Culture & Society
The Bittersweet Aftertaste of Victory When University Campaigns to Repatriate Stolen Art Take a Toll
Six years after a group of Cambridge students first demanded that the Benin Bronze cockerel, ‘Okukor’, be returned to the Benin Kingdom, the university returned the cockerel. For some of those activists, including this author, the return means victory but also worry. Read More...
‘I Write to Gain a Better Understanding of Who I Am’ Zainab Kuku’s First Draft
Nigerian writer, Zainab Kuku, believes any Afrobeats musician that is currently highly-rated is deservedly so. Read More...
An Illuminating Vision of Black Wealth Review: ‘Riches’ (2022)
The 2022 series, Riches, casts a new light on the varied, complicated and even expected roles that typically surround the kind of generational wealth that many in the Black and African community often aspire to. Read More...
Expensive Money Is Money-Spraying the Problem?
Money-spraying is not the problem and should be seen not as the lack of national pride but as a display of cultural pride: a cherished tradition that shows deep respect and appreciation for the power of music and dance. Read More...
‘Writing Is a Grind; It Won’t Always Be Exciting or Magical’ Desola Olaleye's First Draft
Nigerian writer, Desola Olaleye, wants people to understand that fighting for the restitution of African cultural artefacts is not a misplaced priority. Read More...
Shielding the Spirit of a Continent An Existential Argument for the Restitution of African Cultural Heritage
The struggle for the restitution of Africa’s artefacts from Western museums reflects the necessary undoing of imperial domination. It is not merely political but also existential—it is a fight for the spirit of Africa. Read More...
‘Like Most People I Am Simply Exhausted by Politics’ Helon Habila’s First Draft
Nigerian novelist, Helon Habila, whose debut novel, Waiting for an Angel, was published 20 years ago says his writing is shifting from the political towards domestic life: ‘my attention is shifting more towards domestic issues: family, race, and so on... I am more concerned with the meaning of what it means to be a Black person in this world—a Black father, a Black son, a Black daughter, wife.’ Read More...
Navigating Misconceptions Can Contemporary African Music Escape ‘Afrobeats’?
From the implications of Billboard’s new ‘Afrobeats US’ category to the Afrobeats crossover records with Afro-descendant artists, Afrobeats may not be the catch-all label or lens we asked for, but it’s the one being used to describe the new wave of African music. Read More...
African Legend Dillibe Onyeama (1951-2022)
Dillibe Onyeama whose works include Nigger at Eton (1972), African Legend (1984) and The Joys of African Humour (2000), has died aged 71. The author of 28 books, Onyeama was celebrated for his bold writing style and his unflinching determination to reflect the truth of his experiences in his memoirs and novels. Read More...
Unforgettable Words Five African Authors on Their Most Cherished Writing Advice
If you are conflicted about getting started with your writing or trying to get out of a rut, these words of advice some seasoned authors have received might just be what you need. Read More...
