LOVE IN THE MIDDLE

A Conversation with Folami & Lester Shaw

By ASLUT Staff Writer 

Photography by Jena Lael 

Some artists build resumes. Others build worlds. Folami and Lester Shaw are doing the latter—boldly, quietly, and with the kind of ease that comes from knowing who you are and why you’re here. Both have lived and created in cities with global reach, but it’s in Tulsa that their impact feels seismic. The Shaws aren’t here to follow trends or wait for outside validation. They’re architects of a new Tulsa—one shaped by love, excellence, and deep intention.

Folami brings more than 20 years of global stage experience, with roots in musical theatre and performance that stretch from the Bay to the South to the Midwest. Lester, a Tulsa-born creative force behind Fire in Little Africa, has long used music to channel purpose, protest, and healing. Together, they aren’t just building community—they’re building infrastructure. One that honors history while designing something entirely new.

"I’ve truly enjoyed witnessing the growth Tulsa has made in the short time I’ve been here," Folami shares. "I chose to stay temporarily to help build our business and intentionally weave the local community into the fabric of both our work and lifestyle." Her presence in the city may have started as a season—but the roots are deeper now. “This small town needs the kind of influence that Lester and I bring. It helps the culture evolve and spread more evenly throughout the community.”

For Lester, the return home was its own reclamation. “I actually left Tulsa and just recently came back. It’s been almost six years. I went to Atlanta, and Atlanta was great to me. But another reason I came back was for ownership.” A veteran of his father’s nonprofit, A Pocket Full of Hope, he’s no stranger to grassroots impact. “My goal is to give others the access to me that I didn’t have—or the access I wanted from the ones who came before me.”

That clarity shows up in the way they work. Folami keeps passion in check through continuity—always asking herself the bigger “why” behind every project. For Lester, the magic is in the micro: “Everything I do has to reflect a clean, high-quality finish—a thoughtful and detailed approach.”

And when no one’s watching? That’s when the real artistry begins. “I love encouraging creators to use their voice to make music that people can truly relate to,” Lester says. “In life, we’re all tested—and music is often one of the first things people turn to in order to create the environment they need to make it through. That’s why I make music for everyone, including myself.”

Their visions are big—but they’re also rooted. “In a city like Tulsa, I saw so many areas underdeveloped and in need of support,” Folami explains. “At the same time, I also recognized the potential for change, shaped by what I had seen while traveling the world.” She makes it clear: being a visionary and doing the work are two different roles—and both are essential. “Communities thrive when there's a balance. You need workers just as much as you need leaders.”

Lester agrees: “When you have a vision, you also have to do the work you see needs to be done. It starts with you. Once you begin the work, others are empowered to join in and help bring it to life.”

And if you’re wondering where they go when the pressure builds, the answer is home. For Folami, that means her mentors, her elders, and her mother. “She’s full of wisdom and keeps me grounded. I model her ways when it comes to listening and serving as a gatekeeper of the community’s stories.” For Lester, it’s all in the lineage. “The man the world knows now as Doc Shaw—I’ve had the pleasure of calling him my father.” Watching him lead, evolve, and now thrive has helped Lester navigate his own growth. “Now, as a father myself, I’m passing down the same confidence and wisdom I received from him to my own children—continuing the legacy of strength, growth, and love.”

Of course, Tulsa has left its imprint too. “Tulsa is the epitome of not giving a F,” Folami laughs. “Seriously—no matter what it is, I’ve seen people move without much concern for consequences or the ripple effects of their choices. At times, it really does feel like the Wild Wild West.” But instead of recoiling, she leaned in. “Being here taught me how to let go of fear. It gave me permission to just be.”

Lester shares a formative story of his own: opening for Jodeci at just 14 years old. “We were so excited—just a bunch of kids with big dreams. But backstage, they were rude to us. That moment stuck with me. I never understood how you could be in the same space and treat young, hungry artists with such disregard.” It’s a moment that shaped him. “Be patient with the journey. Treat people with care. That kind of grace comes back to you. That’s the definition of my phrase, All Love.”

Asked what they’d do with a million dollars to invest in the city, Folami doesn’t hesitate. “I would use it to bring more worldly experiences to the community. It’s in my nature to dream big and have broader expectations—to expose people to global ways of living that can expand the way we see ourselves and our possibilities here in Tulsa.” Lester, ever the builder, simply says: “Hand me the million dollars and let me show you.”

Because at the end of the day, that’s what makes the Shaws so compelling. They aren’t waiting for funding, fame, or co-signs to get started. They’re already in motion. “I want people to feel confident,” says Folami. “To feel secure in who they are. To know they already have value, just as they are.” And from Lester: “I want everyone to feel peace. That feeling isn’t accidental—it’s part of the experience.”

They’re not here to perform Tulsa. They’re here to shape it. And make no mistake—Tulsa’s next era isn’t waiting on anyone’s permission.