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Olowe of Ise: Master Carver Who Carried Yoruba Art Beyond Its Homeland
Olowe of Ise (c. 1873–1938) was one of the most celebrated Yoruba sculptors, renowned for his mastery of woodcarving and innovative approach to form and composition. Born in Efon Alaye, Ekiti State, he became a court artist, creating elaborate doors, veranda posts, and shrine pieces for royal palaces, particularly in… Listen ⇢
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The Atlantic did not erase Yoruba culture. It stretched it.
At the heart of Yoruba culture is a cosmology that refuses separation. The living, the dead, the unborn, the gods, the land and the community exist in constant conversation. This worldview crossed the Atlantic intact. In Brazil it reappeared as Candomblé where Orisha such as Obatala Sango Ogun Osun and… Listen ⇢
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Modern Slavery in Africa & The Hidden Crisis of Exploitation in the 21st Century
Modern slavery in Africa is a deeply rooted and complex human rights crisis that continues to affect millions of men, women, and children across the continent, even though formal slavery has long been abolished. Modern slavery refers to situations where people are exploited and cannot refuse or leave because of… Listen ⇢
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Nigeria’s Cultural Festivals and the New Creative Renaissance
Across Nigeria, a renewed interest in creative heritage and cultural festivals is taking shape, driven by a generation eager to reconnect with tradition while reimagining its place in contemporary life. What was once seen mainly as ceremonial or local celebration is now gaining wider cultural relevance, attracting young Nigerians, creatives,… Listen ⇢
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Regional Variations in Mask Designs and Performance Styles Across Southern Nigeria
Across southern Nigeria, masquerade traditions display striking regional diversity in both mask design and performance style. These variations reflect differences in history, environment, belief systems, and social organization, making masquerades powerful markers of cultural identity rather than a single unified tradition. In Yorubaland, masquerades such as Egungun emphasize layered textiles… Listen ⇢
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Contemporary reinterpretations of masquerades in festivals and carnivals
Masquerades have long occupied a sacred and communal space in Nigerian societies. Traditionally, they functioned as vessels of ancestry, spirituality, moral instruction, and social order. From the Egungun of the Yoruba to the Mmanwu of the Igbo and the Ekpe of the Cross River region, masquerades were not merely performances… Listen ⇢
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The Return of Vinyl Culture and the Need to Feel Music Again
For a long time, music drifted away from the physical world. Songs became files, then streams, then background noise we barely touched or truly owned. With a swipe, we could access millions of tracks, but in the process, something intimate was lost. Now, vinyl culture is making a quiet but… Listen ⇢
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When Culture Doesn’t Pay: The Struggle and Survival of Nigeria’s Traditional Music
Nigeria’s cultural and traditional music has long been one of the strongest pillars of the country’s identity, yet it remains one of the most undervalued genres within the modern music industry. From Yoruba traditional music to Igbo folk sounds, Hausa praise chants, and riverine rhythms from the Niger Delta, cultural… Listen ⇢
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Anikulapo Season 2 Set to Premiere on Netflix
Netflix has quietly confirmed that Anikulapo Season 2 is coming soon. The announcement appeared right on the banner for the first season on Netflix itself, letting fans know that the story will continue on the platform. The hit Nigerian series, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, follows its popular original… Listen ⇢
Culture Beyond the Mainstream 