Feature Archives

Feature

Explainers, analyses, and essays on government policies, and political trends and movements around the continent

Faridah Folawiyo’s Year of Yes

A recurring theme in Folawiyo’s discussion of her work is accessibility, not as a marketing term but as something closer to a personal correction.

Anjola Akinmade

2 months ago

Taiwo “Ogogo” Hassan, The Custodian of Action and Nollywood’s Voice of Reason

Nollywood actor Taiwo “Ogogo” Hassan, who has died aged 66 of an unnamed cancer, inspired Nigerian film audiences and industry practitioners with his commanding performances and recorded goodwill. The actor who has stayed away from mainstream attention and conversation was the face of recent conversation after one of his daughters posted a video detailing the […]

Seyi Lasisi

1 month ago

“Starrgirl”: Ayra Starr Trades Becoming for Being

In Starrgirl, Ayra Starr does not ask you to reconsider Ayra Starr. She assumes you already know who she is and expects you to keep up. The title alone sends listeners a message before they press play. Her first two records were titled around age — 19 & Dangerous introduced a fearless, fast-talking teenager; The […]

Anjola Akinmade

1 month ago

Mid-Year Review: The 10 Best Nigerian Songs of 2026

In the spirit of culture curation, Culture Custodian has put together a list of the best songs of 2026, so far.

John Eriomala

3 months ago

What Exactly Is All This Sex Doing in Blood Sisters?

Blood Sisters Understands That Sex Can Tell a Story. It Just Doesn’t Always Know What Story It’s Telling.

Naomi Ezenwa

4 months ago

8 Nigerian Films Where Locations Steal the Spotlight

In great cinema, a setting is the pulse that shapes the plot, the unseen partner in every conversation, and the mirror that reflects a character’s truths. Some Nigerian filmmakers have long understood this, using the country’s sprawling cities, historic towns, and sacred landscapes not as mere backdrops but as characters with their own moods, histories, […]

Shalom Tewobola

1 year ago

Moses Inwang’s “Devil Is a Liar” Is A Tale of Manipulation, Betrayal and Missed Potential

Devil Is A Liar, a Netflix Nigerian film written by Tunde Babalola (writer of October 1, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, etc.) and directed by Moses Inwang (Alter Ego, Blood Vessel) opens with an evening scuffle between a man and a woman, after which the film drifts back eight years for the core of the narration. The film […]

Adedamola Adedayo

1 year ago

Redemption for Pastors, Silence for Victims: Rape Culture and The African Church

A Nigerian man, Joshua Kesena, recently went viral on X (fka Twitter) for a video he made with his wife. In this video, his wife sits across from him and retells the story of their sexual relationship following the birth of their child — two weeks after she had the baby, Joshua began to pressure […]

Naomi Ezenwa

1 year ago

“Devil is a Liar” Wastes Its Chance at Meaningful Commentary on Marriage

A more fitting title for this Netflix drama might be A Fall From Success, a deliberate nod to Tyler Perry’s A Fall From Grace. Both stories orbit around accomplished older women who fall into the snares of younger, opportunistic men. But where Perry’s film leans into melodrama, Devil is a Liar stumbles over its ambition, […]

Shalom Tewobola

1 year ago

“Finding Nina” is a Feeble Critique of Stereotypical Narratives

In Nigeria and mainstream media, Lagos is the prized state. The supposed economical and industrial development in the state has given it a heaven-like identity, compelling non-Lagosians to troop into the state. The uneven economic and infrastructural development across the country has enforced a state of constant migration on non-Lagosians, resulting in congestion and rationing […]

Seyi Lasisi

1 year ago

“Marked”: A Nuanced Meditation on Christianity and Worldly Entanglement

Babalwa (Lerato Mvelase), the lead character in Akinola Omotoso‘s Marked, loves Jesus and isn’t performative about it. Babalwa isn’t just the archetypal Christian that tattoos their room with religious totems for aesthetic quality and outlook, she is one that carries the spiritual knowledge of her faith into her daily and professional life. Working as a […]

Seyi Lasisi

1 year ago

Aisha Ife: The Lagos Photographer Spotlighting Joy

Photography wasn’t just present in Aisha’s life; it was woven intricately into her family’s dynamics with her parents documenting every of her and her siblings’ milestones in photos. That early exposure shaped her deep appreciation for the kind of imagery that she says feels honest and full of life.

Adetoun Samiat

1 year ago

Is It Time To Do Away With The “Big Three” Categorization?

Days ago, as fans of Wizkid and Burna Boy clashed over a slew of inane topics ranging from who started the trend of sprinkling water on fans during performances, to who had the better verse on Gunna’s album, music journalist, podcaster, and internet personality Joey Akan insinuated himself into the conversation in the splashiest way […]

Chibuzo Emmanuel

1 year ago

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Feature

Faridah Folawiyo’s Year of Yes

Taiwo “Ogogo” Hassan, The Custodian of Action and Nollywood’s Voice of Reason

“Starrgirl”: Ayra Starr Trades Becoming for Being

Mid-Year Review: The 10 Best Nigerian Songs of 2026

What Exactly Is All This Sex Doing in Blood Sisters?

8 Nigerian Films Where Locations Steal the Spotlight

Moses Inwang’s “Devil Is a Liar” Is A Tale of Manipulation, Betrayal and Missed Potential

Redemption for Pastors, Silence for Victims: Rape Culture and The African Church

“Devil is a Liar” Wastes Its Chance at Meaningful Commentary on Marriage

“Finding Nina” is a Feeble Critique of Stereotypical Narratives

“Marked”: A Nuanced Meditation on Christianity and Worldly Entanglement

Aisha Ife: The Lagos Photographer Spotlighting Joy

Is It Time To Do Away With The “Big Three” Categorization?

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