John Eriomala, Author at The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.)

The Thing Around Tobi Amusan’s Neck

We hold this truth to be self-evident: That more often than should be, Nigerian athletes, and by extension, African sports persons, are subjected to undeserved scrutiny. This ultimately translates into micro and macro aggressions and outright witch hunts with no basis in factual accuracy. It’s not always immediately obvious. But these detractors bask in the […]

John Eriomala

4 days ago

One-Listen Review: KFMD, Qing Madi “Barely Legal” EP

When she released her eponymous first project, Qing Madi EP, in November 2023, it was to an audience seeking the next set of female Afro-pop stars. The dawn of the 2020s had seen Ayra Starr and Tems emerge into global acclaim, vocal powerhouses whose songwriting and performance abilities raised the ceiling in the house built […]

John Eriomala

1 week ago

PURPLE Lagos and the Illusion of Sincere Outrage

On 6 April, 2026, X aggregator page, Album Talks, posted promotional content for an event, garnering 7.7k views. Come 11 May, they made a similar promotional post for the same event. Just like before, the engagement was minimal: 2 Quotes, 1.9k views, and a smattering of positive comments. Two days later, when they followed up […]

John Eriomala

2 weeks ago

One-Listen Review: activ.boizzz, YKB’s NVR LZY III EP

Amid allegations of switching up his style and deliberately withholding music from fans, afro-pop singer YKB has returned with a 4-track EP, NVR LZY III, under his “active.boizzz” alias. Like Wizkid’s Soundman Vol. 1, generations of Hip-Hop producers, and most notably Madlib’s many side projects, this is a subversion, if not an extreme one. We […]

John Eriomala

2 weeks ago

Go Ayra, Go Ayra, Go

The existence of a new Ayra Starr album on the horizon is an event in its own right, and with Starr Girl, there’s a lot to be hopeful for.

John Eriomala

2 weeks ago

In Nigeria, Shame is the Substance of Things Hoped For

What shall it profit a people to lack shame? What does it really profit a nation of over 180 million people to consistently platform and promote individuals with an addiction to humiliation? There comes a time when one must sit back, rest their hands on their head, exhale, and declare that it all doesn’t make […]

John Eriomala

2 weeks ago

CKay Enters His Boldest Era Yet With New Single “African Girls” Featuring Kiddcard3r

Global Afrobeats star CKay has returned with African Girls, a new collaborative single featuring emerging singer Kiddcard3r. It is set for release this Friday, 22 May, 2026.

John Eriomala

3 weeks ago