Author: Admin
Studio Monkey Shoulder, the global grassroots music initiative from renowned blended malt whisky brand Monkey Shoulder, returns to Nigeria for its second consecutive year. In continued partnership with legendary DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson, this year’s competition once again invites Nigeria’s most ambitious grassroots music communities to apply for a £10,000 grant (₦20 million Naira) to bring their bold, original projects to life—amplifying their scene on a global scale. The fund supports independent record stores, DIY music venues, online radio stations, and collectives that push sonic boundaries while fostering real-world connections. Its mission is to safeguard spaces where artists and…
Versatile musician Graham BMG, known for his skills in music production, singing, and songwriting, presents a compelling 2-pack of singles: “Oliver Twist” and “Sade.” Growing up immersed in music, Graham BMG has evolved into a storyteller who crafts songs that inspire and deeply resonate with listeners.LISTEN/STREAM HERE”Oliver Twist” is an afro-r&b record that cleverly employs literary and cultural references to depict an all-consuming love. With a recurring plea for more love, akin to the titular Oliver Twist, the track captures the intensity of loving someone to whom nothing else holds significance.In contrast, “Sade” offers a tender vision of romantic destiny.…
Did you know that there are approximately 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide? Can you imagine all the different ways in which we all use the internet? Obasanjo’s Internet is our interview series where we speak to some of our internet favourites on how they relate to the internet and what it means to them and their work. This week, Omolola Ige, Regional Marketing Manager at Sony Music Entertainment West Africa, talks to us about how she uses Obasanjo’s Internet. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? I wake up, look at my phone and my emails. It’s always…
Pop music is decidedly distinct from other genres primarily because it’s as much a sport as it is an art form. Popstars are frequently pitted against each other in online conversations that faintly echo the cavalier spirit of a gladiator match. One star announces a win and rival fanbases congregate in the comments section hurling insults and scathing remarks—banter is the term. But this competitive spirit that pervades the genre goes beyond undermining an artist’s achievements. Losses or lapses are considered impiety and consequently treated with scorn. A certain degree of commercial viability is required of artists of all genres,…
As an expression of human realities, art is demonstrated through a variety of initiatives such as festivals, exhibitions, screenings, and talent and empowerment programmes. In Lagos, a bustling metropolis and the entertainment capital of Africa, there exists a host of such initiatives targeted at representing and projecting the vibrant cultural image and dynamic identities of inhabitants and visitors in the city. One of them is Lagos Fringe Festival, a multidisciplinary arts festival that spotlights and celebrates talent in visual and non-visual forms. The upcoming 8th edition of the festival, themed “Hybrid Identities: Merging Boundaries”, is scheduled to run from 18th-23rd…
Plateau State Government and Chocolate City Group today announced a strategic partnership to establish a creative hub and radio station in Jos. The partnership, formalized at a signing event in the Plateau State capital over the weekend, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s creative economy development. The high-profile ceremony drew key stakeholders, with Hon. Cornelius Doeyok, Plateau State Commissioner for Tourism, Culture, and Hospitality and Mrs. Dongkum Grace Shwarta, Commissioner for Finance, representing the Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang. Chocolate City Group was represented by Chairman Audu Maikori and Chocolate City Music CEO Abuchi Peter Ugwu. The Governor while…
Lagos-born rapper and singer Blaqbonez has teamed up once again with Nigerian hitmaker Kizz Daniel on a new single titled Follow Her. First conceived during their early attempts to collaborate in 2022, the track is as much a celebration of their genuine friendship as it is a genre-bending anthem designed for the summer months. Produced by Ramoni—best known for Black Sherif and Blaqbonez’s Road Runners—the record blends soul, swagger, and sonic familiarity, marking their second official link-up after One Dollar. Though his parents once disapproved of his music career, Akumefule Chukwuemeka George—known professionally as Blaqbonez—completed a degree in Computer Engineering…
Africa is famous for a number of things, but the continent’s dazzling array of stylish celebrities is one of its greatest attractions. And yesterday, at the 2025 Met Gala, the world’s biggest fashion convention, Africa was represented by a cohort of exquisitely dressed stars. This year’s Costume Institute exhibition tagged Superfine: Tailoring Black Culture, centers on the history and culture of Black dandyism. Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s seminal 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the exhibition celebrates the role of fashion in empowering the Black race and resisting racist stereotypes around…
Nigerian music star Dice Ailes has made a comeback with his latest single, Towa, a log drum-infused love anthem that blends street rhythms with emotional sincerity. Released on April 30, Towa sees Dice Ailes — born Shasha Damilola Alesh — at his most charismatic, delivering a bold and cheeky declaration of unconditional love. Against a backdrop of drums and breezy Afropop melodies, the singer paints a picture of romance that thrives in adversity, celebrating partners who stay loyal through thick and thin. At its heart, Towa is less about dreamy fairytales and more about real-world devotion — the kind of…
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has never shied away from political themes. Her first novel, Purple Hibiscus, narrated by a 13-year-old girl, is set during a military dictatorship. The protagonist’s father is vocal against the government of the day and faces dire consequences as a result. The stakes are even higher in Half of a Yellow Sun, where an all-consuming narrative of love and familial strife unfolds against the backdrop of the Nigerian Civil War. Then came Americanah, ranked number 27 on the New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, and regarded by many as her magnum opus. The…