Fela’s nomination and possible induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will come at a cost.
Nigeria
Arts, Culture and Sport How Nollywood filmmakers are coping with the pandemic
When restrictions were introduced in Nigeria, Nollywood filmmakers bore the brunt. Filming stopped and Africa’s biggest movie industry ground to a painfully slow halt. We spoke to some creatives in the industry to discuss how the pandemic has affected their work.
Politics and Society Whose mental health suffered the most during COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria
In Nigeria, the unmarried, the unemployed, the less educated and those from the northern parts of the country were most susceptible to psychological challenges associated with COVID-19 lockdown.
African identities How the pandemic has complicated life for LGBT communities
“The pandemic has restricted movement and, by extension, community with chosen family. The absence of this means exposure to distress with little support,” says Aanu Jide-Ojo, a clinical psychologist working with the LGBT community in Nigeria.
Arts, Culture and Sport Making music in northern Nigeria during a pandemic
As the cultural landscape rapidly changes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, musicians and producers across northern Nigeria have creatively employed various strategies to continue making music. With little government support, musicians have had to creatively adapt and embrace new digital opportunities to survive.
Africans rising Okonjo-Iweala in the WTO top job: breaking the glass ceiling is a win for all women
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as the first woman and the first African director general of the World Trade Organisation is a win for women globally.
Health and Science What it will take to produce vaccines in Nigeria: money’s just the first step
Giving money to support local production of COVID-19 vaccines is a step in the right direction if it will help in resuscitating Nigeria’s vaccine production laboratory.
Arts, Culture and Sport Protest music, state violence and power of people platforms
Burna Boy’s critical single “20 10 20” highlights the emancipatory triad of protest art, people power movements and social media. Young African protesters are using their own platforms to undermine the coordinated abuses of state violence and censorship.
African identities Pan-Africanism under spotlight at the African Crossroads 2020 Hybrid Edition
New directions for Pan-Africanism, lockdown wellness, adaptive technologies and resistance music came under spotlight at the 2020 hybrid event of African Crossroads. The event merged immersive playlists with engaging, decolonial discussions.