The Lebanese in Nigeria form one of the country’s most dynamic diaspora communities, with a fascinating history marked by notable commercial success and subtle political influence.
OUR BEST WRITING OF 2023
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vol. 8, no. 2
NIGERIA IMAGINARY
Our latest issue, Nigeria Imaginary, considers the restorative potential of Nigerian art and invites readers to explore the Nigeria Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, plus more.
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vol. 8, no. 2
nigeria imaginary
Our latest issue, Nigeria Imaginary, considers the restorative potential of Nigerian art and invites readers to explore the Nigeria Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, plus more.
Purchase 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 / the ministry of MEMORIES
THE MINISTRY OF ARTS / BOOKS DEPT.
A Manual on the Use of Subtext and Subplot
Following its publication, Kike Ojo’s Fire in the Wind enjoyed only brief publicity. One might wonder why this was the case, but upon closer inspection, her use of subtext and subplot may offer an explanation.
THE MINISTRY OF ARTS / FILM DEPT.
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.
THE MINISTRY OF BUSINESS X THE ECONOMY
A Tale of Two Economies
What can we learn from Nigeria’s economic decline and South Africa’s relative economic stability?
THE MINISTRY OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The Bushmeat System, Hunting and the Conflict of Ethics
There is growing concern about the depletion of wildlife in Nigerian forests. Local hunters who have been blamed due to over-hunting argue otherwise.
THE MINISTRY OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS
Muhammadu Buhari and the Politics of Memory
Understanding the different responses to Buhari’s death helps us understand his legacy on a divided nation.
THE MINISTRY OF WORLD AFFAIRS
Digging for Gold in Zimbabwe
During Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil of the late 2000s, my sister and I navigated a land defined by scarcity and resilience as we experienced the collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy, our community and our family.Â
the MINISTRY OF MEMORIES
Looking for Gaskiya Corporation
On a humid afternoon in May 2023, the photographer Eslah Yusuf and I​​ searched for the building that housed Northern Nigeria’s oldest printing press and publishing house.
THE REPUBLIC INTERVIEWS / FIRST DRAFT
‘The Republic of the Congo Is Not French, It Is Congolese’ Andréa Ngombet’s First Draft
Congolese writer, Andréa Ngombet, founded the Sassoufit Collective to document human rights violations in the Republic of the Congo: ‘It started as a mobilization against President Sassou Nguesso’s 2015 constitutional change and then evolved into a support structure for local voices. This vocation also aligns with my historian training: to produce, document and archive so that future generations know we resisted and that another Congo was possible.’
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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.’
REPUBLIC READING
5 Books That Explain Why Lagos Drives People Crazy
In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of books to read to understand why Lagos drives people crazy. From a book that exposes the racial privilege that marks the city to one that explores its dangerous underground and criminal networks run by the very people who should be protecting the city, these books will make you livid about just how anything is permissible in Lagos!
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.
HEROES PAST
Who Will Bury Mr. Taiwo?
It took the Nigerian government 51 years to formally honour Taiwo Akinkunmi, the man who designed the Nigerian flag. Now, months after his death, his body remains in a morgue as his family awaits a state burial.
Has South Africa Overtaken Nigeria as Africa’s Giant?
Nigeria’s silence in the global community contrasts markedly with South Africa’s vibrancy, begging us to ask if Pretoria’s influence has eclipsed Abuja’s regional leadership.
My Love Affair with the Beautiful Game of Football
There is no denying the complicated relationship between football and women. Still, the game offers me a sense of home and a reminder that I belong to something bigger than...
Muhammadu Buhari and the Politics of Memory
Understanding the different responses to Buhari’s death helps us understand his legacy on a divided nation.
Èkún Omi and Femi Bajulaye’s Yoruba Aesthetic Vision
Having premiered at the 2025 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, Femi Bajulaye’s Èkún Omi presents a cinematic exploration and representation of African migrants’ realities through a deeply conscious Yoruba...
THE LATEST IN PRINT
VOL. 8, NO. 2
NIGERIA IMAGINARY
NIGERIA IMAGINARY
Now Available: Our May – July 2024 Print Issue
Featuring:Â
Wale Lawal in conversation with Aindrea Emelife, curator of the Nigeria Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale; Kéchi Nne Nnomu on Toyin Ojih Odutola; Chimezie Chika on Ndidi Dike; MobólúwajÃdìde Joseph on Yinka Shonibare; Yusuf Omotayo on the man who designed Nigeria’s flag; fiction from ’Pemi Aguda; plus more.
THE LATEST IN PRINT
VOL. 8, NO. 2
NIGERIA IMAGINARY
NIGERIA IMAGINARY
Now Available: Our May – July 2024 Print Issue
Featuring:Â
Wale Lawal in conversation with Aindrea Emelife, curator of the Nigeria Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale; Kéchi Nne Nnomu on Toyin Ojih Odutola; Chimezie Chika on Ndidi Dike; MobólúwajÃdìde Joseph on Yinka Shonibare; Yusuf Omotayo on the man who designed Nigeria’s flag; fiction from ’Pemi Aguda; 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
Queer People Today, You Tomorrow
Every Nigerian is one state decision away from becoming ‘unworthy’ subjects. Yet many Nigerians celebrate when the state punishes queer people not realizing that what is being witnessed is the state testing and perfecting its technologies of removal.
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.
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
My Love Affair with the Beautiful Game of Football
There is no denying the complicated relationship between football and women. Still, the game offers me a sense of home and a reminder that I belong to something bigger than...
Èkún Omi and Femi Bajulaye’s Yoruba Aesthetic Vision
Having premiered at the 2025 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, Femi Bajulaye’s Èkún Omi presents a cinematic exploration and representation of African migrants’ realities through a deeply conscious Yoruba...
‘The Republic of the Congo Is Not French, It Is Congolese’ Andréa Ngombet’s First Draft
Congolese writer, Andréa Ngombet, founded the Sassoufit Collective to document human rights violations in the Republic of the Congo: ‘It started as a mobilization against President Sassou Nguesso’s 2015 constitutional...
5 Books That Explain Why Lagos Drives People Crazy
In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of books to read to understand why Lagos drives people crazy. From a book that exposes the racial privilege that...
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BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Who Benefits From Nigeria’s Detty December?
The beginning of the second half of the year signals plans for Lagos’ glitzy Detty December, a seasonal spectacle that generates short-term profits for a privileged few while deepening inequality,...
Nigeria Was Once the World’s Largest Palm Oil Producer—What Happened?
Nigeria is the fifth largest producer of palm oil in the world although it used to be number one. Despite being a major producer, its population relies on imported palm...
Financial (Dis)Integration Within ECOWAS
For 50 years, West Africa has struggled to establish financial integration. The East Africa community offers a compelling success story that West Africa can emulate.
The Economic Uncertainties of the AfCFTA Amidst Regional Conflict
The AfCFTA’s potential to transform intra-African trade risks being undermined by the volatility created by instability in the Sahel and Great Lakes regions.
HISTORY
Nok and Africa’s Disregard for Prehistory
African societies have, over centuries, had to deal with a cleavage of their present from their pasts by foreign powers. In the face of such cultural imperialism, how invested are...
The Timeless Solutions of the Gadaa System
The Gadaa system of the Oromo people of Kenya and Ethiopia offers an indigenous method of governance in Africa, as the adopted Western democracy seems to be failing the continent.
From Kongo Kings to Cross-Congo Conflicts
The world’s closest capital cities—Kinshasa and Brazzaville—sit within two modern-day states, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo, that once reigned as a united Kongo...
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...
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POLITICS
Muhammadu Buhari and the Politics of Memory
Understanding the different responses to Buhari’s death helps us understand his legacy on a divided nation.
The Tragedy of Buharism
There is currently a debate about the role President Bola Ahmed Tinubu played in the emergence of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, as president. While there is no clear-cut answer to...
Restrategizing Northern Nigerian Security Beyond Border Fences
Nigeria’s worsening insecurity cannot be curtailed by border fences alone, as suggested by the chief of defence staff, but by the government investing in border communities, strengthening local infrastructure and...
Togo’s Fifth Republic Is Here—But at What Cost?
Long-standing fatigue with eroding civil liberties and authoritarianism in Togo has culminated in an outbreak of youth-led protests following constitutional changes ushering in Togo’s Fifth Republic. Is the creaking Gnassingbé...
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
Can Nigeria’s Tech Sector Drive Inclusive Growth?
As Nigeria embraces its digital future, inclusion—not just innovation—must lead. Can this transformation reach all Nigerians or just the privileged few?
Reimagining Feminist Digital Worlds
The founder of PARIWO and creator of the social media platform, neno, Ann Daramola, discusses building technology by and for African women and reimagining digital platforms that centre Black African...
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...
WORLD AFFAIRS
Has South Africa Overtaken Nigeria as Africa’s Giant?
Nigeria’s silence in the global community contrasts markedly with South Africa’s vibrancy, begging us to ask if Pretoria’s influence has eclipsed Abuja’s regional leadership.
How France Secretly Poisoned the Algerian Sahara
Between 1960 and 1966, the French colonial regime secretly detonated four atmospheric and 13 underground nuclear bombs and conducted tests of nuclear technologies in the Algerian Sahara. This secret atomic...
The Development Zone That Never Was?
When the Nigeria–São Tomé and PrÃncipe Joint Development Zone (JDZ) was established in 2001, it was expected to become a profitable offshore oil-producing area. But nearly 25 years later, the...
Is the African Union a Symbol of Waning Pan-Africanism?
In the wake of tumultuous geopolitical policies and an increasingly multipolar world, pan-Africanism today struggles to evoke the spirit of comradeship that it used to.
