by Taiwo Michael Oloyede In the framework of storytelling, drama does not unfold solely in what characters say, but in how they move, what they inhabit, and the weight their bodies bear through space and time. The dramatic movement of descriptive movement—gestures, posture, pace, stillness—extends beyond stage directions. It belongs deeply to characterization and to the unspoken grammar of conflict. Together, movement and description form the unsung music of drama: they render atmosphere kinetic, transform language into action, and make characters legible even in their silence. Characterization, in its richest dramatic sense, is not a function of monologue alone. As…
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Taiwo Michael Oloyede Few artists command the kind of global reverence that Wizkid does. Over the years, he has honed a signature sound—effortlessly smooth, dance-inducing, and rooted in Afrobeat’s fluidity. With Kese, a standout track from his Morayo album, Wizkid leans into what he knows best: stripped-down production, velvety melodies, and an understated, yet hypnotic rhythm. But while Kese is an undeniably infectious track, does it push boundaries, or does it merely reinforce an already perfected formula? At its core, Kese is a groove. The song is designed to get listeners moving, fusing Afrobeat percussion with a sultry, mid-tempo bounce.…
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Taiwo Michael Oloyede Yemi Alade builds a sonic world that carves a new continent of sound, her voice sweeps through highlife guitars, Afro-pop beats, and pulsating percussions. She is not just a singer; she is an empress of rhythm, a griot draped in color, straddling Afrobeats, highlife, coupé-décalé, R&B, and soul with an effortless command. Her debut album, King of Queens, was not just an introduction but a proclamation. The world took notice when Johnny arrived, a song so infectious it marched across Africa, conquering dancefloors from Lagos to Nairobi, Accra to Johannesburg. The album fused Afropop with reggae, highlife,…
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Ife Abe Ahmed Ololade, known professionally as Asake, is one of the most electrifying voices in contemporary Afrobeats. Blending Fuji, Afrobeats, Amapiano, and street pop, he has carved out a distinct sound that resonates from the streets of Lagos to arenas worldwide. His music—marked by high-energy beats, anthemic choruses, and Yoruba-infused lyricism—has made him a cultural phenomenon, redefining how the world experiences Nigerian street music. From the Streets to Stardom Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Asake’s musical journey was deeply rooted in the rich traditions of Yoruba music. Inspired by Fuji legends like Pasuma, Kwam 1, and the rhythmic dynamism of…
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Taiwo Michael Oloyede Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, is a singer, songwriter, and producer who has reshaped the global soundscape with her ethereal voice and emotionally charged music. Rising from Lagos, Nigeria, her artistry blends Afrobeats, neo-soul, and alternative R&B, carving a unique space that bridges African rhythms with contemporary global sounds. Born on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Tems was immersed in music from a young age. Her mother’s eclectic taste in soul, jazz, and Afropop introduced her to the expressive depth of artists like Aṣa, Lauryn Hill, and Erykah Badu. Singing became her sanctuary, and by her…
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Ife Abe Divine Ikubor, known globally as Rema, is a trailblazer in the modern Afrobeats scene, blending traditional African rhythms with elements of trap, R&B, and global pop. Born in 2000 in Benin City, Nigeria, Rema’s rise to stardom was meteoric, fueled by his unique sound, genre-fluidity, and an ability to craft melodies that resonate across continents. Discovered by D’Prince, the younger brother of Don Jazzy, Rema was signed to Jonzing World/Mavin Records in 2019. That same year, he released his self-titled EP Rema, which included the breakout hit Dumebi. The song catapulted him to international fame, earning millions of…
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The Forward Prizes for Poetry, widely regarded as the most prestigious awards in the UK and Ireland’s poetry calendar, have officially opened for submissions for their 2025 edition. Since their inception in 1992, the prizes have celebrated the finest voices in poetry, from emerging talents to literary giants, with a roll call of past winners that includes Simon Armitage, Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, and Claudia Rankine. This year, the awards continue to honour exceptional poetic achievements across four categories: Notably, the Best Single Poem – Performed category has broadened its scope, now inviting submissions directly from poets themselves as…
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Peter Gizzi’s Fierce Elegy has been honored with the TS Eliot Prize, a prestigious accolade recognizing the most exceptional poetry collection published in the UK and Ireland. This £25,000 award, regarded as a pinnacle of poetic achievement, celebrates Gizzi’s masterful exploration of grief and loss. Deeply informed by the mourning of his two brothers, the collection dares to confront the profoundest questions of existence, weaving a lyrical sequence that is at once haunting and illuminating. The judges, in their admiration, praised the collection for its boldness and its ability to grapple with life’s most daunting uncertainties, elevating Fierce Elegy as…
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Taiwo Michael Oloyede Ghostroots by Pemi Aguda is a hauntingly intricate filleting of the supernatural as it intertwines with the stark realities of Nigerian life. Across twelve stories, Aguda masterfully blends the mystical with the mundane, creating a narrative landscape that feels simultaneously otherworldly and deeply grounded. The collection pulses with tension—some stories rush forward with electrifying immediacy, while others simmer, their full power only revealing itself at the end. What makes Ghostroots exceptional is Aguda’s ability to weave supernatural elements into the fabric of everyday Nigerian existence. These are not tales of distant, fantastical realms but of a Lagos…
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Taiwo Michael Oloyede Olukorede Yishau’s After the End is a searing extrapolation of feral relationships and unconscionable drifts of affection, where the intimate struggles of its characters mirror the unrelenting chaos of the cities they inhabit. From the sprawling bustle of Lagos to the foggy alienation of Liverpool and London, the novel reveals how geography shapes and intensifies the private battles of individuals navigating grief, betrayal, and the quest for redemption. The trauma of Yishau’s characters is not isolated; it is a reflection of the restless, contradictory spaces they call home, spaces where personal pain is magnified against a backdrop…