Explainers, analyses, and essays on government policies, and political trends and movements around the continent
Epileptic power supply has forever been a blight on Nigeria, ferociously hobbling the already beleaguered economy and undermining the quality of life of citizens. But this year, the situation has taken a grislier turn. Grid collapses—instances where the entire nation, or a significant proportion, is plunged into darkness on account of infrastructural failure—have become frequent, incessant. […]
4 days ago
Ayo Maff’s very first trip outside the country was to go perform at London’s O2 arena. This was for Asake’s concert in September, an experience that he describes as “a dream come true.” In truth, the entire year has been nothing short of dreamlike for the 19 year old christened Ayorinde Mafoluku. His two-pack of […]
1 week ago
What would be an ordinary street on an ordinary road in Ibadan is much more than that. Behind one of the many wooden stalls lined up at the side of the road is a bare land transformed into the studio of Adewale Kolawole John, a young artist whose works have crossed the continent’s shores and […]
5 months ago
James Abinibi’s Miss PJ, a murder mystery film, tells the story of a corp member’s sojourn in a town where she becomes instrumental in unraveling the mysterious deaths of young ladies. Starring Bimbo Ademoye in the lead role of Corper Patience Jideofor, PJ for short, a lady of exemplary conduct, the film explores sensitive issues […]
19 mins ago
Since the dawn of time fashion and the entertainment industry have been inextricably connected. Clothing represents a tangible medium for expression and for bolstering the make-believe of show business. In the Nigerian music scene, still coming of age, fashion is being deployed anew, and to interesting effect, through method dressing. Rema, since releasing his obsidian-inflected, […]
1 day ago
Fireboy rose to fame in the summer of 2019; when the Nigerian pop scene was evolving, and the ‘Afrobeats to the world’ movement was in full swing. Burnaboy’s Outside, helmed by Ye and On the Low, was spreading like wildfire, all around the world. Beyoncé, by way of her The Lion King album, was poking […]
3 months ago
Crafting her stage name by combining the first four letters of her first name with the last four of her surname, Ebun Yele was born. As an indie Afro-pop artist, she sings about love and human emotions through her music.
3 months ago
The Nigerian cinema, Nollywood, is a fertile ground for the exploration of ideas that reflect the experiences of Nigerians. Whether historical, mythical, or contemporary, Nollywood films have always provided graphical details of its society. Nollywood filmmakers in the 90s and early 2000s, such as Kenneth Nnebue, Zeb Ejiro, Amaka Igwe, and Lancelot Imasuen, patronized the […]
3 months ago
Bolanle Austen-Peters’ period film House of Ga’a (2024) accounts for the life of Basorun Gaa, an 18th-century Old Oyo warlord and Prime Minister who was known for his high-handedness with which he controlled the people and facilitated the dethronement of four rulers of the Empire. Released on Netflix, the biopic comes on the heels of […]
3 months ago
In No Love In Lagos, frequent collaborators Show Dem Camp, The Cavemen, and Nsikak David contribute their voices to the sea of conversations around the notoriously precarious Lagos dating scene. Over the years, the notion of love, in its numerous forms, has threaded the works of both The Cavemen and Show Dem Camp. Love and […]
3 months ago
Relationships, often formed with the expectation of enduring bonds, can sometimes become sources of profound disappointment and pain.
3 months ago
Temi’s story in Damilare Kuku’s recently released debut novel, Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow evoked vivid memories of my secondary school days, as I anxiously awaited the growth of my backside. Like Temi, despite growing up in a loving family, an affection that proved insufficient to nurture true self-love, I sought external validation. The book’s […]
3 months ago
Sometime in July 2023, Natalie* had her worst fears confirmed. At around 8:30 p.m., she arrived at a family-trusted hospital for the first phase of her fibroadenoma removal surgery. Given the procedure’s minor nature, the operating room was sparsely staffed. Natalie did not feel safe around men, having survived a sexual assault incident at 9, […]
3 months ago
