Culture & Society
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. Read More...
‘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.’ Read More...
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. Read More...
Four Women and Adichie’s Feminine Utopia
The stories of the four women in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s latest novel, Dream Count, address an essential feminist question—what must a woman recognize in another and in herself to understand their shared conditions?—with a curiously tentative answer. Read More...
The Importance of Being Victony
An original Afropop stylist, the artistry of Victony embodies one of the highest creative possibilities within the genre. It’s a showcase of unique qualities meeting to form one of the most intriguing personas in contemporary African music. Read More...
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. Read More...
‘Do Not Romanticize Creative Writing’ Fayssal Bensalah’s First Draft
Algerian writer, Fayssal Bensalah, argues that the North African novel in English has not been canonized into African literature by virtue of tradition: ‘This new literary tide has been obscured both continentally and globally. Its pioneers have been kept out of African literature for a long time, and I wanted to change this by writing an essay that introduces this movement and its writers and books.’ Read More...
54 Books By Women From Each Of Africa’s 54 Countries
Our latest book recommendation is a tribute to the storytelling traditions of African women across eras. It honours the trailblazers who paved the way for future generations of women writers and celebrates contemporary voices keeping the fires aflame. Read More...
Why Nigerian Pop Music Needs Dwin, The Stoic
In Master of Ballads, Dwin, The Stoic crafts a poignant love story, masterfully blending balladry, indie folk, rock and Afropop. The album not only reaffirms his artistry but also advocates for a more expansive and inclusive mainstream sound. Read More...
‘Love, in All Its Forms, Is Resilience’ Musih Tedji Xaviere’s First Draft
Cameroonian novelist, Musih Tedji Xaviere, says her debut novel, These Letters End in Tears, was inspired by the resilience of queer love: ‘The treatment of queer people in Cameroon is appalling, but what I find inspiring is that people still find love even in the hardest circumstances. They refuse to be stripped of their ability to love, no matter the challenges.’ Read More...
