Our Favourite Books of 2023
2023 has been an interesting year for African literature. As we continue to dive into works that explore the African and Black experience, here are our favourite books of 2023.
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- The Republic V3, N1
- The Republic V3, N2
- The Republic V3, N3
- The Republic V4, N1
- The Republic V4, N2
- The Republic V4, N3
- The Republic V4, N4
- The Republic V5, N1
- The Republic V5, N2
- The Republic V5, N3
- The Republic V5, N4
- The Republic V6, N1
- The Republic V6, N2
- The Republic V6, N3
- The Republic V7, N1
- The Republic V7, N2
- The Republic V7, N3
- The Republic V7, N4
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December 23/January 24
Why Not the African Giant? Reflecting On Nigeria’s Non-Invitation to Join BRICS Membership
Nigeria’s non-invitation to join BRICS membership following invitations sent to Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reflects the country’s unimpressive foreign policy.
Conflict, Terrorism, and Invented Settler Colonial Victimhood in South Africa Reflections for Solidarity Building towards a Free Palestine
Underlying the logic of war and conflict that proliferates global narratives on the Israeli state’s ongoing onslaught in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, is a subtly communicated victimhood conferred to the settler colonial state. Much like South African racialized victims resisting and 'transitioning’ from a white-minority apartheid state, Palestinians find themselves subjected to a displaced empathy that delegitimizes their victimhood and liberationist efforts through the language of conflict and ‘terrorism’.
An Art Exhibition Speaks to History and Nigeria’s Multifaceted Reality Image Impressions and the Expansive Possibilities of Nigerian Aesthetics
Image Impressions, an exhibition of photographs, paintings, and collages curated by Faridah Folawiyo, aims to trace Nigeria’s visual history and embrace the multitudinous aspects of the country’s reality.
The Age of Afrobeats Editor’s Foreword: The Republic V7, N4
Afrobeats has come of age. Our latest issue, The Age of Afrobeats, invites audiences into the lesser known histories and cultural impacts of some of their favourite Afrobeats musicians.
The Meaning of Aṣa Understanding the Ascension of a Singular Artist
Aṣa released her eponymous debut album in 2007 and has been a favourite of many Nigerians ever since, with fans across generations. Her most enduring feature has been the singularity, not only of her music, but also of the ways in which she has always held herself apart, even when the spotlight was at its brightest.
The Devil Works Hard but Asake Works Harder The Assiduous Ethic of Afrobeats Superstar Asake
YBNL Records latest signee, Asake, has proven to be a sure bet and Afrobeats fastest rising superstar. In less than two years, he has released two outstanding albums, sold out London’s O2 Arena and earned a Grammy Award nomination. Yet he shows no signs of slowing down.
Ayra Starr’s Transcendental Vision for Afrobeats How the Nigerian Superstar Is Blurring the Lines between Music and Global Pop Culture
Emerging into the African pop scene two years ago, Ayra Starr’s immersive records have won her the adulation of a constantly expanding fanbase. She is now embracing a wholesome experience of what it means to be a pop star in this age, branding and all things considered.
Narcissism and the Aggrieved Art of Burna Boy How Burna Boy Represents Afrobeats’ Growing Individualistic Ethos
Burna Boy’s discography and lived attitude to Nigerian audiences presents a local-global dialectic. His irreverence towards local fans and the narcissism that pervades his latest musical offering, I Told Them, are suggestive of a growing individualistic ethos within the Afrobeats collective.
A Cat With Nine Lives The Many Sides to Davido’s Longevity
The trope of grass to grace is not Davido-esque. Instead, Davido’s run so far has been from grace to grace. His interluding humbling moments cater in part to his resilient spirit, his persistence in the face of multiple adversities, and his eventual solid status in the arena of African creatives, and hordes of them, each one striving to assert their voice in Africa, America, Asia, and Europe.