From New York’s Indiasho to Nigeria’s Betty Irabor: a galaxy of stars write for Y! magazine’s Freedom Issue!

Y! berthed on the Nigerian magazine scene in July, promising to be the high priest of Nigerian youth culture, and if their independence edition Freedom Issue is anything to go buy, that’s a promise they are determined to keep!

For the cover of this 2^nd edition, Y! has selected 50 of the most influential young Nigerians under 35, and – working with the model of Timemagazine’s Most Influential 100 – this edition got sterling individuals to write shorts essay about these young leaders. It’s a stellar list!

In addition, because of course there are many other brilliant young Nigerians outside that list of 50, the editorial board listed out a further 200 names who give us hope in Nigeria’s future: names including Genevieve Nnaji, Bode Pedro, Hassan Rilwan, Dimeji Alara, Adaobi Nwaubani and tens of others!

Continuing in the Independence theme, other articles in this edition include an incisive piece about all the presidential contenders written by Tolu Ogunlesi, a roll call of all the remarkable things young people have done since Nigeria’s independence by Atom Lim, a provocative piece by Amara Nwakpa called Can we trust this Jonathan? and others.

And just like the first edition, this one is also packed full with exciting content to last you three months! Cheta Nwanze stirs some controversy as he compares Ije (unfavourably) to The Figurine, PR guru Yetunde Taiwo is the quarter’s Bright Young Thing, Tosin Martins shares his inspiration story losing a child and trudging on, there’s a beautiful wedding feature, award winning poet Uche Peter Umez sends in a Letter from Switzerland, Maye Hunta (who sang the popular Ekaette song) joins radio presenters Manny and Sola Thompson as they talk about ‘dangerous housegirls’ and there are exciting reviews from Wana Udobang, Adebayo Omisore, Chinedu Iroche and others!

Y! magazine’s Freedom Issue is in stores this week!

Who is writing about who?

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Toyin Sokefun-Bello – Lara George
Tara Fela-Durotoye – Mo Abudu
Adedayo Osholowu – Matilda Kerry

Tuface Idibia – Dr. Reuben Abati
IK Osakioduwa – Obi Asika
Cobhams Asuquo – Timi Dakolo
Bright Okpocha (Basketmouth) – Dare Art-Alade

Adeolu Akinyemi – Fela Durotoye
‘Gbenga Sesan – Prof. Pat Utomi
Oluwatosin Otitoju – Modupe Adefeso

Modupe Adefeso – Funke Babatola
Funke Bucknor – Hafsat Abiola
9ice –     Dele Momodu
Denrele Edun – Charly Boy

Ali Nuhu – Awwalu Salihu

Bamidele Odufuye – ‘Gbenga Sesan
Toyosi Akerele – Obiageli Ezekwesili
Bukola Adubi –   Seun Soyinka
ID Cabassa – Laolu Akins
LEAP Africa – Kaine Agary
Banke Meshida-Lawal – Betty Irabor

Abdulkareem Baba Aminu – Mak Kusare

Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi – Nkiru Olumide-Ojo
Funke Akindele – Kunle Bakare
Linda Ikeji – Frank Osodi

Emmanuel Etim – Amb. Nkoyo Toyo
D’banj – 2face Idibia

Onye Ubanatu – Orode Uduaghan
Uche Nnaji – Ohimai Atafo

Funke Adetutu – Emmanuel Toili

Mosunmola Umoru – Audu Ogbeh

Stephanie Okereke – Adesuwa Onyenokwe

Asa – Yinka Davies

Knighthouse – Sasha

Kemi Lala Akindoju – Iretiola Doyle

Tolu Sangosanya – Adebayo Omisore

Ify Aniebo –Ndidi Nwuneli

Yagazie Chukwumerije – ‘Shina Okeleji

Adebola Lewis – Funke Bucknor
Fatima Zara Modibbo – Subomi Plumptre

Tolu Ogunlesi – Chika Unigwe

Warebi Martha – Indiasho

MI Abaga – Dayo Adeneye (D-One)

Maste Uwatse – Toni Kan
Andre Blaze – Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

Ifunanya Maduka – Toyin Subair

Kenneth Gyang – Tajudeen Adepetu

Omoyemi Akerele – Tara Fela-Durotoye