From the age of 14, Taiwo and Kehinde Popoola took interest in newspapers. Whenever they came across a newspaper in their rural Iresi community of Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State, they would read it thoroughly and file it for reference purpose. Although they took it as a hobby, little did the twins know that they were laying the foundation for their future means of livelihood and road to fame.

The 40-year-old twins are a symbol of perseverance, dedication, hard work and integrity – having collectively come through thick and thin. Taiwo and Kehinde are blind yet they are one of the leading newspaper agents in Osun.


Although they only have secondary school education, these twins recall historical dates and events with ease.


They are talented singers and entertainers, who hold the newspaper reading public in Orita-Gbaemu and Oke-Fia areas of Osogbo spellbound with their melodious songs. Most times, they used their songs to entertain customers when newspapers did not arrive on time from Lagos. Drumming on a wooden table, they would sing songs in praise of Nigeria, twins, albinos, among others. They also sing songs to condemn corruption, avarice and slothfulness. Taiwo is a fan of Juju music maestro, King Sunny Ade, while Kehinde is a fan of Fuji music legend, Kollington Ayinla.


Recalling how they became vendors, Taiwo said, “We started as part-time vendors in Osogbo in 1984 when we were class one students of Ifeoluwa Grammar School, Ilesa Road, Osogbo. By 5am we would take our supply from the late Baba Asorire or Baba Akintayo and go to our school area to sell till 7.30am. When we began as vendors, we ceased to ask for money from our parents because the four kobo commission, which we made as profit on each newspaper, was enough to take care of our school fees. A newspaper was sold for 20 kobo then.


“The commission we got was enough to pay our school fees. Every morning we sold 30 copies each. We became full-time vendors in 1989 after we completed our secondary school education. On October 1, 1995, we became newspaper agents. We now have 10 vendors working for us.”


On how they cope with customers, who may want to capitalise on their disability to cheat them, Kehinde said, “We have good people around us to check the tendency of being cheated by our customers. We have sought medical help at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. The Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Adewale Awodele, took us to the National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment. We have also gone to hospitals in Ekiti; we trust God to restore our sight. The minister still visits us to read newspapers when he is in Osogbo; he is our big friend. Our eye problem is hereditary.”


Kehinde said he made a foray into politics in 2003 when he contested as the chairman, Boluwaduro Local Government Council, on the platform of United Nigeria Peoples Party. Although he alleged that the election was rigged, Kehinde said his emergence as third best candidate was an indication that selling newspapers had made them popular.


The twins said their happiest days were when their newspapers sold out. Kehinde said, ”Our happiest days included when Osun State was created on August 27, 1991. We sold out our papers the next day. We also sold out our stock during the Gulf War. We sold out when Mr. Rauf Aregbesola became the governor. During his reign, the first Executive Governor of Osun State, Chief Isiaka Adeleke, once told his driver to take me home in his official car for me to go and bring him a particular newspaper.”


They said their saddest days were mostly during the military regimes when some of their newspapers were seized by security agents.


Born on November 25, 1970, the twins are currently in the studios, where they are putting finishing touches to their single, which is done in praise of twins.


The twins are married and have children. They also have another set of female twins in their family.

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Posted: at 22-12-2010 12:29 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

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