Our latest issue, Demas Nwoko’s Natural Synthesis, celebrates Nwoko’s artistic and architectural impact and the rise of African architecture.
OUR BEST WRITING OF 2023
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Support our award-winning coverage by subscribing today.
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vol. 8, no. 1
An African Feminist Manifesto
Our latest issue, An African Feminist Manifesto, considers the imperatives for Black African feminism(s) in our uniquely uncertain times, plus more.
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Every year, The Republic publishes the most ambitious writing focused on Africa, from news and analysis to long-form features.
Support our award-winning coverage by subscribing today.
Our print + digital subscription is 50% off.
vol. 8, no. 1
An African Feminist Manifesto
Our latest issue, An African Feminist Manifesto, considers the imperatives for Black African feminism(s) in our uniquely uncertain times, plus more.
Save up to 50% by purchasing 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.
the latest online / EDITOR’S FOREWORD: V8, N2
THE REPUBLIC INTERVIEWS
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 MINISTRY OF ARTS / VISUAL ART DEPT.
Ndidi Dike’s Thesis on the Nigerian Condition
‘Nigeria Imaginary’, the theme of the Nigeria Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, is a daring call to not just imagine Nigeria as a restored entity but to also dream its future into reality. Through Ndidi Dike, viewers experience the distinctly Nigerian desire to connect what Nigeria once was, what it is now and what it might become.
the MINISTRY OF ARTS / VISUAL ART DEPT.
Toyin Ojih Odutola’s Theories of Place
The Nigeria Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale brings together artists who are diverse in their styles, influences, affiliations with place, and interpretations of nationhood and history. Among them is Toyin Ojih Odutola, whose artistic instincts already bypass easy conceptions of place, belonging and history.
DISPATCH FROM UGANDA
How Charlie Muhumuza’s Voice is Impacting East African Fiction
Not only does Charlie Muhumuza’s writing bring a fresh perspective to East African fiction, his short stories also have the potential to redefine the region’s literary narrative.
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Wrappers of Rivers
In documenting and displaying the intricate cultures of wrapper tying and wrapper wearing in Rivers State, Aleruchi Kinika, the photographer behind the series, ‘Wrappers of Rivers’, says she ‘wanted to tell the story of the wrappers and Rivers people as one.’
the MINISTRY OF MEMORIES
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 of Djenné, its mud-brick walls annually restored by the community, poses a challenge to a Western approach to history which sees preservation as an end in itself, rather than a means to social cohesion.
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 REPUBLIC INTERVIEWS / FIRST DRAFT
Writers and the Fictional Women Characters They Love
In our First Draft interviews, we asked prominent women authors about the fictional women characters that they love. Here’s what they told us.
REPUBLIC READING
7 Books Perfect for a Nollywood Film Adaptation
In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of seven books that are perfect for Nollywood film adaptations. From the story of a man who mysteriously transforms into a white person, constituting a biting satire about a race relations in Nigeria, to a brilliant woman’s account of her experiences in the male-dominated scene of Nigerian politics, the books on this list will certainly make blockbuster films!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
How To Wean Nigeria Off The ‘Feeding-Bottle’ Federalism
At the heart of Nigeria’s federalist gambit is the agitation by states for greater control over their local mineral resources. But in a fiscally federal Nigeria, who gets what, when and how?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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.
The Language of Violence
South African poet Qhali’s Crying in My Mother’s Tongue: Ukulila, is a searing meditation on language and identity, intergenerational trauma, sexual violence, healing, and the intimate ties of motherhood and...
Exploring Global Mobility with Alma Asinobi
Nigerian travel and lifestyle content creator, Alma Asinobi, is on a mission to redefine global exploration by making travel accessible to those with low mobility passports.
Who Pays When Africans Fall Sick?
Across Africa, millions in the informal sector remain uninsured—not from apathy, but due to the exclusionary nature of health systems. In Tanzania and beyond, digital innovations offer promising models for...
Reading Gabriel García Márquez in Nairobi
With the recent Netflix adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, I recount what it meant to read his work as a young writer living in Nairobi.
THE LATEST IN PRINT
VOL. 8, NO. 1
AN AFRICAN FEMINIST MANIFESTO
AN AFRICAN FEMINIST MANIFESTO
Now Available: Our February – April 2024 Print Issue
Featuring:
Ololade Faniyi on decolonial African feminism; Kéchi Nne Nnomu on Frida Orupabo; Kai Mora on African Women in Abrahamic history; Peace Onafuye on Buchi Emecheta; plus more.
THE LATEST IN PRINT
VOL. 8, NO. 1
AN AFRICAN FEMINIST MANIFESTO
AN AFRICAN FEMINIST MANIFESTO
Now Available: Our February – April 2024 Print Issue
Featuring:
Ololade Faniyi on decolonial African feminism; Kéchi Nne Nnomu on Frida Orupabo; Kai Mora on African Women in Abrahamic history; Peace Onafuye on Buchi Emecheta; plus 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.
Strange Departures
A 40-Year-Old Japa Story
From the ‘Checking Out’ of the 80s to today’s ‘Japa’ wave, Nigeria’s enduring struggle with brain drain has lasted far too long. Despite promises of change, the nation continues to grapple with familiar challenges that drive its citizens abroad in search of more; more opportunities, more peace of mind, and the ability to be 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.
continue reading
We get it. Sometimes the headline stories are just not enough.
ARTS & CULTURE
The Language of Violence
South African poet Qhali’s Crying in My Mother’s Tongue: Ukulila, is a searing meditation on language and identity, intergenerational trauma, sexual violence, healing, and the intimate ties of motherhood and...
Reading Gabriel García Márquez in Nairobi
With the recent Netflix adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, I recount what it meant to read his work as a young writer living in Nairobi.
Writers and the Fictional Women Characters They Love
In our First Draft interviews, we asked prominent women authors about the fictional women characters that they love. Here’s what they told us.
7 Books Perfect for a Nollywood Film Adaptation
In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of seven books that are perfect for Nollywood film adaptations. From the story of a man who mysteriously transforms into...
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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
Who Pays When Africans Fall Sick?
Across Africa, millions in the informal sector remain uninsured—not from apathy, but due to the exclusionary nature of health systems. In Tanzania and beyond, digital innovations offer promising models for...
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.
WORLD AFFAIRS
Exploring Global Mobility with Alma Asinobi
Nigerian travel and lifestyle content creator, Alma Asinobi, is on a mission to redefine global exploration by making travel accessible to those with low mobility passports.
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.
