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Nigeria

October 22, 2022

Swallow, Reviewed: Perturbance in Ordinary Lives

Kunle Afolayan’s beautifully shot adaptation of Sefi Atta’s novel explores humanity and morality, but even with popstar Niyola in lead, it doesn’t rise above its source material.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Swallow film poster

October 22, 2022

Ife, Reviewed: Lesbian Love in Bourgie Lagos

Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim’s short depiction of two women in love is a social landmark in Nigerian cinema.
Otosirieze
Ife film poster

October 22, 2022

Nne, Reviewed: Two Mothers and a Son, Bound by Love

Chiege Alisigwe and Swanky JKA break hearts as a maddened mother and her lost son in Victor Iyke’s AMVCA-winning Igbo language film.
Uzoma Ihejirika
Nne film poster

October 22, 2022

The Men’s Club, Reviewed: A Charming Portrayal of Masculinity and Friendship

Tola Odunsi’s web series is a refreshing, revelatory take on bromance, with Baaj Adebule standing out in the ensemble.
Paula Willie-Okafor
The Men's Club TV poster

October 15, 2022

Romeo Oriogun Is the First Openly Queer Writer to Win the Nigeria Prize for Literature

The bisexual poet’s historic victory, for his second collection Nomad, is also the first time that a writer of the younger generation has won Africa’s richest prize, worth $100,000.
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Romeo Oriogun for Open Country Mag.

October 2, 2022

In His Forthcoming Third Novel, Chigozie Obioma Takes a Stab at the Biafran War

The Road to the Country, the Nigerian’s third novel announcement in seven years, is part of a two-book deal, and has been compared to Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Chigozie Obioma. From Sidewalk Citizen.

September 17, 2022

The UnSerious Collective Announces 2022 Fellowship Winners

Each of the five fellows will receive N50,000.
Open Country Mag
The Origin of Name; photo by Adedayo Agarau.

September 11, 2022

Aiwanose Odafen’s Tale of a Love Triangle

In her ‘80s-set debut novel, Tomorrow I Become a Woman, a young woman is caught between her needs for approval from both society and herself.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Aiwanose Odafen - Tomorrow I Become a Woman

August 27, 2022

The $100,000 NLNG Prize Announces Youngest Ever Shortlist

In an unusual decision that has surprised and delighted observers, the final three poets—Romeo Oriogun, Su’eddie Vershima Agema, and Saddiq Dzukogi—come from the younger generation.
Uzoma Ihejirika
Romeo Oriogun by Romeo Oriogun

August 25, 2022

Watch the Trailer for Elesin Oba, Biyi Bandele’s Adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s Play

Open Country Mag

August 13, 2022

In New Memoir, Emmanuel Iduma Traces His Family History Through the Biafran War

I Am Still with You: A Reckoning on Silence, Inheritance & History, set for 2023, is billed as “the story of countless families across the country who will never have answers for their loved ones.” Iduma calls it “the book I’ve been preparing to write for most of my life.”
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Emmanuel Iduma by Ayobami Adebayo.

August 13, 2022

Biyi Bandele, Literary Voice Who Peaked as a Major Nollywood Director, Is Dead at 54

He leaves behind a solid legacy, including the movie Fifty, the Netflix series Blood Sisters, a Fela Kuti documentary, and adaptations of work by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Wole Soyinka.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Biyi Bandele. Credit: @biyibandele on Instagram.

July 20, 2022

In Affectionate Open Letter, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Endorses Peter Obi for President of Nigeria

The influential culture icon had social media spinning with her birthday note to the Labour Party candidate, already the hot favourite for young Nigerians.
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie with Peter Obi at a burial event for her mother Grace Ifeoma Adichie.

July 11, 2022

The $100,000 NLNG Prize Longlist a Mix of Young and Veteran Nigerian Poets

The 11 nominees for Africa’s richest literary award, led by rising star Romeo Oriogun, include Iquo DianaAbasi and Su’eddie Vershima Agema—a departure from its tradition of ignoring newer voices.
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Romeo Oriogun by Romeo Oriogun

July 4, 2022

The 2022 SprinNG Women Authors Prize Opens for Submissions ​

The award will select two female Nigerian authors who have published full-length books and invest N300,000 each in purchasing, distributing, and marketing them.
SprinNG
Ukamaka Olisakwe. Credit: Ukamaka Olisakwe.

June 14, 2022

God’s Children Are Little Broken Things by Arinze Ifeakandu Review—A Momentous Debut of Gay Love and Human Fullness

“This book is lush with evocative passages. So real are the characters, you could almost reach out and touch them.”
Emmanuel Esomnofu
God’s Children Are Little Broken Things by Arinze Ifeakandu

April 13, 2022

The Seminal Breakout of Gbenga Adesina

The prize-winning Nigerian poet and co-founder of A Long House magazine honed his craft in the quiet, and then we heard his pathbreaking voice.
Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu
Gbenga Adesina by Ladan Osman.

April 13, 2022

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki’s Curation of African Speculative Fiction

The writer and editor, working from Nigeria, has seen his groundbreaking work with the anthology Dominion earn major acclaim in the US and the UK, including becoming the first Africa-born Black writer to earn a Hugo Award nomination.
Kanyinsola Olorunnisola
Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki.

April 13, 2022

Logan February on Their Becoming

The Future Award Africa Prize-winning Nigerian poet and author of the collection In the Nude on “the book as an interface for the soul” and their literary, musical, and cinematic influences.
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Logan February by Weiji Wang.

April 9, 2022

Ebenezer Agu on 20.35 Africa & Curating New Poetry

“It’s not just about developing platforms for African poets. What is the bigger picture?” asks the Nigerian poet and editor of the collective. “We are thinking of training, models that feed capacity, that enhance their craft and careers.”
Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu
Ebenezer Agu for Open Country Mag.

October 22, 2022

Swallow film poster

Swallow, Reviewed: Perturbance in Ordinary Lives

Kunle Afolayan’s beautifully shot adaptation of Sefi Atta’s novel explores humanity and morality, but even with popstar Niyola in lead, it doesn’t rise above its source material.
Paula Willie-Okafor

October 22, 2022

Ife film poster

Ife, Reviewed: Lesbian Love in Bourgie Lagos

Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim’s short depiction of two women in love is a social landmark in Nigerian cinema.
Otosirieze

October 22, 2022

Nne film poster

Nne, Reviewed: Two Mothers and a Son, Bound by Love

Chiege Alisigwe and Swanky JKA break hearts as a maddened mother and her lost son in Victor Iyke’s AMVCA-winning Igbo language film.
Uzoma Ihejirika

October 22, 2022

The Men's Club TV poster

The Men’s Club, Reviewed: A Charming Portrayal of Masculinity and Friendship

Tola Odunsi’s web series is a refreshing, revelatory take on bromance, with Baaj Adebule standing out in the ensemble.
Paula Willie-Okafor

October 15, 2022

Romeo Oriogun for Open Country Mag.

Romeo Oriogun Is the First Openly Queer Writer to Win the Nigeria Prize for Literature

The bisexual poet’s historic victory, for his second collection Nomad, is also the first time that a writer of the younger generation has won Africa’s richest prize, worth $100,000.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

October 2, 2022

Chigozie Obioma. From Sidewalk Citizen.

In His Forthcoming Third Novel, Chigozie Obioma Takes a Stab at the Biafran War

The Road to the Country, the Nigerian’s third novel announcement in seven years, is part of a two-book deal, and has been compared to Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front.
Paula Willie-Okafor

September 17, 2022

The Origin of Name; photo by Adedayo Agarau.

The UnSerious Collective Announces 2022 Fellowship Winners

Each of the five fellows will receive N50,000.
Open Country Mag

September 11, 2022

Aiwanose Odafen - Tomorrow I Become a Woman

Aiwanose Odafen’s Tale of a Love Triangle

In her ‘80s-set debut novel, Tomorrow I Become a Woman, a young woman is caught between her needs for approval from both society and herself.
Paula Willie-Okafor

August 27, 2022

Romeo Oriogun by Romeo Oriogun

The $100,000 NLNG Prize Announces Youngest Ever Shortlist

In an unusual decision that has surprised and delighted observers, the final three poets—Romeo Oriogun, Su’eddie Vershima Agema, and Saddiq Dzukogi—come from the younger generation.
Uzoma Ihejirika

August 25, 2022

Watch the Trailer for Elesin Oba, Biyi Bandele’s Adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s Play

Open Country Mag

August 13, 2022

Emmanuel Iduma by Ayobami Adebayo.

In New Memoir, Emmanuel Iduma Traces His Family History Through the Biafran War

I Am Still with You: A Reckoning on Silence, Inheritance & History, set for 2023, is billed as “the story of countless families across the country who will never have answers for their loved ones.” Iduma calls it “the book I’ve been preparing to write for most of my life.”
Emmanuel Esomnofu

August 13, 2022

Biyi Bandele. Credit: @biyibandele on Instagram.

Biyi Bandele, Literary Voice Who Peaked as a Major Nollywood Director, Is Dead at 54

He leaves behind a solid legacy, including the movie Fifty, the Netflix series Blood Sisters, a Fela Kuti documentary, and adaptations of work by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Wole Soyinka.
Paula Willie-Okafor

July 20, 2022

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie with Peter Obi at a burial event for her mother Grace Ifeoma Adichie.

In Affectionate Open Letter, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Endorses Peter Obi for President of Nigeria

The influential culture icon had social media spinning with her birthday note to the Labour Party candidate, already the hot favourite for young Nigerians.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

July 11, 2022

Romeo Oriogun by Romeo Oriogun

The $100,000 NLNG Prize Longlist a Mix of Young and Veteran Nigerian Poets

The 11 nominees for Africa’s richest literary award, led by rising star Romeo Oriogun, include Iquo DianaAbasi and Su’eddie Vershima Agema—a departure from its tradition of ignoring newer voices.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

July 4, 2022

Ukamaka Olisakwe. Credit: Ukamaka Olisakwe.

The 2022 SprinNG Women Authors Prize Opens for Submissions ​

The award will select two female Nigerian authors who have published full-length books and invest N300,000 each in purchasing, distributing, and marketing them.
SprinNG

June 14, 2022

God’s Children Are Little Broken Things by Arinze Ifeakandu

God’s Children Are Little Broken Things by Arinze Ifeakandu Review—A Momentous Debut of Gay Love and Human Fullness

“This book is lush with evocative passages. So real are the characters, you could almost reach out and touch them.”
Emmanuel Esomnofu

April 13, 2022

Gbenga Adesina by Ladan Osman.

The Seminal Breakout of Gbenga Adesina

The prize-winning Nigerian poet and co-founder of A Long House magazine honed his craft in the quiet, and then we heard his pathbreaking voice.
Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu

April 13, 2022

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki.

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki’s Curation of African Speculative Fiction

The writer and editor, working from Nigeria, has seen his groundbreaking work with the anthology Dominion earn major acclaim in the US and the UK, including becoming the first Africa-born Black writer to earn a Hugo Award nomination.
Kanyinsola Olorunnisola

April 13, 2022

Logan February by Weiji Wang.

Logan February on Their Becoming

The Future Award Africa Prize-winning Nigerian poet and author of the collection In the Nude on “the book as an interface for the soul” and their literary, musical, and cinematic influences.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

April 9, 2022

Ebenezer Agu for Open Country Mag.

Ebenezer Agu on 20.35 Africa & Curating New Poetry

“It’s not just about developing platforms for African poets. What is the bigger picture?” asks the Nigerian poet and editor of the collective. “We are thinking of training, models that feed capacity, that enhance their craft and careers.”
Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu

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— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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