Culture & Society
To Be or Not to Be Surreal? Abba T. Makama’s Biggest Question Yet
‘We chose the term “surreal” not because we were surrealist filmmakers,’ Abba T. Makama says of his collective, Surreal16. ‘We felt surrealism was another word for dreaming. When you’re dreaming, the ego is asleep and you’re running on the unconscious. You’re free. It’s about freedom of creativity.’ Read More...
Surviving the Long Shadow of Trauma Life after the Owo Church Massacre
Nearly a year after a shooting took place at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, we visited the church, where despite the trauma of surviving a massacre, church members have returned, and service has resumed. Read More...
‘There Is Nothing Simple About Writing a Book’ Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ’s First Draft
Nigerian novelist, Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ, wrote her award-winning debut novel, Dazzling, ‘because nothing like it exists at the moment’. Read More...
Coming of Age Amidst Political Instability and Western Influence Book Review: The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa, a novel by Stephen Buoro, deftly navigates the tension between what informs desire and the instinct to shirk it. The novel aims to highlight the complexities of living in a country like Nigeria through the perspective of a malleable teenager full of promise. Read More...
The Gravitational Pull of Hilda Baci From Online Culinary Sensation to Guinness World Record Holder?
What drew Nigerians to Hilda Baci's cooking marathon wasn’t just the possible triumph of a new world record but the allure of audacious hope. Read More...
Sampling and the ‘New Fela’ Complex Is the Ethical Preservation of Black Music Possible?
The ethical preservation of Black music is an attempt at remembering our varied musical histories and treating such histories with respect. By sampling indigenous music and celebrating the impact of Black legacy acts, many artists are currently demonstrating the importance of preserving, understanding or displaying an interest in the musical contexts which inform their work. Read More...
Homecoming Delayed President Buhari Stalls the Return of Looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The planned return of 116 Benin artefacts to Nigeria by the University of Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has been postponed over a gazette signed by President Muhammadu Buhari giving the Oba of Benin authority over the bronzes. Read More...
‘Writing Historical Fiction for the First Time Made Me Nervous’ Omolola Ogunyemi’s First Draft
Nigerian author, Omolola Ogunyemi, wanted her debut novel to capture the ways in which the lives of Nigerian women have changed over several generations. Read More...
A Valiant but Flawed Effort to Gauge the Worth of a Life Book Review: People Live Here by TJ Benson
People Live Here by TJ Benson is a novel that will inspire conversation because of its novelty and its ambition, but it will also inspire a lot of divisive commentary because of its stylistic choices and less than stellar execution. Read More...
A Captivating Debut on Self-Discovery Book Review: Maame by Jessica George
Maame, a novel by Jessica George, is an intense yet uplifting journey towards self-discovery. The novel carefully explores what it means to find one’s true self and how to deal with grief. Read More...
