Our Story

Every story has a beginning — and for Ilé, that beginning is deeply personal.

What started as a quiet longing to reconnect with home has become a space for others to do the same — whether home is a memory, a dream, or something you’re still discovering.

This is the story behind Ilé — and the why that keeps it going.

Why I Started Ilé

I was born in the UK, but I spent seven of my most formative years living in Lagos, Nigeria. From age four to eleven, Lagos wasn’t just a place — it was a rhythm, a feeling, a home.

After that, life took me around the world — from Nigeria to Moscow, then Marbella, and eventually back to London. But even as I moved, I never truly felt far from home.

I stayed connected — thanks in part to an incredible friend who always kept me in the loop, hosted me when I visited, and reminded me of who I was.

And I had a deep bond with my grandfather, who I’d always admired for being an incredible businessman — the kind of man who travelled the world, but always made sure Nigeria felt the impact of his success.

But then COVID happened. That friend passed away. And not long after, I lost my grandfather too.

Suddenly, my ties to home began to unravel. I avoided going back for seven years — not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know how. I felt disconnected, untethered, unsure of where to begin.

Ilé was born from that moment — the decision to stop running from home, and start finding my way back.

And I realised… I’m not the only one.

There are so many of us who want to reconnect with home — whether we’ve been once, many times, or never at all — but we don’t know how.

Ilé exists to change that.