Feature Archives

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.

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 […]

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.

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

On “Starrgirl,” Ayra Starr Remakes African Popstardom in Her Image

If we ever need to capture the ethos of the globalised contemporary African popstar via music and music only, the answer is Starrgirl.

John Eriomala

1 month ago

Nigerian National Parks Were Meant To Save Nature, Now They Shelter Terrorists

Nigeria’s national parks and game reserves were set up by colonial and post-independence governments to protect wildlife and forests. Today, several of them have become safe havens for terrorists, bandits, and kidnap gangs in the country. To understand why, we have to look past the immediate security failures and into a conservation system that has long been starved of money, staff, and proper management before any armed group ever set foot in these forests.

Zainab Nasreen Muhammad

1 month ago

The Pan-African Research Centre’s Radical Act of Making Space to Think

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 […]

Anjola Akinmade

1 month ago

From Jamaica to Nigeria, D’Yani Wants All To Live and Prosper

“We tend to not appreciate music for what it is. It’s beyond just the next song. It’s beyond words. It’s definitely much more spiritual than most people realize”

John Eriomala

1 month ago

Has Fatima Bala Become Northern Nigeria’s Best Witness?

Three books in, mechanically assured and increasingly ambitious in scope if not in style, she has made a strong case for herself as one of the more important chroniclers working in Nigerian literature today, all while building a hell of a community.

Zainab Nasreen Muhammad

1 month ago

Martell VS and Blue Swift Have a New Look. Here’s What That Means for Your Next Order

If you’re ordering a bottle of Martell VS or Martell Blue Swift today or in the coming months, you might notice something different. Martell has introduced refreshed bottles for both expressions in Nigeria, marking a new chapter for two of the brand’s most recognisable variants. While the packaging has evolved, the liquid inside remains exactly […]

Anjola Akinmade

1 month ago

What Happens When Tradition Stops Serving Us?

At what point does the worshipper gain the right to challenge the decisions of the gods? Are age-old traditions subject to review especially on matters of consent? These questions, and many more, have developed in the minds of the public following the recently concluded Osun-Osogbo Festival. The festival, held in Osun State in south-western Nigeria, […]

Oluwanifemi Olawole

1 month ago