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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

4 weeks ago

Tunde Olaoye’s “Where Is Mr. Right?” Combines a Timely Subject With a Muddled Plot

Funke Akindele’s Where Is Mr. Right?, a Nollywood melodrama, released exclusively on Prime, follows event planner Bunmi (Omowunmi Dada) on her near desperate quest for marriage in a film that feels confused about what it aims to be. It bounces from being a social commentary to a thriller, and by the time the credits roll, it has failed to achieve either.

Zainab Nasreen Muhammad

4 weeks 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

4 weeks 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

4 weeks 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

4 weeks ago

Rency Slows Things Down On The Jazz-Led “Serenity”

The appeal of Serenity is ultimately quite straightforward. It understands that relaxing music does not have to disappear into the background. Rency gives the listener enough melody to hold onto while never disturbing the quiet atmosphere he has created.

Zainab Nasreen Muhammad

4 weeks ago

Orlahstrings Finds Two Sides of the Groove on “Gbedu Beatz”

Orlahstrings doesn’t need a vocalist to tell you what Gbedu Beatz is for. The two-track release moves through the producer’s interpretation of Amapiano, relying on percussion, bright melodies and rhythm to carry six minutes of uncomplicated fun. Midnight Banger lives up to its name. Built around a driving, percussive beat, the track has the familiar bounce […]

Anjola Akinmade

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 […]

Anjola Akinmade

4 weeks ago

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Latest Stories

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

Tunde Olaoye’s “Where Is Mr. Right?” Combines a Timely Subject With a Muddled Plot

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

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

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

Rency Slows Things Down On The Jazz-Led “Serenity”

Orlahstrings Finds Two Sides of the Groove on “Gbedu Beatz”

“Starrgirl”: Ayra Starr Trades Becoming for Being

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