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.
1 month ago
There is something quietly heartbreaking about being physically close to someone every single day and being miles away from them emotionally, all at once. Maureen and Funsho share a home, relationship and a life, but increasingly, they seem to exist beside each other rather than with each other. Their phones fill the silences between them, […]
1 week ago
The Kenya-Nigeria co-production One Woman One Bra is finally returning to Kenya in September, nearly a year after its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and a subsequent run through major international festivals. What makes its Kenyan premiere particularly interesting is where that homecoming begins. According to a Sinema Focus exclusive interview with writer […]
2 weeks ago
By the time guests began arriving at Nature’s Nook Garden, Lagos had cooled down considerably. Instead of dampening the mood, the weather gave Slow Sundays: Book Edition the atmosphere the evening needed: cool, cosy and unhurried. The first experience from OTRwithBSocials was built around a simple idea. Guests would bring two physical books: one to […]
2 weeks ago
For 17 years, the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) has created a space for African and African diaspora filmmakers to bring stories from the continent and beyond to audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area. Now, the festival returns for its 17th edition with a programme that reflects the geographic and creative breadth of contemporary […]
2 weeks ago
Some stories ask audiences to decide who is innocent and who is guilty. Mo Harawe’s Whispers of a Burning Scent, an official BlackStar Film Festival selection, instead makes that decision uncomfortable from the start. The Somali film follows Hanfade, a reserved wedding musician whose private life is abruptly thrust into public view. On the day […]
3 weeks ago
On Saturday, June 20th, a small crowd gathered at a converted room inside Padà, the guesthouse-turned-cultural-outpost in Onikan, Lagos, for the opening of A Luta Continua! Aesthetics of Popular Struggle in Nigeria. The free exhibition, organised in partnership with Archives of the Nigerian Left, also included an archiving workshop, a soft book launch and a […]
3 weeks ago
Orlahstrings doesn’t need a vocalist to tell you what Gbedu Beatz is for. The two-track release moves through the producer’s interpretation of Amapiano, relying on percussion, bright melodies and rhythm to carry six minutes of uncomplicated fun. Midnight Banger lives up to its name. Built around a driving, percussive beat, the track has the familiar bounce […]
3 weeks ago
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 […]
3 weeks ago
