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

4 weeks 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

Farewell Olu Jacobs: Nollywood’s Patriarch Takes His Final Bow

Long before “Nollywood goes global” became a marketing catchphrase, Jacobs had already done it, in reverse, and came home anyway.

Anjola Akinmade

1 week ago

Nigeria’s Crisis of Public Intellect

Social media has made this particularly easy because it rewards confidence far more consistently than it rewards accuracy. Complicated issues are difficult to make viral because nuance does not always survive the algorithm. A careful explanation of the historical, political, and economic causes of insecurity is considerably less exciting than a confident declaration by VDM that someone is secretly responsible for it. The algorithm does not care which one is correct. It cares which one keeps the people watching. This has created an environment in which being interesting can become more valuable than being informed.

Zainab Nasreen Muhammad

2 weeks ago

Much Ado About Folagade Banks’ Mama Deola

Nigerian male skit makers have built an entire subgenre out of female alter egos, and it has earned a reputation, deserved in many cases, for being lazy. It is rarely observational or funny in a way that reveals anything true about the women it claims to depict. It is simply loud and obnoxious men wearing wigs and women’s clothes.

Zainab Nasreen Muhammad

2 weeks ago

PodCreators Africa Launches To Help Build Podcast Ecosystem

As podcasting continues to find a wider audience across Africa, a new initiative is looking beyond individual shows to the systems and communities that help creators sustain them. PodCreators Africa, launched by podcast media company Oikia Production, is designed to connect podcast creators while providing access to education, practical resources and a community around the […]

Amber Asuni

2 weeks ago

Damilola Orimogunje Is Nationalist With His Films

In October 2020, Damilola Orimogunje’s feature-length directorial debut, For Maria Ebun Pataki, premiered at the Beyond Nollywood strand at Film Africa Festival. In 2022, it landed on Netflix and attracted critical and commercial acclaim. Orimogunje, who is no stranger to the international film festival circuits courtesy of his shorts, Losing My Religion, Mo, and others, […]

Seyi Lasisi

2 weeks ago