Symbols & Sunlight: A Visual Journey with Tilé

Aw bisimila! (Welcome, in Bambara.)

I’m Tilé—“the Sun”—here to shed light, cast shadows, warm things up, and occasionally set things on fire (gently). Sometimes I’m a guide. Sometimes I’m just watching. And sometimes, I’m a talking animal with opinions. Life’s complicated like that.

You can also call me Fakoly Koumba Fakoly Daba, a name rooted in the rich oral traditions of the Madingue people. Literally, it means Fakoly with the big head, Fakoly with the big mouth — a phrase that may bring a smile, but carries a serious charge. It honours Fakoly the thinker, Fakoly the eloquent. A sharp mind. A bold voice. A spirit that dares to ask the hard questions and speak the truths that matter. In a world that too often rewards silence or surface thinking, this legacy reminds me how vital it is — in our work, our words, and our lives — to think deeply and speak boldly. I carry that spirit with me whenever stories begin to rise.

Welcome to Visual Wisdom, where ideas reveal themselves through symbols, metaphors, and images—faster than you can say, “Wait, what just happened to my worldview?”

This is not your average thought-leadership blog. It’s more like a visual riddle wrapped in a proverb, dipped in local spice.

Here, you’ll wander through:

• Decolonisation & Localisation – Shifting power, reclaiming stories, flipping the script

• Proverbs & Sayings – Timeless insights with deep African roots

• Leadership & Management – Lessons learned the hard (and sometimes hilarious) way

• Mind Traps & Mental Shortcuts – Where your brain plays tricks—and sometimes tells the truth

Each visual metaphor is bite-sized and bold—something you can absorb in under 30 seconds, but might carry with you much longer.

So—ready to see sideways, upside down, and through things?

Let’s begin.

Note: I created all visuals on this page using Canva.com, an online graphic design tool, with the support of AI.