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

Smirnoff Ice Turns Up the Heat with a Bolder With Ice Challenge on BBNaija

The Smirnoff Ice task hit the BBNaija house, and if there was ever a moment that captured what Bolder with Ice truly means, this was it.

Mariam Ahmed

3 weeks ago

Zikoko’s “Siraam”: Teaching Young Women Consent Isn’t Enough

We see Siraam as she struggles to advocate for herself and ensure that the sex she chooses is both pleasurable and safe for her.

Culture Custodian Editorial Team

3 weeks ago

In “Lost Connection,” Love Isn’t the Only Thing a Relationship Needs

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, […]

Anjola Akinmade

3 weeks ago

Wanawana’s “Dissonance” Takes You Through the Full Range of Being Human

Udobang describes her art as an invitation: an attempt to make meaning from life while inviting her audience into the process of making sense of it with her.

Shalom Tewobola

4 weeks ago

From “Kajola” to “Colours of Fire” The Problem with Niyi Akinmolayan’s Filmmography

When Culture Custodian interviewed Nigerian filmmaker and founder of Anthill Studios, Niyi Akinmolayan, in 2023, he outlined some of his guiding principles. This interview was held days ahead of the release of his ambitious project, The House of Secrets which was severely panned by Nigerian film critics. After working as a director for hire, working […]

Seyi Lasisi

1 month ago

The Curious Case of Federal Might In Nigeria’s Elections

Nigerian politics has used the phrase “federal might” loosely, and it can mean different things depending on who says it and why. At a serious level, it means using the army, police, or federal security agencies to intimidate voters, seize or destroy result sheets, or physically prevent an outcome the federal government does not want.

Zainab Nasreen Muhammad

1 month ago

Nearly All the Emergency Lovers of Nigerian Literature Are Dishonest

It’s dishonest to ignore the sensational titles altogether, but it is even more dishonest to treat them with perilous concern.

John Eriomala

1 month ago

“Whispers of a Burning Scent”: Can We Ever Know What Someone Truly Feels?

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 […]

Anjola Akinmade

1 month 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?

Smirnoff Ice Turns Up the Heat with a Bolder With Ice Challenge on BBNaija

Zikoko’s “Siraam”: Teaching Young Women Consent Isn’t Enough

In “Lost Connection,” Love Isn’t the Only Thing a Relationship Needs

Wanawana’s “Dissonance” Takes You Through the Full Range of Being Human

From “Kajola” to “Colours of Fire” The Problem with Niyi Akinmolayan’s Filmmography

The Curious Case of Federal Might In Nigeria’s Elections

Nearly All the Emergency Lovers of Nigerian Literature Are Dishonest

“Whispers of a Burning Scent”: Can We Ever Know What Someone Truly Feels?

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