Category: Culture

All names have been changed for the sake of anonymity. There’s a rhythm to Nigerian nightlife; it’s loud, unpredictable, and always evolving. Over the last few years, we’ve seen the rise of new party formats, including underground raves, rooftop day parties, themed club nights with strict dress codes, and genre-specific music experiences. But if you…

The music industry is undergoing a profound transformation, with live streamers rapidly emerging as the “new TikTok” for music discovery and the breaking of new artists and songs. This paradigm shift is evident globally, exemplified by the first of its kind record deal between EMPIRE and streamer N3ON. This landmark record deal signals the music…

You’ve seen pictures from the Ojude Oba festival flooding your timeline, but is it just an aura farming contest? What was it like before it took social media by storm?  “Ojude Oba” translates to “the King’s Courtyard”. It is a spectacular yearly event celebrated in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. More than just a tradition, it is…

What Nigerian bops could potentially soundtrack Pride Month? For obvious reasons, there aren’t many Nigerian songs that explicitly wave the rainbow flag, but are there any that extend comfort or visibility to the queer community? We reached out to queer individuals to find out which Nigerian songs exemplify Pride and evoke feelings of power, identity…

As Nigerian artists dominate global charts, sell out stadiums, and rack up billions of streams, Afrobeats has become one of the country’s most visible exports. Yet, not much is known about the economics behind it. TAG, an independent advisory and investment management firm focused on Africa’s high-growth sectors, has released a report titled Uncharted Waters:…

If you’re an explorer at heart, then you know there are so many hidden gems in Africa. Lush landscapes, bustling cities, and wondrous views abound. But how do you get to experience all of these? Since we’re basically extended family, it should be seamless hopping from country to country, right? Unfortunately, not quite. Different countries…

Africa has always been home to talented artists, thanks to the presence of a multitude of cultures, all steeped in different creative traditions. Art has historically been a part of daily life; whether it be in the form of carving functional utensils like calabashes and gourds, weaving baskets and mats, blacksmithing weapons, tools and jewellery,…

Last night, some of the world’s biggest stars stepped out garbed in their finest for fashion’s biggest night: the Met Gala. From supermodels (Adut Akech, Anok Yai) to musicians (Burna Boy, Tems, Ayra Starr, Shaboozey); actors (Damson Idris, Ayo Edebiri, Lupita Nyong’O); athletes (Lewis Hamilton, Simone Biles), comedians (Ego Nwodim, Jamie Foxx) and even chef…

‘Soft life’ is one of those buzzwords that has jumped out of captions and TikToks and into everyday conversation. It conjures images of satin robes, spa days, staycations, saying “no” to anything that looks remotely stressful, and a life soundtracked by Dami Oniru’s ‘Soft Life’ or Lady Donli’s ‘Cash’. For many young Nigerians, especially women,…

Once upon a time, the DJ was the guy behind the booth whose job was to keep the music going. Over the past few years, there has been such a drastic shift that the average DJ has transformed from a background player to the main attraction. But how did we get here? In the 90s…