where he transitioned quickly through the youth ranks to the senior team.
In 2016 He received his first international call-up when he was named in the England U19 squad named for Mexico. He was subsequently named in the squad for the European U19 Championships that summer.
Ademola Lookman was selected in the England under-20 team for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup where he scored 3 decisive goals for the team en route winning the championship, the first international trophy for England since 1966. His first top flight break was when he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Everton on 5 January 2017 for an undisclosed fee, reported as an initial £7.5 million potentially rising to £11 million with add-ons.
He was loaned out from the Goodison Park within two seasons. The stubborn Ademola Lookman resisted the advice of his coach Sam Allardyce to move to the championship side Derby county in order to play regular football, he instead chose a six-month loan spell at RB Leipzig after which he was able to secure a move to Red Bull Salzburg in 2019 and on 25 July 2019, Lookman returned to RB Leipzig on a five-year contract. On 30 September 2020, he joined Premier League side Fulham on a season-long loan.
On 31 August 2022 and later joined Leicester City on a season-long loan.
A proper football journeyman he was!!.
On 10 February 2022, Lookman’s request to represent the Nigerian national team was approved by FIFA. Ademola Lookman his debut for Nigeria on 25 March 2022, in their scoreless draw with Ghana as part of the third round of the African section of qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to kick off his international career smoothly. He then joined the Serie A club Atalanta on a four-year contract for a reported fee of €15 million later that summer where he immediately established himself into the philosophy of Gian Piero Gasperini.
Ademola’s first appearance at a big international stage came with a bang at the just concluded AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast in January 2024, this was where his stardom was fully introduced to the watching planet.
His pacey runs at the opposition defense, causing problems with his quick feet and close control were fully deployed in this championship where he scored 3 crucial goals that propelled the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the final only to lose to the host nation. He was listed in the Team of the tournament by CAF.
The accolades continue to pour in, after his heroics hat trick in Europa League final match against Bayern Leverkusen.
Ademola Lookman with 15 goals and 6 assists this just concluded season seized the crown for the best goalscorer and best assist provider of the team and the Atalanta fanbase gladly bestowed him such highly-coveted prize of the Player of The Season.
The most scary part is that Ademola has not yet reached the peak of his power, his best moment is yet to come.
On 4 September 2024, Ademola Lookman became the 8th Nigerian to be nominated for Ballon d’Or due to his performances in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final as well as Atalanta’s triumph in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League. He scored a brace against Benin Republic in the on ongoing AFCON 2025 qualifiers on Saturday 7th September 2024.
I think Demola is in good form at the moment.
Ademola Lookman’s rise to football stardom is an evidence of his determination and ability to overcome challenges. From humble beginnings in South London to competing in some of Europe’s top leagues, his journey has been defined by continuous growth and resilience. Now a key figure for Atalanta in Serie A where he plies his trade to the Super Eagles of Nigeria, his country of origin, Lookman’s story is an inspiration to young footballers around the world, showing that with hard work, belief, and the right opportunities, dreams can become reality. As his career progresses, fans eagerly await the next chapters of his success both at club level and on the international stage, he has remained the player that has best projected Africa in the year under review, and this has put him in pole position to win the individual award of CAF’s African Footballer of the year award.
References:
- Ademola Lookman: ‘I had to make decisions that didn’t put my family at risk’ By Donald McRae. The Guardian, 20 Feb 2021
- From Peckham to the Premier League, by Ally Young, who was Lookman’s PE teacher at STAC Peckham, March 2017
- “Lookman: The boy from Wandsworth who brought glory to the goddess”By Ben Grounds for Sky Sports 23 May 2024.
- “How Ademola Lookman slipped through the academy net before making his £11m move to Everton”. By Pitt-Brooke, Jack. The Independent. London, January 2017.
- “Baines gives Everton Europa lead on Rooney return”. BBC Sport. By Rostance, Tom, 27 July 2017.
- “L’avvocato, Tomori, la fame, e la fede in Dio: tutto su Ademola Lookman” [The lawyer, Tomori, hunger, and faith in God: all about Ademola Lookman]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). By Di Giovanni, Giuseppe (23 January 2023).
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Edited by Niyi Akinola
