The LCC boss has confessed but there are obvious time gaps | #EndSARS

Lagos Judicial Panel, LCC, Lekki Shootings

The LCC boss has confessed but there are obvious time gaps | #EndSARS

As proceedings of the Lagos judicial panel continue in the wake of the #LekkiShootings, the latest development involving the long-awaited CCTV recording has only provided more questions. The Lekki shooting happened. Then, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made an outright denial that there were casualties. Later, he admitted that there was one. Then came the reluctant admittance.... Read More

Counter Culture Blog, Deep Dive, More

November 3, 2020

This is why the government, maybe not the police, is the problem | #EndSARS

For years since the clamour to #EndSARS began, before it eventually became a full-blown movement, the central idea has always been the dignity of the citizenry. Being a Nigerian citizen should mean that one’s rights should be respected by the Nigerian system, and there’d be no need to be afraid of having a deadly encounter... Read More

#EndSARS, Department of State Security (DSS), fundamental human rights

November 3, 2020

7 talking points from Tiwa Savage’s interview with Ebuka (part 1)

Widely dubbed the queen of Afrobeats, Tiwatope Savage, better known as Tiwa Savage, is no doubt a leading voice on the continent and as such commands a huge following not only in her homeland but also across the globe. Despite being a public figure, there are still many things that remain hidden from the limelight... Read More

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, tiwa savage

November 1, 2020

How the success of the US Navy Seal made a mockery of us

Despite all kinds of scrutiny that security agents have been subjected to in the past weeks owing to the #EndSARS effect , the latest efficiency of their US counterparts against a perennial enemy in Northern Nigeria is an unexpected but equally effective reminder of a sector which appears to be failing on all fronts. Although... Read More

Boko Haram terrorists, Nigerian Army, US Navy

How Burna Boy is taking the fight against corruption global

Since the days of Fela Kuti, music has been a weapon to fight corruption, injustice and infrastructural decay. He was a vocal critic of the government of the day and took music activism to a level that was novel for the era. Generations after have continued to acknowledge the Afrobeats pioneer as an icon and... Read More

Burna boy, Fair play music, Twice as Tall

Top albums to watch out for before the year runs out

The first disruption of activities witnessed this year came with the global outbreak of coronavirus as social and economic activities came to a standstill. Things gradually returned to normal in August as albums flowed with a gush. Burna Boy, Adekunle Gold, Fireboy, DJ Cuppy, Patoranking and Tiwa Savage, among others, all churned out their respective... Read More

#EndSARS, Davido, Nigerian Music, Peruzzi, Yemi Alade

Is it time we got a Davido-Wizkid collaboration?

The rivalry between Wizkid and Davido is perhaps the most pronounced in Nigeria’s entertainment space and one thing that has always set them against each other is the battle for superiority. While the two artistes have usually played down tension between each other, their fans have always been eager to stoke the flames of fire.... Read More

Davido, wizkid, Wizkid vs Davido

There’s riot police to control chaos but IGP Adamu wants officers to ‘fight back’ instead | #EndSARS

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has been the subject of national and international scrutiny in the past weeks as the security agency has, for longer than anyone can remember, being accused of widespread extortion and extra-judicial murders. The consequence of the actions of a unit of the NPF, Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS), was the... Read More

IGP Adamu, Nigeria Police Force, SARS brutality

October 30, 2020

#MadeInLagos or London? Wizkid’s new album speaks to a surprising audience

There was a slight feeling of deja vu 11:11 pm, October 29, when there was no development concerning the release of Wizkid‘s new album. It turned out that the 11:11 pm was meant for fans in the UK and that appeared to be a premonition for the fourth studio album of award-winning music superstar born... Read More

Album review, Made In Lagos, wizkid

October 30, 2020

After report of an international music deal, can Cynthia Morgan pull off a career comeback?

Although nothing has been heard from her stable in a while, only few would imagine that a once burgeoning music talent such as Cynthia Morgan was going through hard times. Such was the magnitude of the sympathy drawn when she went on Instagram Live to relay her predicament. From her forlorn appearance, it was not difficult... Read More

Cynthia Morgan, Jude Okoye

October 30, 2020

Let’s examine if we should blame the #COVID19 palliatives ‘looters’ for being greedy – or not

It was a historic moment when the very generation that was thought to be more concerned with social profiles than day-to-day government affairs saw to the organisation of one of the most organised protests in Nigerian history. The looting and vandalism that followed, however, was antithetical to the peaceful demonstrations. Even though the two public actions... Read More

looting

October 29, 2020

desmond elliot, Lagos House of Assembly

Desmond Elliot needs to be reminded that Nigerian youth are not the problem

Desmond Elliot is back in the headlines and this time, he is on about erosion of culture on the part of the younger generation in the wake of recent protests. The Lagos House of Assembly member opined that Nigeria would cease to exist in the next five years if youth were allowed to get away... Read More

Counter Culture Blog

October 29, 2020

Music concerts can also help push youth political participation

In an alternate reality where there is no such thing as a coronavirus pandemic, #EndSARS protests, carnage, socio-political tension nor investigative judicial panel, artistes are already making plans and organising rehearsals towards their end of the year concerts and shows. This time last year, The Headies awards had already taken place, Starboy Fest filled the... Read More

music concert, nigerian music industry

October 27, 2020

Tribute to Tope Alabi at 50: How the gospel music industry never recovered from ‘Ore ti o common’

Nigerian Gospel musician and icon, Tope Alabi, is unarguably one of the greatest to grace the Nigeria gospel music scene and the occasion of her golden jubilee is deserving of all the applause that has been thrown her way. Before the breaking onto the music scene with her debut record, ‘Ore ti o common’, in... Read More

Church Culture, The Music Blog

gospel music, Tope Alabi

October 27, 2020

Banky W’s latest single, ‘Talk and do’, highlights the need for more conscious music

Given how events in the past week have played out, with many Nigerians left exasperated, many musicians have continued to use their trade to keep the conversation going on the ongoing fight against police brutality and its aftermath, especially the #LekkiMassacre. Music is not just a way to keep discussions flowing, it is also a... Read More

Deep Dive, Next Rated, The Music Blog

@bankyw, #EndSARS, 2baba Idibia, conscious music, Timi Dakolo, Waje, youth awakening

October 27, 2020

There is no better time for social influencers to become political influencers than now | #EndSARS

The horrid drama performances as the assumed epilogue of the #EndSARS protests have been nothing short of astounding. From express denials of some authorities to the outright overlook by the central power of the #LekkiMassacre, among other carnage, the ire and frustration of Nigerian youth and older ones in solidarity would be perfectly understandable. Celebrities... Read More

Deep Dive, Next Rated

Davido, falz, Femi Gbajabiamila, Mr Macaroni, Nigerian celebriities, president buhari, Simi, social influencer

October 26, 2020

How Prophet Peruzzi saw the coming of Detective Fashola

Whether it is Detective Fashola, Nigerian Sherlock Holmes, Fashola Holmes or Agent Fash, the new reality is that one person now commands all the aforementioned appellations, and it is no other person than the current minister of works and housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola. Fashola, who was a two-time governor of Lagos, burst into the national... Read More

October 22, 2020

#EndSARS, #LekkiMassacre, police brutality

Kunle Afolayan’s intention to script #LekkiMassacre is a path other creatives should follow

The evening of October 20, 2020, at the Lekki toll gate plaza, Lagos, is a gory moment which will be written in the sands of time, notwithstanding how far the government goes to abridge that history. Building up to that moment had been protests against police brutality in the country. Almost all states of the... Read More

Deep Dive, The Media Blog

October 22, 2020

2baba and Blackface continue ugly spat but political comparison is totally unnecessary

Since the fallout of the defunct music group, Plantashun Boiz, made up of Faze, Blackface and 2baba (formerly 2face), spats have remained a recurring exercise. Particularly, 2baba and Blackface have a history of hurling brickbats at each other. In the long history of bitterness between the two, the most pronounced has been Blackface accusing 2baba... Read More

#EndSARS, 2baba, Blackface

October 21, 2020

How Mo Abudu helped to seal Oscars pidgin recognition for Nollywood

While agitation for reforms across sectors continues to inform gatherings on Nigerian streets and roads, a clamour which was made a while ago, seemingly forgotten by everyone, has yielded result, and it is good news for the movie industry. When Genevieve Nnaji-directed movie, Lionheart, Nigeria’s first-ever entry for consideration in the International Feature Film category,... Read More

The Film Blog

Mo Abudu, oscars, Pidgin English

October 20, 2020

Many aides, little aid: Is President Buhari’s silence on #EndSARS being encouraged or discouraged?

As one hand is put on a Holy Book and the other raised up, Femi Adesina, the incoming Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, repeats after the judge, “I promise to discharge my duties to the best of my abilities, ensure the president is thoroughly informed on the portfolio I handle... Read More

#EndSARS, Lauretta Onochie, nigerian police, presidential aides, wizkid

October 19, 2020

How #EndSARS protest is proving the youth as the better hope of a One Nigeria

If we can all do a quick poll of one of the reasons why Nigerians appear to be disunited, our individual, religious, and ethnic differences will appear as some among many other reasons why it appears as though there is a discord between Nigerians. Going down memory lane, history shows pieces of evidence of how... Read More

Deep Dive, More

#EndSARS, #ReformPoliceNG, nigerian police, one nigeria

October 17, 2020

Peruzzi is crowned Inspector General of Police to tell the FG why reforms are necessary | #EndSARS

Singer and songwriter, Tobechukwu Okoh, popularly known as Peruzzi, is the new Inspector General of Police. How so? Well, the story is simple. News broke on Twitter that some alleged armed robbers were attacking people on Third Mainland bridge. Minutes after the outcry, it was reported that Peruzzi and the people with him had dealt... Read More

#EndSARS, nigerian police, Peruzzi

October 16, 2020

#EndSARS vs NLC strikes: Older generation-inclined Labour Unions can learn from a youth-led movement

If we were to go down history lane, we will realise that ‘industrial strike actions’ – the threats of strikes – and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are interchangeable terms. It has got to a stage where no one listens to their threats. In fact, you will not be making backward leaps if you said... Read More

Deep Dive

#EndSARS, #EndSWAT, ASUU, nlc

October 15, 2020

Bringing back Fela: Why it is time for artistes to also speak through their art in the #EndSARS movement

Even the most insentient person in the country knows that a revolution is already being brewed. Such is the magnitude and intensity of the protests that have engulfed major cities in Nigeria. What seemed like a usual social media hashtag movement escalated into a full-blown demonstration, the like of which this generation has never seen.... Read More

#EndSARS, #EndSWAT, fela, nigerian police, Stop police brutality

October 14, 2020

#YNaijaEndSARSupdates: Dear Nigerian Creatives, we need you for this #EndSARS movement | #EndSWAT

Every possible weapon in the arsenal has been brought out in the ongoing historic fight against police brutality and youth terrorism. People are: contributing funds to the tune of millions, giving out food packs to protesters, volunteering legal services, providing medical provisions and rolling out initiatives of all kinds.

Deep Dive, More, Next Rated

#EndSARS, #EndSWAT, Nigerian creatives, nigerian police

October 12, 2020

#YNaijaEndSARSupdate: Silence is a crime, Nigerians call out their favourites for being passive

In just a matter of days, #EndSARS has grown from just another trend on social media to a worldwide movement. The momentum of the ongoing demonstration in Nigeria and beyond keeps going and growing. The #EndSARS movement, it was thought, would be quelled with the announcement of disbandment of the rogue police section, but it... Read More

Deep Dive, Next Rated

Nigerian celebrities

October 12, 2020