Africans remain constrained within and outside the continent due to their passports, which have hindered the exploration of global opportunities.
OUR BEST WRITING OF 2023
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vol. 9, no. 1
DEMAS NWOKO’S NATURAL SYNTHESIS
Our latest issue, Demas Nwoko’s Natural Synthesis and the Rise of African Architecture, focuses on the evolution, state and aesthetics of African architecture and design.
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Every year, The Republic publishes the most ambitious writing focused on Africa, from news and analysis to long-form features.
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vol. 9, no. 1
DEMAS NWOKO’S NATURAL SYNTHESIS
Our latest issue, Demas Nwoko’s Natural Synthesis and the Rise of African Architecture, focuses on the evolution, state and aesthetics of African architecture and design.
Purchase an annual print + digital subscription, and get unlimited access to The Republic. We ship worldwide.
This Week’s Essentials
Our top analyses, debates, ideas and stories of the week.
HEADLINE STORY / THE MINISTRY OF WORLD AFFAIRS
THE MINISTRY OF ARTS / BOOKS DEPT.
The Tragedy of an Evil Genius
Babangida’s attempt to tell his own story or shape his own legacy through his memoir, A Journey in Service, falls short of expectations raising questions about whether the book should have been written at all.
THE MINISTRY OF CLIMATE CHANGE x THE ENVIRONMENT
Francis Kéré’s Revolutionary Slingshot Towards Architectural Sustainability
Community engagement is central to the work of Burkinabé-German architect, Diébédo Francis Kéré, as he champions the use of local materials to build sustainable housing.
HEADLINE STORY / THE MINISTRY OF GENDER X SEXUALITY
- IMRANA BUBA
- MANSURAH BABA-AHMED
- February 9, 2025
In 2018, Dapchi, Yobe State, was thrust into global headlines after Boko Haram terrorists abducted 110 schoolgirls. Today, women in the community are leading grassroots efforts to counter radicalization and build peace, transforming their roles from victims to protectors.
THE MINISTRY OF CLIMATE CHANGE X THE ENVIRONMENT
- IFEANYI NSOFOR
- MOLLY OGBODUM
- February 9, 2025
Climate change is heating up the globe, causing poverty, destroying livelihoods, and making life unbearable. Addressing this crisis in Africa requires democratizing climate action and simplifying its messaging to make it accessible to everyone.
THE MINISTRY OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS / FIRST DRAFT INTERVIEWS
‘I Wanted to Explore the Thrill That Comes with First Loves’ Fatima Bala’s First Draft
Nigerian writer and author of Broken, Fatima Bala, says that with her new novel, Hafsatu Bebi, she wanted to explore the realities of being a northern Nigerian girl: ‘I have always wanted to see different authentic depictions of northern Nigerian girls. And so, in the characterization, I was itching to write a northern Muslim who happens to be very different from Fa’iza from Broken.’
THE MINISTRY OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Rediscovering Nigeria’s Radio Heritage
Nigerian radio dramas, like Abule Oloke Merin, were once powerful mediums for storytelling and cultural memory, yet many of these programmes have been lost due to poor archival practices. By drawing lessons from other African nations on preserving ephemeral media, Nigeria will be well equipped to preserve its auditory heritage.
THE MINISTRY OF GENDER x SEXUALITY
The Beauty Tax on Nigeria’s Poorest Women
When it comes to beauty standards and how women defy or succumb to them, the discourse takes on a new meaning for Nigerian women on the lowest rung of the economic ladder. For them, attaining the ‘ideal’ appearance is a measure of beauty and class.
THE REPUBLIC RECOMMENDS
7 Books That Will Make You See Historical Figures Differently
In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of seven books that will make you see historical figures differently. From the fictional biography of the first African man to explore America to a nuanced portrait that asks us to contextualize the life of one of South Africa’s most controversial women, the books on this list will make you think again about the historical figures you thought you knew.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Nigerian Manosphere and the Rise of Incel Culture
How incel culture on Nigeria’s social media contributes to the increasing rate of femicide in the country.
ANNOUNCEMENT DESK
The Republic Has Just Won Funding From JournalismAI
The Republic is proud to announce that we’ve won $250,000 in grant funding from JournalismAI and the Google News Initiative!
#LIVINGLEGEND
The Necessity of Demas Nwoko’s Natural Synthesis
At 89, Demas Nwoko invites us to prioritize local community impact over international glamour and to rethink the trajectory of African art and architecture.
The Beauty Tax on Nigeria’s Poorest Women
When it comes to beauty standards and how women defy or succumb to them, the discourse takes on a new meaning for Nigerian women on the lowest rung of the...
The Tragedy of an Evil Genius
Babangida’s attempt to tell his own story or shape his own legacy through his memoir, A Journey in Service, falls short of expectations raising questions about whether the book should...
Rediscovering Nigeria’s Radio Heritage
Nigerian radio dramas, like Abule Oloke Merin, were once powerful mediums for storytelling and cultural memory, yet many of these programmes have been lost due to poor archival practices. By...
‘I Wanted to Explore the Thrill That Comes with First Loves’ Fatima Bala’s First Draft
Nigerian writer and author of Broken, Fatima Bala, says that with her new novel, Hafsatu Bebi, she wanted to explore the realities of being a northern Nigerian girl: ‘I have...
THE LATEST IN PRINT
VOL. 9, NO. 1
DEMAS NWOKO’S NATURAL SYNTHESIS
DEMAS NWOKO’S NATURAL SYNTHESIS
Now Available: Our February – April 2025 Print Issue
Featuring:
Republic editor, Wale Lawal, in conversation with celebrated artist and architectural designer, Demas Nwoko; Delela Ndlela on the future of African architecture; Kai Mora on the historical significance of the Great Mosque of Djenné; Dawn Chinagorom-Abiakalam on the climatic concerns of luxury apartment complexes in Lagos; and Tosin Oshinowo on architecture’s current and future imperatives. This issue also includes writing by Ukamaka Olisakwe on novelist, Flora Nwapa, Emmanuel Esomnofu on musician, Sonny Okosun; art, comics, quizzes and much more!
THE LATEST IN PRINT
VOL. 9, NO. 1
DEMAS NWOKO’S NATURAL SYNTHESIS
DEMAS NWOKO’S NATURAL SYNTHESIS
Now Available: Our February – April 2025 Print Issue
Featuring:
Republic editor, Wale Lawal, in conversation with celebrated artist and architectural designer, Demas Nwoko; Delela Ndlela on the future of African architecture; Kai Mora on the historical significance of the Great Mosque of Djenné; Dawn Chinagorom-Abiakalam on the climatic concerns of luxury apartment complexes in Lagos; and Tosin Oshinowo on architecture’s current and future imperatives. This issue also includes writing by Ukamaka Olisakwe on novelist, Flora Nwapa, Emmanuel Esomnofu on musician, Sonny Okosun; art, comics, quizzes and much more!
vol.8 no.1 / EDITOR'S FOREWORD
‘An African Feminist Manifesto’
For whom is the transformative potential of feminism new? Our latest issue, An African Feminist Manifesto, considers the imperatives for Black African feminism(s) in our uniquely uncertain times, plus more.
COVER ESSAY
On Being a ‘Feminist Human’ in an Anti-rights Era
In an era of accelerating anti-rights movements, our feminist liberation depends not on narrowing the gates of belonging, but on dismantling the very logic of exclusion that has been weaponized against all women.
THE MINISTRY OF ARTs / PHOTO DEPT.
The Disruptive Potential of Frida Orupabo’s Metamorphic Women
To encounter a body in collage is to momentarily believe the human form is physically and even gesturally incapable of coming up against its own limitations. Frida Orupabo’s collages do this so well. They haunt the viewer with fond, familiar and unexpected shapes.
THE MINISTRY OF MEMORIES
A Womanist Reading of African Women in Abrahamic Tradition
Though the presence of Abrahamic tradition within global Black consciousness often finds expression through male-dominated narratives, a closer examination uncovers Black women at the very centres of the most path-altering moments in the tradition, offering analogues with which Black women have interpreted, reimagined and reclaimed their past, present, and future.
THE MINISTRY OF ARTs / BOOKS DEPT.
50 Years of Buchi Emecheta’s Second-Class Citizen
In 1974, Buchi Emecheta’s novel, Second-Class Citizen, was published. While this novel has inspired a generation of African writers, the themes Emecheta explored—such as Black immigrant life in the UK and the ills of a patriarchal society—remain as relevant today as ever.
On Demas Nwoko
Our latest issue, Demas Nwoko’s Natural Synthesis, celebrates Nwoko’s artistic and architectural impact and the rise of African architecture.
continue reading
We get it. Sometimes the headline stories are just not enough.
ARTS & CULTURE
The Tragedy of an Evil Genius
Babangida’s attempt to tell his own story or shape his own legacy through his memoir, A Journey in Service, falls short of expectations raising questions about whether the book should...
Rediscovering Nigeria’s Radio Heritage
Nigerian radio dramas, like Abule Oloke Merin, were once powerful mediums for storytelling and cultural memory, yet many of these programmes have been lost due to poor archival practices. By...
‘I Wanted to Explore the Thrill That Comes with First Loves’ Fatima Bala’s First Draft
Nigerian writer and author of Broken, Fatima Bala, says that with her new novel, Hafsatu Bebi, she wanted to explore the realities of being a northern Nigerian girl: ‘I have...
7 Books That Will Make You See Historical Figures Differently
In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of seven books that will make you see historical figures differently. From the fictional biography of the first African man...
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BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Why Nigeria’s Financial Sector Needs Feminist Reforms
Despite visible strides in gender diversity within Nigeria’s financial sector, deep-rooted systemic inequalities persist, undermining genuine progress. Addressing these challenges requires moving beyond surface-level metrics to implement transformative policies that...
The Neo-Colonial Logic of Global Credit Ratings
The influence of credit rating giants, Moody’s Investor Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch, in Africa is deeply rooted in colonial legacies. Their systemic biases and harmful economic implications have...
Nigeria’s 70,000 Naira Sham
The Nigerian government recently approved an increase in the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 (approximately US$20) to N70,000 (approximately $47). While this increase aims to ease the financial strain on...
The Dutch Disease of Nigeria’s Oil Sector
While Nigeria has experienced oil-fuelled growth, over-reliance on the sector and a lack of diversification have kept the economy shackled, raising critical questions about Nigeria’s ability to move beyond resource...
HISTORY
10 Books That Belong on Your Reading List This Women’s History Month
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Nigerian writer and editor, Angel Nduka-Nwosu, compiles a list of books by Black women that belong on your reading list this month and beyond. These...
The Great Mosque of Djenné And the Social Utility of History
Africans are no strangers to conservationists, preservationists and all manner of experts who call into question Africa’s internal capabilities to safeguard sites and objects of historical value. The Great Mosque...
The Yorubas of Ghana
The historic migration of the Yoruba people from Ile-Ife has shaped Ghana’s Yoruba community through trade, faith and family ties. At the heart of this connection is Chief Brimah, an...
Odanga Is Still Fighting
My maternal great-grandfathers were both directly affected by the First World War. Only one of them lived to tell his story.
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POLITICS
Babangida and the Politics of Memory
Wale Lawal unpacks ex-military ruler Ibrahim Babangida’s spin on history, A Journey in Service, the cracks in Nigerian activism and the silent collapse of intellectualism in Nigerian universities.
Can Nigeria’s Centre Hold?
With the establishment of regional commissions, is Nigeria inching close to true federalism or witnessing the failure of the current governance system?
Will Africa See More Protests In 2025?
The African continent was rife with different protests in 2024. With many of the triggers that caused the protests not attended to, 2025 may see these protests skyrocket.
Tinubu’s Russian Roulette
The hoisting of Russian flags in Nigeria during recent protests suggests how President Tinubu’s ECOWAS foreign policy gambles might have triggered pro-Russian sentiments in Nigeria.
RADIO REPUBLIC
The Republic: Season 1, Episode 1 Transcript IBB, the Evil Genius
We all grew up hearing about ‘June 12’, but how well do you know what really happened? Let’s find out together. The first episode of The Republic is now available...
The Republic: Season 1, Episode 2 Transcript MKO: The Man Nigeria Waited to See
This episode will establish M. K. O. Abiola as a major actor. It will examine his personal life; his initial foray into business and politics; and areas of his life...
The Republic: Season 1, Episode 3 Transcript Two Sides of the Same Coin
In this episode, we take a look at the key election candidates and what platforms they ran under. We compare their profiles and proposed agendas for Nigeria, highlighting what political...
The Republic: Season 1, Episode 4 Transcript June 12: Freest and Fairest of Them All
After eight years of anticipation, and eight years of promises from General Ibrahim Babangida’s junta, Nigerians were finally about to have their say at the ballot box. In this week’s...
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
When Darkness Fell on UCH Ibadan
By 06 February 2025, the University College Hospital in Ibadan had been in a blackout for 97 days. ‘Surgeries are on hold. Patients are dying. And in the best teaching...
Cameroon’s Hi-Tech Illusion
Cameroon is currently led by the world’s oldest president, who, in recent years, has taken significant steps to ‘modernize’ the state through digital technology. With Paul Biya seeking re-election in...
A Medical Miracle in Cameroon
The rollout of the new malaria vaccine in Cameroon has made some Cameroonians hopeful, while others worry about its true purpose.
Aya Care’s Sudden Fame
After going viral on social media, the women-led team at sanitary pad provider, Aya Care, found themselves at the centre of a renewed discussion about menstrual hygiene in Nigeria. What...
WORLD AFFAIRS
The Charged Politics of an African Passport
Africans remain constrained within and outside the continent due to their passports, which have hindered the exploration of global opportunities.
What the American Foreign Aid Freeze Means for Africa
In his second term as the president of the United States, Donald Trump has committed to cutting foreign aid, with a particular focus on the United States Agency for International...
The New Realpolitik
In a deal between Tinubu’s Nigeria and Trump’s America, Trump wins. Tinubu might win too. The Nigerian people will not.
The Politicization of Fact-Checking
The role and perception of fact-checking in regions with fragile trust in media and government has sparked recent debates, as analysts question its effectiveness amid partisan exploitation by political actors.
