We are delighted to welcome you to our digital home. We are the Awolesi family, and this platform serves as our dedicated space to share our journey, milestones. Based in the United Kingdom, we have created this corner of the Internet to connect with like-minded individuals and foster a sense of community through shared experiences.
Full name: Oluwaseyi Oluwagbenga Adetokunbo Olanrewaju Awolesi a.k.a Olukokun Poroye
Date of birth and date of rebirth: 08 February 1971 and 21st July 2021
Place of birth: London, United Kingdom and Lagos Nigeria
My Father:
Olufemi Babatunde Frederick Awolesi
My Mother:
Cecilia Temitayo Olatunde Awolesi (Nee Olukokun)
Birth order and siblings:
- Omolara
- Olusegun
- Olumide (AKA Running Water Awolesi)
- Olusola
Married in 1992, divorced in 1994.
My Children:
No children yet.
Born the last born son in Croydon, London United Kingdom (1971) and raised in London till age 7 by my parents, after my parents moved to Nigeria I lived in Nigeria till I was 16, attending several schools including Grace Children's School, Gbagada Primary School, CMS Grammar School and Awori Anglican Comprehensive High School, adapting to a new culture.
After a brief traumatic time in New York I returned to the UK at age 17 and studied Construction and Land Management at Vauxhall College, then Architecture at the Polytechnic of North London (now London Metropolitan University), while doing exchange programmes in Portugal and Italy.
While studying I did several different jobs, from Pizza Hut to working as a mini cab driver out of a cab office in Finsbury Park in between lectures.
My first role in architecture was working as an architectural technician for Kent County Council as a contractor. Several other roles followed over the years until I was commissioned to design Drakes of Brighton, a 22-bedroom boutique hotel which is still standing. After that I realised that working in hospitality and residential architecture was a passion of mine, while simultaneously being jaded by the imbalance and prejudice I experienced in the industry.
I worked on the side as one half of Afro Pop Live, managing artists including Muntu Valdo, Wanlov Kubolor, Men3a Ansah, Nneka Egbuna and Bumi Thomas.
I joined Marriott International as a style and design consultant in 2016. It was while I was on a contract for Marriott in Lagos, Nigeria in 2021, creating my first body of work as an artist, Ọ̀rọ̀ Ẹnì (Conversations with Self) — olukokunporoyeartist.art — that I had a stroke on the 21st of July 2021 (my Rebirthday). After surviving the stroke I decided to write a book about my experience, my memoirs, called "Things Not To Do While You Are Having a Stroke" #YouDontKnowWhatYouDontKnow, which I later adapted into a stand-up/theatre performance called "The Happening Ọ̀rọ̀ Ori". I had 4 exhibitions in 2024 in London.
As of 2026 I am developing "The Happening Ọ̀rọ̀ Ori", about to publish "Things Not To Do While You Are Having a Stroke" #YouDontKnowWhatYouDontKnow, and working on my next body of art. With my art, my written work (novels) and my performance, I believe I have found a vocation that truly fulfils me.
I am yet to be married again or have children, but it is my heart's desire to have my own family.
Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me: