Culture & Society
Our Personal Relationships with Aṣọ Òkè
More than just fabric, aṣọ òkè is a piece of family history tied to celebrations and important events. aṣọ òkè often symbolizes the connections, legacies and pride handed down from one generation to the next. Read More...
Portraits of Nigerian Hair
Obidike Arinze Nnanyelu, who created the Visual History of Nigerian Hair illustration series, discusses what it means as an artist to document hair-making in Nigeria and unpack its cultural significance. Read More...
The Books Writers Think Make the Perfect Holiday Gifts
As the holiday season approaches, we asked writers and booksellers—including Theresa Lola, Noo Saro-Wiwa, and Adedayo Agarau—for their top book recommendations to gift a loved one. Here’s what they told us. Read More...
The Reinvention of Nsibidi
Nsibidi, Nigeria’s historical writing script, offers a glimpse into the complexities and intricacies of African cultures. Today, a universe of creators, researchers and enthusiasts is on a quest to promote its resurgence in our contemporary world. Read More...
7 Memoirs Worth Reading Cover to Cover
In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of memoirs worth reading cover to cover. Read More...
How Fireboy Captured the Heart of a Generation
Five years after its release, Fire Boy’s debut album, Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps, endures as a cultural touchstone in Afropop—emotionally resonant, sonically cohesive, and boldly introspective at the crossroads of R&B, Pop, and Afrobeats. Read More...
‘Write What You’ve Always Wanted to Write’ Ayesha Harruna Attah’s First Draft
Ghanaian writer and author of The Hundred Wells of Salaga, Ayesha Harruna Attah, says she was inspired to write her latest novel during the COVID-19 pandemic: ‘The inspiration for Zainab Takes New York came from being stuck indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the uncertainty of those first months of the pandemic, I thought to myself: write what you’ve always wanted to write—and that turned out to be a romantic comedy.’ Read More...
Tsibbu, Magic and Hausa Medicine
How Hausa magic-medicine systems continue to exist between religion and culture. Read More...
The Interior and Emotional Connections of African Poetry
The latest African Poetry Book Fund chapbook box set, Kumi, contains ten chapbooks by nine African poets. This collection rousingly reveals the inescapable realities of human existence through contemporary African poetry. Read More...
A Bold Debut in Diasporic Filmmaking
In her debut film, Yam and Egg, Emily Nkanga set out to tell a story beyond familiar narratives, focusing on the emotional and mental struggles of migrants as they face loss and adapt to life abroad. Read More...