Culture
Writers explore the depths of our cultural heritage and how it shapes who we are and who we’ll be
We All Eat Breakfast and Die: Remembering Ogogo’s Nollywood Legacy
Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, died on Sunday, 23 August 2026, at the age of 66, leaving behind a career that stretched across more than four decades of Yoruba theatre and Nigerian cinema. His daughter, Kira Hassan, confirmed his death in an emotional live video as family, colleagues and fans mourned an actor whose face, voice and mannerisms had become embedd…. read more.
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Our top analyses, debates, ideas and stories of the week.
From Fuji to Street Pop: How Yoruba Music Reinvents Itself
A generation ago, the sound of Yoruba urban life belonged to Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, K1 De Ultimate, Saheed Osupa, and Pasuma. Today, it belongs to Asake, Seyi Vibez and Portable. The names have changed, the beats that echoed their creativ…. read more.
When Ojude Oba Festival Becomes a Performance
By noon on the day of Ojude Oba, I had stopped looking at the horses.. read more.
What is Ojude Oba Without an Awujale?
The 2026 edition of the Ojude Oba festival presents one of the most significant moments in the contemporary history of Ijebuland. For well over a century, the festival has been understood as an act of homage to the Awujale of Ijebuland, a p…. read more.
Horse Riding, Fashion, and Homecoming Moments at the Heart of Ojude Oba Festival
Every year during the Ojude Oba Festival, the rhythmic galloping of horses, the shimmer of embroidered regalia, and the display of mounted riders transform the ancient town of Ijebu-Ode into a living theatre of culture, fashion, prestige, a…. read more.
Inherited Frames: How Family Dynasties Built Nollywood Movie Industry
In the early 1990s, Nigeria’s film industry began to take shape with the rise of direct-to-video production, supported by video parlours that drove its reach and visibility. Starting with Video Home System (VHS) releases like Ken Nnebue’s L…. read more.
Egbaliganza 2026 has renewed debates on the limits of innovation in expressing Yoruba cultural heritage
When the 39th Lisabi Festival ended on 28 March 2026 at Ake Palace in Abeokuta, it did more than honour Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, the 18th-century Egba warrior who led his people's revolt against the Oyo Empire's oppression. Rebranded as Egbal…. read more.
EID-AL-FITRI IN PICTURES: HOW MUSLIMS CELEBRATED IN NIGERIA
On Friday, March 20, 2026, Muslims across Nigeria joyfully marked the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the festival that concludes the holy month of Ramadan with communal prayers, reflection, and renewed spiritual commitment. Following the Sulta…. read more.
MEMORY AND MARGINALISED HISTORIES: BLACK SOLDIERS AND THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE IN TIERN MONENEMBO’S THE BLACK TERRORIST
At the January 2026 meeting of world leaders hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Donald Trump affirmed before a stunned audience of European and North American leaders that the whole of Europe would have been speaking German,…. read more.