Femi’s parents moved back to Nigeria when she was about 8 years old and she attended Fountain Primary School and Surulere Baptist School, Lagos. In a quest to learn more about the Ondo culture, language and traditions, Femi and her sister, Nike went to St Monica’s Girl’s Grammar School, Ondo. Femi truly enjoyed this experience and despite the setbacks she went through from having sickle cell, she managed to thrive in the boarding school life and was very active as a Girl Scout and in the Literary and Debate society. This encounter along with the influence of her beloved grandmother of blessed memory also allowed Femi to become very fluent in the Ondo language.

Olufemi Abike Aderibigbe was born to Mr Johnson Rotimi Aderibigbe and Mrs. Felicia Aduke Aderibigbe on 14th of October 1964 at Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Due to her parents’ work schedule, Femi and her sister lived with Mrs Lillian Taylor in Gillingham, Kent for a couple of years.
Mama Kent, as she fondly referred to her, took care of Femi and Nike along with her daughter Carole.

After she finished her A Levels, Femi proceeded to University of Ife (Great Ife!) where she attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Literary Studies. Her love for dancing and fun-loving character led to her nickname of ‘Pinto’ which she was fondly referred to even after leaving University of Ife. Femi completed her NYSC at the National Sports Commission in Lagos and left for the United Kingdom in 1986. She became interested in low income housing and worked as Housing Officer for several years before her illness made her give up the job. She moved to the United States shortly afterwards and worked briefly as a Loss Control Specialist at Prudential Insurance.

Femi endured several surgeries, numerous blood transfusions and multiple complications from sickle cell. She will fondly be remembered for her generous spirit, love of music, dancing and her larger-than- life personality. She finally succumbed to complications from sickle cell at the age of 53 at Charing Cross hospital, West London surrounded by her loved ones. She is survived by her dad, her partner, Bernadette, her siblings – Nike, Ronke, Kunle, Bunmi and Tunde, in-laws – Kola, Tokunbo, Bimbo and Steve along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. She will forever be fondly remembered by them all.