Nigeria Archives

‘I’m a Very Meticulous Writer.’ Ope Adedeji’s First Draft

Ope AdedejiJuly 16, 2021

Author of ‘Books as Ammunition’, Ope Adedeji, believes a common misconception about African writing is that it is only writing that explores heavy themes through a limited set of genres. Read our interview.

Best of 2021First DraftInterviewsJune/July 2021Nigeria

‘Writing is Work, Not a Fantasy.’ Ope Adetayo’s First Draft

Ope AdetayoJune 18, 2021

Nigerian journalist and author, Ope Adetayo, often encounters misconceptions about Africa. Read our interview.

Best of 2021First DraftInterviewsJune/July 2021Nigeria

Fear A Survivor’s Account of Human Trafficking

KhalihJune 8, 2021

A survivor’s account of human trafficking. Read more.

June/July 2021KenyaNigeria

When ‘Modern Slavery’ Meant Colonial Rule Nigeria and Panya (Fernando Po) in the 1960s

Enrique MartinoJune 7, 2021

The colonial history of Fernando Po in Spanish Guinea and south-eastern Nigeria makes it clear that the new techniques of ‘modern slavery’ varied from deception and entrapment of unsuspecting migrants to harshly enforced debt bondage and penal sanctions for non-fulfilment of contracts. Read more.

Equatorial GuineaJune/July 2021Nigeria

‘Love Does Not Win Elections’ Ayisha Osori's First Draft

Ayisha OsoriMay 14, 2021

Author and development practitioner, Ayisha Osori ran for office in 2014 and recently changed how she thinks about Nigeria’s political processes. Read our interview.

April/May 2021Best of 2021Editors Picks: Independence DayFirst DraftInterviewsNigeriaNigeria Decided 2023: First DraftNigeria Decides 2023

Invisible People Situating IDPs in Nigeria’s Policies and Economy

Princess Anene-MaidohMay 12, 2021

Nigeria needs durable solutions that address the many challenges its displaced populations face. With 2.6 million IDPs, addressing displacement in Nigeria is both a moral and economic obligation. Read more.

April/May 2021KenyaNigeria

Too Foreign to Vote Diaspora Voting: Where Naija Might Carry Last

Muzz MuhammadFebruary 24, 2021

The #EndSARS protests saw young Nigerians united toward a common goal: putting a definite end to police brutality in Nigeria. Read more.

February/March 2021KenyaNigeriaSouth Africa

Christopher Olaoluwa Ogunmodede's illustration

‘Great Writers Develop Themselves.’ Christopher Olaoluwa Ogunmodede's First Draft

Christopher Olaoluwa OgunmodedeFebruary 5, 2021

Editor at The Republic and author of ‘John Mugufuli’s Baby Fever’, Christopher Olaoluwa Ogunmodede, believes great writing emerges from practice. ‘Just like leaders are made, not born, great writers develop themselves. Or at least, great writing is a skill that can be taught.’ Read our interview.

Best of 2021February/March 2021First DraftInterviewsNigeria

Politics of Happiness Nollywood in Nigeria’s Crisis of Happiness

Boluwatife AkinroJanuary 18, 2021

The culture of happiness is the most powerful and pervasive agent in Nigeria today, and Nollywood is one of its biggest curators. Read more.

Best of 2021: EssaysDecember 20/January 21Nigeria

Why Is Tax Collection Low in Nigeria? Historical and Cultural Explanations for Nigeria’s Low Domestic Resource Mobilization

Paul JegedeDecember 14, 2020

Despite being Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria is one of the poorest. In 2017, Nigeria had one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world. Read more.

December 20/January 21Nigeria