Explainers, analyses, and essays on government policies, and political trends and movements around the continent
In 2016, Sola Sobowale, one of Nollywood’s veteran actors renowned for her intergenerational appeal, returned to the Nigerian film industry after nearly two decades away. The film that triggered her career renaissance was Kemi Adetiba’s Wedding Party. Adetiba’s Kings of Boys, which was released on Netflix two years after Wedding Party, further strengthened Sobowale’s return […]
5 hours 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 […]
2 weeks 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 […]
2 weeks ago
When Ola Aina faced Simon Adingra in the 2024 AFCON final, many expected the Nigerian defender to keep the Ivorian winger in check. Instead, Adingra had one of his best performances, and even Aina’s own mother playfully called him out, sending a voice note asking, “Why did you let him go past you like that?” […]
2 months ago
Last weekend, the youngest of the Uzama brothers, Osahan Uzama, more known by his moniker, Famous Pluto, joined the ranks of his brothers—Shallipopi, and Zerry DL, both fierce advocates of Benin Street Pop—with the release of his feverishly anticipated single Na Scra. Before its official release, the song had been making the rounds on TikTok, […]
2 months ago
Ola Aina’s Snapchat is a riot on a normal day. During an international break, it’s a different thing entirely. Last week, the internet’s best-rated TV show opened with a scene at London’s Heathrow airport where Aina was joined by a range of teammates: Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, and Joe Aribo as […]
2 months ago
Stories about the underworld, narratives that reveal the intricacies of organized crime, have often made it to the Nollywood corpus. The underworld in such stories is connected with powerful individuals and groups, some belonging to the political class, enabled by state authorities. We have examples of these stories in classics like Glamour Girls and more […]
2 months ago
The promotional poster for Finding Me proudly proclaims it comes “from the producers of the 3 biggest Nollywood blockbusters.” The film is produced by FAAN (Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network) and directed by Funke Akindele, with Isioma Osaje as co-director. Undeniably, Akindele is one of Nollywood’s most accomplished filmmakers and the three films the poster likely […]
2 months ago
With the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season fast approaching, Rivers Hoopers are gearing up for another shot at continental glory. After securing an impressive third-place finish last year, the KingsMen are determined to build on their success and push even further. But what does it take to stay competitive in a league where the […]
2 months ago
Thirteen minutes into the Ola Cardoso-directed action drama Suky, James Damilare’s character, the older Suky, shows up in a jalabiya, a Muslim devout, while observing an ablution. The next few scenes that come in quick succession reveal him lifting weights, which prepares us ahead for the experience of his heroism. Scenes after—the gruesome murder of […]
2 months ago
Before Love in Every Word even introduces Odogwu, played by Uzor Arukwe, his presence is foreshadowed, not as an individual but as an archetype. More than just a wealthy man, the Odogwu represents a cultural ideal: in Igbo tradition, the term signifies a man of great wealth, strength, and social influence. Historically, Odogwu connotes leadership […]
2 months ago
Nothing fittingly describes my journey to the screening of Five Resilient Women event than this phrase: “Man proposes but God disposes.” However, to perfectly capture my journey to the location, the phrase will lend itself to a rewrite: “Seyi proposes but Lagos disposes.” Lagosians reading this might have a keen understanding of this anecdote. For […]
2 months ago
The advent of social media and other forms of digital technology has made it easier to document dysfunctional relationships. In Nigeria, such relationships are closely associated with the family and romantic unions, and may include traces of physical and emotional abuse, parental neglect, child abuse, marital infidelity, sexual incompatibility and frustration, poor communication, violence and […]
2 months ago
