Explainers, analyses, and essays on government policies, and political trends and movements around the continent
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.
3 weeks 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.
4 weeks ago
To open 5ive, the poet Alhanislam recites a spoken-word commentary on the album and the man behind it. It feels a little pretentious, rooted in the same idea that drives artists to label every new project their deepest and most personal work yet. Yet some of it does have grounding in real-life events. Alhanislam hails […]
1 month ago
If you’ve been even remotely active online, the words Achalugo and Odogwu have likely crossed your path, either directly or embedded in brands like Piggyvest’s marketing materials. Perhaps you’ve also encountered the lavish praise hailing Love in Every Word as one of 2025’s cinematic masterpieces, or declarations that Omoni Oboli has revolutionized NollyTube. If we […]
1 month ago
Lost And Found, Simi’s sixth studio album, sees the songstress showcase a set of qualities that are all too familiar to all who have listened to her since 2014 when she first announced herself in Nigerian Pop. Those qualities include a captivating voice, a talent for crafting memorable melodies, and an ability to infuse emotional […]
11 months ago
Veteran African writers have earned several reputations for their writing but one characteristic that seems universally accepted by all is their niche of relatability. They weave stories that the everyday Africans can connect, relate and bond with and therefore become blankets of familiarity to snuggle into when away from home. It is in this esteemed […]
11 months ago
Coming out can be a nerve-wracking and emotional experience, especially in a country like Nigeria where it’s against the law to just exist as a queer person. Instead of risking fourteen long years in prison, many queer people tell themselves that they will come out of the closet when they’re older and no longer under […]
11 months ago
‘Apala Disco’ is a phrase that will evoke different memories for Nigerian music listeners strongly influenced by how old they are. Older Apala enthusiasts will recall Haruna Ishola and the golden age of Apala, thinking back to a time when the genre was an important pillar of Yoruba music culture. Younger listeners will think of […]
11 months ago
Stubborn isn’t exactly the first word that would come up in an attempt to describe Victony. Since ascending to mainstream Afropop consciousness, Victony—with his crystalline voice and stirring sepia ballads—has always cut the image of the reserved superstar. Unlike many of his peers who actively court the public’s attention through antics, he’s never in the […]
11 months ago
Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti, mother to Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo, is remembered as one of the most important women in Nigeria’s socio political history. Known for her women rights activism, she championed the Abeokuta Women’s Union and led the protest of thousands of women against the authorities for unreasonable tax rates and poor local representation of women’s […]
11 months ago
Aiwanose Odafen’s 2022 debut novel, Tomorrow I Become a Woman, ends with optimism. The protagonist, Obianuju, finally breaks free from the constraints of a toxic, patriarchal marriage. As the story draws to a close, there’s a glimmer of hope that she might reunite with her first love, Akin, and get her happy ending. However, readers […]
11 months ago
The biopic, a term created from the fusion of two words “biographical” and “picture”, is a film genre that is based on someone of historical, political or religious significance. Just as in the manner of a coming-of-age narrative, the biopic dramatizes the existence of a real person, usually a celebrity entertainer or political figure, spotlighting […]
11 months ago
