No gossip or gimmicks here. Culture Custodian provides African Pop Culture coverage like none other with a focus on breaking down the stories that are important and relevant from an informative standpoint.
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.
2 days 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
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
The wooden chair wobbled as seven-year-old Jola Ayeye hunched over a page, pencil gripped tight, tongue peeking out in concentration. Around her, the floor was a patchwork of unfinished stories, half-colored sketches, and a notebook filled with lyrics to songs no one else knew. “What do you want to be when you grow up, Jola?” […]
2 months ago
Fela remains the loudest figure against government oppression and corruption in our music history, but a lot of others have lent a voice to the struggles of Nigerians through the years. Daddy Showkey, an indigene of the backward Lagos slum of Ajegunle, pioneered Galala music, which often took aim at the government in power and detailed the poverty in his hometown.
2 months ago
When, in March of 2024, the preternaturally gifted Rigo Kamp took the stage at The Native’s uNder Live show at Miliki, Lagos, the atmosphere tangibly shifted. The stage was still adorned with lush foliage and embroidered tapestries. And yet it suddenly felt as though the sheer force of his music had transported the crowd to […]
1 month ago
The more important takeaway from all of this however is that Burna Boy is aware of his waning influence in Nigeria. And for all the casual contempt he has expressed towards Nigeria over the years, he seems to be perturbed by this development
1 month ago
April is supposed to be all flowers, fresh starts, and softly filtered light. But if your idea of a good time is less blooming and more betrayals, breakdowns, and big reveals, this list is for you. These books will grip you by the throat, whisper secrets in your ear, and leave you side-eyeing everyone you […]
1 month ago
Amaarae has teased, through a spectacular twitch livestream party, a brand new album titled Black Star, dropping around summer 2025 and referencing the large black star in the middle of the Ghanaian flag. The party featured a vibe-heavy DJ set spinning unreleased tracks, alongside some of Amaarae’s favorite records from female musicians, anchored by an […]
1 month ago
You’re in a bar that looks like a relic from the 80s. The walls are made of sturdy brown wood. A few revelers chop it up on the dance floor somewhere in the background. As you swivel in your bar-side chair, the smell of rum and whiskey fills your nose and soft strobe lights dapple […]
1 month ago
If you were an artist trying to depict the essence of Lagos, Nigeria, what would you create? Sunshine Alaibe would grab a blank canvas and splatter different colours on it. There would be streaks and blobs of pinks, blues, yellows and greens. It will be eclectic and chaotic, but beautiful. The city’s energy has been […]
1 month ago
M.anifest’s new album, NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES, has a cover that satirizes the ribbon cutting spectacle government officials love, apparently another of the many Ghana-Nigerian experiences. “It’s a bit of a caricature of our leaders, most of them trying to be commissioner-generals and commissioner-in-chief. It’s a very African occurrence,” M.anifest says to Culture Custodian. […]
1 month ago
“Tales of a lovelorn bard,” although slightly less punchy, would probably be a more apt title for the album. Instead, Joeboy christened the album, his third, “Viva Lavida.” This might initially seem like a trivial fact, a nerdy quibble, but traipsing through the etymology of the phrase, its pop culture history, as well as Joeboy’s […]
1 month ago
