Sàkíyèsí: The Art of Paying Attention

A creative wellbeing experience through:

COLOUR
CULTURE
REFLECTION
CONNECTION

Sàkíyèsí is a creative colouring experience for adults, designed to support mental wellbeing through creativity, reflection and moments of calm. Rooted in the Yoruba invitation to “pay attention,” Sàkíyèsí offers a gentle space to slow down, notice deeply and reconnect with yourself.

By Dr. Adérónkẹ́ Lawal

Inside

47 colouring pages

Front cover of Sàkíyèsí by Adérónkẹ́ Lawal

Inside

47 opportunities to pause

ColourYoruba languageReflectionCreative wellbeing

The Book

A mindful colouring experience made for moments of pause.

Across 47 illustrated pages, Sàkíyèsí brings together creativity, Yoruba language and reflective practice to support calm, self-expression and mental wellbeing.

What’s inside

47 invitations to pause, reflect and pay attention.

Each page creates a gentle space to engage with colour, language and thoughtful prompts at your own pace.

47 colouring pages

Intricate illustrations designed to invite slow, creative attention.

Yoruba words

Each theme introduces a Yoruba word, its pronunciation and English meaning.

Elegant illustrations

Intricate patterns designed to invite slow, creative attention.

Meditate or journal

Sit with each question in quiet reflection, or use the space provided to write your thoughts.

Creative freedom

Colour it. Reflect on it. Journal it. There is no single right way to make the experience yours.

A closer look

Pages designed to be explored, not rushed.

Move through a glimpse of the book as you would the experience itself: slowly. Each page makes room for visual detail, a Yoruba word and a moment of reflection.

Sàkíyèsí interior page preview placeholder 1
Inside Sàkíyèsí01 / 05

Explore the pages

Hover, focus or tap a page to bring it forward and take a closer look.

Experience SàkíyèsíExperience Mindfullness

Who it’s for

For anyone who needs a moment to pause.

You don’t need to be an artist. You don’t need to know anything about mindfulness. You simply need a little time for yourself.

You don’t need artistic skill. You just need a moment.

Adults

A creative way to relax, unwind and make a little room for yourself.

Students & young people

A gentle pause away from the pace and pressure of everyday life.

Educators & facilitators

Creative activities that can encourage reflection, conversation and connection.

Wellness & counselling spaces

A simple, accessible creative wellbeing resource for guided or independent use.

Care homes & community programmes

An activity that can bring people together through colour, reflection and creativity.

The story behind it

It started with a colouring book.

What began as a personal creative gift gradually became a wellbeing resource — and then a physical book centred on one simple Yoruba invitation: pay attention.

Sàkíyèsí book mockup

The beginning

A colouring book for Eyilore

Sàkíyèsí began several years ago as a simple colouring book Dr. Adérónkẹ́ Lawal created for her son, Eyilore, an art enthusiast. She loved the beauty and quietness of colouring too, and soon discovered how therapeutic the experience could be.

2020

Mindfulness became more intentional

As her mindfulness and inner-work practice deepened, she began sharing what she was learning as an educator and coach. Creative reflection became part of her work through Thrive Easy Africa, and Sàkíyèsí became one of those resources.

The rediscovery

One question changed the direction

For years the book existed simply as a PDF. Then a friend, Olufunke Marquis, rediscovered it while planning some “me-time”, coloured a page and asked: why isn’t this being sold as a standalone resource?

Now

From PDF to physical book

With encouragement and advice from friends, including author Dr. Paul Apomuche, Adérónkẹ́ decided to bring Sàkíyèsí to life as a physical hardcover book. Its Yoruba name had always held the purpose clearly: pay attention.

At the heart of the name

Sàkíyèsí means “pay attention.”

  • A reminder to slow down.
  • To notice.
  • To create.
  • To reconnect.

The Art of Paying Attention.

Meet the author

Dr. Adérónkẹ́ Lawal

Educator · Author · Researcher · Coach · Creative

Dr. Adérónkẹ́ Lawal is an educator, researcher, author and coach whose work brings together technology, learning, creativity and wellbeing.

A Senior Lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, she has spent over a decade teaching, researching and supporting people to learn, grow and create. Her interest in mindfulness and inner work deepened in 2020, eventually leading to the establishment of Thrive Easy Africa, a coaching and personal development platform.

Sàkíyèsí brings many of these interests together. What began as a colouring book created for her son has evolved into a creative wellbeing resource rooted in Yoruba language and culture.

Through Sàkíyèsí, Adérónkẹ́ invites us to do something simple but increasingly rare: slow down, pay attention, and notice deeply.
The Art of Paying Attention.

The book launch

A morning to pause, colour and celebrate.

Join us for the launch of Sàkíyèsí: A Mindful Colouring Experience — a morning of creativity, reflection, conversation and connection.

Date

26 September 2026

Time

10:00 am

Venue

Dream Centre, OAU Campus

Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Getting there

Sen. Oluremi Tinubu’s The Dream Centre is beside Ojaja Hostel, at the back of OAU Central Market.

Joining online

Meeting ID: 834 1529 2047
Passcode: SAKIYESI

Get involved with Sàkíyèsí

Get Sàkíyèsí for yourself. Or help put it in someone else’s hands.

For individuals

Get your copy

Get Sàkíyèsí for yourself and use it as a gentle space to colour, reflect and pay attention.

Order your copy

For sponsors

Sponsor book copies

Help fund copies of Sàkíyèsí for schools, wellness spaces and community programmes with a direct transfer.

Account name
THRIVE EASY AFRICA
Bank
Zenith Bank
Account number
1222677300

For organisations & supporters

Bring Sàkíyèsí to others

Bring Sàkíyèsí to your school, organisation, wellness programme or community through bulk purchases, sponsored copies, workshops or other partnerships.

Partner with Sàkíyèsí

Stay in the loop

RSVP For The Launch

Leave your name and email to RSVP for the Sàkíyèsí book launch and receive event updates and joining information.

FAQs

A few things you may be wondering.

What is Sàkíyèsí?+

Sàkíyèsí is a mindful colouring experience designed to support mental wellbeing through colour, creativity and reflection. Each illustrated page features a Yoruba word, its meaning and a reflective prompt to help you pause, notice and reconnect.

Who is Sàkíyèsí for?+

Sàkíyèsí is for anyone who wants a creative way to pause, reflect and support their mental wellbeing. It can also be used by educators, coaches, counsellors, wellness practitioners, organisations and community programmes.

What is inside the book?+

The book contains about 47 illustrated colouring pages, each paired with a Yoruba word and a reflective prompt. You can colour, meditate on the prompt, or journal your thoughts in the space provided.

Do I need to be good at colouring or art?+

Not at all. There is no right or wrong way to use Sàkíyèsí. Choose your colours, take your time and enjoy the process. The goal is not perfection, but creating a moment to pause and pay attention.

How can I get or support Sàkíyèsí?+

You can order an individual copy through our online store. Organisations can enquire about bulk orders, while individuals and organisations can also support the project by sponsoring copies or partnering with us to take Sàkíyèsí into more communities.