Explainers, analyses, and essays on government policies, and political trends and movements around the continent
“Which line, let them bring it out, has had more impact than that like on Cast,” Odumodublvck asks in a radio interview with Beat 99.9FM’s Osi Suave. “Which Hip Hop song,” he continues, “has had more cultural impact, in the last 20 years? Brother in the history of Nigerian Hip Hop, no song has had […]
2 weeks ago
A significant portion of Wizkid’s imminent HBO documentary Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is devoted to excavating the suffocating grief that arrived in the wake of his mother’s passing. As the documentary reveals, on the day of his historic show at the 60,000-capacity Tottenham Stadium, his mother, Morayo Balogun, was undergoing an emergency surgery. In clips […]
3 weeks ago
My Father’s Shadow is a personal, semi-autobiographical exploration of the Davies brothers. It’s charged as an attempt to make sense of the absence that shaped their formative years.
2 months ago
Despite his embattled situation, writing Wizkid off is a bit premature, he still has a huge fanbase and the talent to command rave reviews from critics.
2 months ago
A running theme throughout BNXN’s career is that he has always been described as underrated; the guy whose mythology pales compared to his talent; an artist who could be so much more. In 2020, he vaulted to public renown with the remix of Lenu, a syrupy pop number which features Burna Boy. In the video […]
1 day ago
Tim Lyre describes his sound in three words: honest, interesting, and moody. It’s a fitting summary for Spiral, his latest album, a carefully structured journey through vulnerability, self-awareness, and the messy, cyclical nature of growth. Spiral isn’t just introspection for its own sake; it balances mellow, reflective confessionals with lighter, more playful moments, while bringing […]
4 days ago
The legend of Madam Koikoi has given rise to countless origin stories, each striving to unravel the mythology behind this popular figure. In one version, she is cast as a cruel educator who terrorized her students with unprovoked beatings, only to meet a tragic end in a fatal accident after being dismissed. Another account, culled […]
4 days ago
2024 ended with the rumor of Netflix discontinuing its activities in the Nigerian film market. Films and series weren’t given worldwide distribution. Prime Video had early in 2024 announced restraining its funding and commissioning of projects in the African and Middle East market. Thus, 2025 started with lots of energy-draining and exhausting private and public […]
5 days ago
People often say that Afrobeats has lost its heart — that the genre no longer made “real” love songs. While this may be true depending on how one conceptualises ‘love songs’, reducing these songs to one particular sound may not be the best way to think of such an expansive subject matter. What if the […]
6 days ago
Minutes into our call, Aleruchi Kinika, whose photographs have the uncanny ability to evoke a stillness that can feel almost transcendental, tells me she was perpetually depressed, weird, and reclusive as a child. “There’s a reason why my work is the way it is. I was a melancholic kid growing up. I felt so alone […]
6 days ago
Born in Chicago’s underground club scene, house music emerged as DJs and producers shaped its signature electronic sound, hypnotic, repetitive beats that would soon captivate dance floors around the world. Its global reach has given rise to countless variations, including Amapiano, South Africa’s distinctive take on house music that has exploded onto the international stage. […]
6 days ago
Every week, The Culture Custodian grants you an all-access backstage pass into the lives of Nollywood rock stars. You get to learn about their fascinating backgrounds, the behind-the-scenes stories, and more. This episode features soundtrack composer and sound designer, Adam Songbird. Aluko Damilola (alias Adam Songbird) had a communal upbringing that exposed him to different […]
1 week ago
