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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

With 20.35 Africa, Ebenezer Agu Is Curating New Voices in 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.

April 9, 2022

Why Tobi Eyinade Built Rovingheights, Nigeria’s Biggest Literary Bookstore

The Future Award Africa Prize-nominated co-founder on the business of bookselling.
Socrates Mbamalu
Tobi Eyinade for Open Country Mag.

April 9, 2022

Suyi Davies Okungbowa Knows What It Takes

The Nigerian novelist, author of David Mogo, Godhunter and Son of the Storm, on epic fantasy, Black male representation in fiction, and making a literary career as a Nigerian.
Ada Nnadi
Suyi Davies Okungbowa by Manuel Ruiz.

April 7, 2022

Ani Kayode Somtochukwu’s Debut Novel Goes to Roxane Gay Books

And Then He Sang a Lullaby is described by the Grove Atlantic imprint as “a passionate love story about two young men who may have too far a distance to bridge to another.”
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Ani Kayode Somtochukwu by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu.

April 7, 2022

On The Offside Musings, Okey Ndibe Tackles Nigerian Politics

The podcast, with co-host Emeka Onyeagwa, is a “deep and often entertaining insight into Nigerian current affairs and culture.”
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Okey Ndibe by Rex Features/Associated Press.

April 6, 2022

Romeo Oriogun Wrested Poetry from Pain

From the streets of Benin City to The New Yorker, a young working-class Nigerian writer scaled obstacles and became a defining voice in African poetry.
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Romeo Oriogun for Open Country Mag.

April 5, 2022

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Children’s Picture Book Coming in 2023

The “joyful and tender” Mama’s Sleeping Scarf, forthcoming from HarperCollins Children’s Books, was written when her daughter was 3 years old.
Otosirieze
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie by Manny Jefferson

March 29, 2022

TAFM 2022: Owen Olowu’s Songs of Ubong Takes Grand Cheese Prize for Best Film

23 films were screened in competition at The Annual Film Mischief, a festival by The Film Rats Club. Other winners include Olabode Izy’s The Samaritan and Tosan Anyafulu’s Reflections.
The Film Rats Club
Part of the audience at The Annual Film Mischief 2022.

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.

With 20.35 Africa, Ebenezer Agu Is Curating New Voices in 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

April 9, 2022

Tobi Eyinade for Open Country Mag.

Why Tobi Eyinade Built Rovingheights, Nigeria’s Biggest Literary Bookstore

The Future Award Africa Prize-nominated co-founder on the business of bookselling.
Socrates Mbamalu

April 9, 2022

Suyi Davies Okungbowa by Manuel Ruiz.

Suyi Davies Okungbowa Knows What It Takes

The Nigerian novelist, author of David Mogo, Godhunter and Son of the Storm, on epic fantasy, Black male representation in fiction, and making a literary career as a Nigerian.
Ada Nnadi

April 7, 2022

Ani Kayode Somtochukwu by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu.

Ani Kayode Somtochukwu’s Debut Novel Goes to Roxane Gay Books

And Then He Sang a Lullaby is described by the Grove Atlantic imprint as “a passionate love story about two young men who may have too far a distance to bridge to another.”
Emmanuel Esomnofu

April 7, 2022

Okey Ndibe by Rex Features/Associated Press.

On The Offside Musings, Okey Ndibe Tackles Nigerian Politics

The podcast, with co-host Emeka Onyeagwa, is a “deep and often entertaining insight into Nigerian current affairs and culture.”
Emmanuel Esomnofu

April 6, 2022

Romeo Oriogun for Open Country Mag.

Romeo Oriogun Wrested Poetry from Pain

From the streets of Benin City to The New Yorker, a young working-class Nigerian writer scaled obstacles and became a defining voice in African poetry.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

April 5, 2022

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie by Manny Jefferson

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Children’s Picture Book Coming in 2023

The “joyful and tender” Mama’s Sleeping Scarf, forthcoming from HarperCollins Children’s Books, was written when her daughter was 3 years old.
Otosirieze

March 29, 2022

Part of the audience at The Annual Film Mischief 2022.

TAFM 2022: Owen Olowu’s Songs of Ubong Takes Grand Cheese Prize for Best Film

23 films were screened in competition at The Annual Film Mischief, a festival by The Film Rats Club. Other winners include Olabode Izy’s The Samaritan and Tosan Anyafulu’s Reflections.
The Film Rats Club

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