Trokosi : Enslaving women into the 21st century

Posted on by The Native

You know how you hear about something and you can immediately tell your life would never be the same again? Yep! That’s how I felt when I stumbled on this documentary and did some digging on the Trokosi System. Predominantly practised in Ghana, Togo and Benin, young girls are being torn away from their families and sacrificed at shrines to atone for the sins of the men in their family. No, you didn’t read that wrong; girls as young as five years old are given to the priests of these shrines as property where they get raped by these priests at the completion of their third menstrual cycle.

Forced to live and work for priests at a shrine as restitution for the sins of a relative, Brigitte Sossou Perenyi had her life sentence rescinded when a Christiane Amanpour documentary on the Trokosi system featured her twenty-one years ago and led to her release from the shrine.

This is her story, her journey and her way of breaking through into a life of freedom and reconciliation of her past with her present to embrace her future. To take all of her experiences and lead a conversation in hopes that some other young girls trapped in this system will also get the freedom she is blessed to now have.  Brigitte’s passion is to share her story to inspire and encourage others. Her hope is to start a dialogue that helps others recognise the potential of all girls trapped in harmful practices around the world. Like Brigitte, creating conducive environments for girls to realise their potentials is important for the growth and holistic development of a child. It is a basic right of every child and no one should deprive them of that.

Watch “My stolen childhood” here;

 

Listen to Ocho’s new single, “Shine” featuring AyoMageek

Posted on by The Native

It doesn’t take long before most people realize that love and all its charm can take a sour turn really quickly. But with everything in the world around us (including music) serving as constant reminders to keep our hearts safe, we often find that one person that makes us throw caution to the wind and fall blindly. On Ocho’s new single featuring AyoMageek, “Shine”, there’s a superficial but hard to contest explanation for why we’re willing to take the risk, “She Don’t Compare To Other Girls”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bimw8oQgUIL/?taken-by=ochoforeign

Over hazy bliss of the mid-tempo beat produced with oxygen-rich synth cloud that hangs somewhere in the atmosphere above the dancefloor the Afropop drums induce, Ocho and AyoMageek sing to a lover, perhaps forbidden; Ocho urges, “Does He Really Love You or Is He Wasting Your Time?” It plays like an invitation to drop everything and run for the hills together.

You can stream Ocho and AyoMageek’s “Shine” below.

https://soundcloud.com/ochxo/shine-ft-ayomageek

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ochoforeign

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ICYMI: Listen to Ocho’s “A Little More” featuring Bawa

Falz’s “This is Nigeria” says a lot about Nigeria but not enough

Posted on by The Native

The Hiro Murai directed video for Donald Glover’s “This Is America” is already one of the most iconic moments of 2018. Upon release, “This Is America” turned into think-piece mine with analysts offering several interpretations and picking out the most seemingly insignificant detail for meaning. One debate questioned if such a serious message should be treated so whimsically, others speculated it may encourage trolls, and generate material for memes. As if on cue, Falz who practically grew his fan base off the memes and funny videos, has released his rendition of Donald Glover’s montage titled, “This is Nigeria”. 

With his latest video, Falz uses the same interchange of cameras and scenery as Childish Gambino to run through a range of issues that affect the everyday Nigerian. Falz’s most important creative tweak from the source material is background commentary that emboldens the images we see throughout the four-minute runtime of the video. The manoeuvre pays off for “This Is Nigeria”, allowing director Prodigeezy, to ignore the subtleties that made “This Is America” so poignant, for a more direct but empathetic depiction of tribe relations, the normalisation of terrorism, insecurity and other issues that make every other front page. However, this convenient plot trope also seems to narrow the field of vision for the message at the core of  “This Is Nigeria”. 

The most graphic example of this tone-deafness happens in the first few seconds of the video where a Fulani man playing his goje and seemingly having a good day, turns to behead another man in the next scene. It’s a tough pill to swallow for all the right and wrong reasons: On one end of the scale, it’s the first ever mainstream media representation of the herdsman violence, on the other, it manages to brandish a people as a murderous ethnic group. The misinformation becomes more obvious when a little research uncovers that though violent attacks on other tribes in the North is often linked with ethnic-patriotism, many Northerners who work menial jobs in the West of Nigeria, also fled from violence by Boko Haram-affiliated terrorist cells often purported as herdsmen by the media.

Focusing on societal issues—like the glorification of internet fraud culture— has put Falz under fire before. The rapper wants to be seen as the guy who speaks on societal issues, but given his privileged upbringing, the public is often quick to question his moral position, with the pretext he can’t actually relate with the things he speaks of.  If Falz learned anything from the feedback that followed his attempt to call out the yahoo-yahoo boys, it should be the importance of context and the different angles to every story.

Even worse, compared to “This Is America” that closes with a black man with lividly terrified eyes, running slow-mo, away from all the dangers out to get him, Falz offers no respite for all the bleakness. “This is Nigeria” may be entertaining as an adequate conversation starter presented in an amusing manner, but ultimately it muddles up details and doesn’t plot any path forward.

But while it’s easy to begrudge Falz for taking on Nigeria’s socio-political climate with humour and levity, it’s also the greatest reflection of a political apathy that is perhaps the truest mark of a Nigerian. Would it even be Nigerian if it wasn’t passive enough to reflect this basic Nigerian trait? For fear of dehumanizing the pain and oppression, no one gets a free pass to reinforce stereotypes that have formed painful memories for many, but it’s a fair reflection of a country where kidnappings are starting to feel like a state-sanctioned sport. This is Nigeria afterall.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Falz

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ICYMI: Revisit that time Falz became the villain and Evans the kidnapper became the hero

PatricKxxLee has had it with comparison on new single, “So and So”

Posted on by The Native

It’s not surprising to hear the influence of American radio on African music, especially in places like South Africa, with the nation’s colonial history. But besides instigating messy and fierce debate that usually ends with no result other than a ton of mean tweets and hurt feelings, comparing two artists never goes down well—especially in hip-hop where music beef quickly turn violent. Like that line from Omar Little, ‘come at a king, you best not miss’, PatricKxxLee’s latest releases, “So and So”, is an offensive response to haters who keep trying to compare him to other artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjKuYhzFUla/?hl=en&taken-by=patrickxxlee

Though “So and So” has PatricKxxLee’s signature synth heavy production, his flow is a lot more aggressive than anything we’ve heard from the rapper. Opening the song saying “This For All You Haters Saying I Sound Like So And So, No/ If You Had A Brain, You’ll Know That This Is Game of Throne Bro”, the reason for his antagonistic attitude is immediately apparent as he spends the 1:47-minute listening time highlighting his unique blend of emo-angst and brash hip-hop.

With the short playtime for “So and So” also reflected on his last release, “Birthday Cake”, PatricKxxLee may have a model for efficiency, cranking out catchy songs that seem to end just as quickly as they started. Short rap songs seem to be the wave at the moment with songs like “Gucci Gang” and other rap hits ending under two and half minutes, ostensibly to placate the shorter attention spans of young listeners online.

Stream PatricKxxLee’s “So and So” below.

https://soundcloud.com/patrickxxlee/so-so

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/patrickxxlee

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ICYMI: Listen to PatricKxxLee’s “Birthday Cake” here

Watch the video for DJ Spinall and Kizz Daniel’s “Baba”

Posted on by The Native

DJ Spinall and Kizz Daniel [who apparently changed his name from ‘Kiss’ overnight] have released a video to match the dance party feel for “Baba”, the duo’s previously released Afropop single. Set as an all-white party, the video begins with the DJ taking the role of music provider at the all-white party that the video develops into as it progressed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjH_IHYhBk6/?taken-by=djspinall

While Kizz Daniel sings of his greatness and undeniable ability to make a hit out of anything, the Director Q directed video shows him dancing with a gold handle cane, switching between a party background and DJ Spinall playing the piano behind him the “Baba” that he is and dancing.

Watch the video for “Baba” here:

 

Watch the video for Omawumi and Kiss Daniel’s “Me Ke”

Posted on by The Native

Omawumi’s first release since Timeless was a commanding song titled “Me Ke” with support from Kiss Daniel. “Me Ke” translates to “I No Vex” and through the song, both artists complement one another by taking turns to confirm their awareness of their authority while reminding their anti-fans that they’re inconsequential and do not concern them. The duo has released a video for “Me Ke”, and while it doesn’t quite tell a story, the light-heartedness reaffirms the cheeky feel the song brings.

Watch the video for Omawumni’s “Me Ke” here:

“Tomiwa is figuring it out…” Tweet at her @fauxbella

Kiss Daniel’s 4Dayz video is beautiful but it still leaves question about his gender politics

Mr Eazi debuts “London Town” and “Overload”, the lead singles from his forthcoming mixtape

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Mr Eazi described his last album Lagos To Accra as tribute to how the two cities have received him and his music since his inception. In an interview with Julie Adenuga, the singer said he had been shuffling between London, Lagos and Accra and found that the latter two are where he found his most fans. It’s hardly a surprise though since even he admits that it’s those two cities that influenced his sound the most. Upon the success of ‘Life of Eazi Vol. 1: Accra to Lagos’, Mr Eazi is ready with his second project, titled ‘Life of Eazi Vol. 2: Lagos to London’, debuting two new singles from the coming EP.

Having spent the time between the two mixtapes touring the world and recalibrating the business side of his brand – he recently inked two distribution deals for Banku Music – Eazi is getting back to the music.

If the EP’s title is any sort of guide, Mr Eazi may have dropped his Ghanaian influences to incorporate some of the grimy sound of London. But after listening to the Giggs assisted “London Town”, Mr Eazi’s fusion of Ghanaian Highlife and Nigerian Chord progressions and melody, described as Banku music, promises that his sound remains representative of all his influences while adding another brick to the bridge connecting London and Nigerian radio.

“Overload” however sees the singer try his hand with a Shaku-style track, backed by production from E-Kelly. Slimcase and Mr Real feature on the mid-tempo dance number, and this is sure to go off at the next dance.

You can stream “London Town” and “Overload” below.


Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Mreazi

“Tomiwa is figuring it out…” Tweet at her @fauxbella

Mr Eazi signs licensing deal with Columbia records, UK

Listen to Ceeza Milli’s new single, “Yapa”

Posted on by The Native

After growing up on the duelling bombast of classics R&B pop of the ’90s and Wizkid’s early hits, Ceeza Milli developed a penchant for writing sultry Afropop songs. “Yapa”, his latest single, is one of his best. Thanks to the mid-tempo harmonies Kel P produces with alluring guitar harmonies, percussion, drums and vocals sample that seem to have been ripped from Nelly and Kelly’s “Dilemma”, the single has a sensual feel that makes it endearing in ways people don’t associate with Afropop.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi7gOQ5nyaX/?taken-by=ceezamilli

Over the enthralling beat, Ceeza Milli tries to win a love interest’s affection by bragging about his acclaim; “Super Star Baby, You Already Know”. But it’s his vocals, reminiscent of Wizkid’s and the catchy beat that makes the song so convincingly airwarming.

Stream Ceeza Milli’s “Yapa” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ceezamilli

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Watch the video for “Soco” featuring Wizkid, Ceeza Milli, Spotless and Terri

Niniola and Busiswa channel black girl magic for “Magun” remix

Posted on by The Native

For a people with as diverse cultures and languages, music has proven to be an imperial building block for the vision of a border-less Africa. Like a number of other artists, Niniola’s tap into Pan-Africanism through her works with on songs like “Let Them Talk” with Heavy K and Ntombi, “Till the end” with Kagwe and now a remix of “Magun”, featuring the voluptuous Busiswa.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi4QnYyh5Uu/?hl=en&taken-by=busiswaah

Produced by Sarz, who had produced the original “Magun” off Niniola’s album debut, ‘This Is Me’, Niniola and Busiswa appear intent to tease as much havoc as they possibly can. Busiswa alternating between Xhosa and English introduces an audacious and unabashed energy into Niniola’s teasingly seductive direction on “Magun”.

Listen to “Magun” here;

https://soundcloud.com/user-939967712/niniola-magun-remix-ft-busiswa

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/officialniniola

Watch the video for DJ Maphorisa, DJ Shimza and Moonchild Sanelly’s “Makhe”

Posted on by The Native

At the release of DJ Maphorisa and DJ Shimza’s ‘Gqom Wave‘ album in 2017, the South African house music movement tagged, Gqom had already started diffusing into other regions across the continent, making it into a sort of unofficial club anthem. The sound has simultaneously spurred a number of dedicated dance steps like ‘Gwara gwara’ and ‘Shaku Shaku’ designed almost specifically to the electronic rhythm.

“Makhe”, one of the tracks off DJ Maphorisa and DJ Shimza’s ‘Gqom Wave‘ album featuring Moonchild Sanelly just got a video treatment that highlights the wide scope of Gqom’s potency on dancefloors. Moonchild Sanelly, DJ Maphorisa and DJ Shimza are joined by dancers who dance to the synth-led beat and perform several dance moves from within and outside the continent. The video manages to blend Moonchild Sanelly’s catchy melody and her outlandish costume in the song’s anti-rape message.

Watch the video for “Makhe” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/DJMaphorisaVEVO

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: NATIVE picks Moonchild Sanelly and 7 other artists you should be listening to right now

Sex positivity is the theme of Tiwa Savage’s “LabaLaba”

Posted on by The Native

Through her music, Tiwa Savage has continued to debunk the notion that a woman needs to be convinced to express her sexual desires. On Di’Ja’s “The Way You Are” both singers celebrate their sexuality simply by expressing it, and since then, Tiwa has gone on to add songs like “Get it down” to her pool of body and sexual positive music. Her new song “LabaLaba” is her latest addition to the collection.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi6aXk8AXAs/?taken-by=tiwasavage

“Laba Laba” translates to Butterfly and through the song, Tiwa displays her sexual freedom by drawing parallels between herself and the life of a butterfly. “Omo e don tey wey i dey buzz you/I dey busy I dey hustle”, she begins explaining that she is a working woman who has sexual urges sometimes. “When I get this feeling, I want sexual healing”, and she only wants it from him because he’s “the sweetest”. 

Listen to Tiwa Savage’s “Labalaba” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/tiwasavage

Watch the video for RAYE’s “Confidence” featuring Maleek Berry

Posted on by The Native

Earlier this month, RAYE announced the release of her latest project, ‘Side Tape‘, a six-track EP featuring stellar artists like Mr Eazi, Stefflon Don, Maleek Berry, Kojo Funds and a host of others. The British singer announced the release via Twitter, also asking fans to watch out for  “Crew” and “Confidence”, her favourite tracks on the EP.

RAYE’s fondness for “Confidence” may have fueled her decision to start off what we hope would be an array of videos for this EP. Though the video does not feature Maleek Berry or the producer, Nana Rogues, their presence is felt in the one-man dance piece and RAYE’s lips moving along to the lyrics.

For “Confidence”, Walid Labri directs a plain sailing video that begins and ends with RAYE dancing in a room by herself. As she dances around the room and in front of a mirror, RAYE assertively tells “African Man” about what exactly she’s looking for. “Confidence” may remind of the enthralling dance moves seen in the movie ‘Dirty Dancing’ and Cassy’s winsome video for “Me & U” 

Watch RAYE’s “Confidence” here:

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Raye/VEVO

“Tomiwa is figuring it out…” Tweet at her @fauxxbella

Not3s and Maleek Berry leave haters a message on new single “Sit Back Down”

Listen to Vader’s new single, “Not Famous”

Posted on by The Native

If you’ve ever wondered what happens to winners on music competition shows after the spotlight fades, Vader’s new single, “Not Famous”, offers some insight that may be shocking—if only for it’s candidness.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BipJ4FvlvxX/?hl=en&taken-by=vaderthewildcard

Over a mid-tempo beat Nano produces, mixing hip-hop’s bouncy drum and bass thud with traditional drums, percussion and horns, the Hennessy VS Class 2017 winner explains and indulges in the minutiae of how little his life has changed since emerging as the most promising Nigerian rapper. The somber instrumental gives the song an air of severity that makes his grievance with his lack of recognition crushing, but he manages to keep things light with an offhand sense of humor; “Why Should I Be Talking Bout Haters, Nobody Gives A Damn About Vader”.

At it’s best, “Not Famous” crosses goofy wordplay with a satirical eye for the current conversation on Nigerian’s seemingly cold shoulder to hip-hop. By giving such an earnest depiction of his life since winning the prestigious hip-hop competition, his commentary on the climate is both eyeopening and touching. But mostly impressive because rather than lamenting the situation, he seems to find inspiration in his current obscurity; “Good Part is No One Asks For Hands Out”. 

Listen to Vader’s “Not Famous” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/vaderthewildcard

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Watch all the teams that slugged it out at this year’s Hennessy Cypher

Listen to WavyTheCreator’s “Shaku”

Posted on by The Native

As electronic music continues to seed into Africa’s mainstream from Johanessburg to Lagos, the lines between what is considered “streets” and the elevated urban culture will continue to blur. WavyTheCreator’s latest single, “Shaku”, offers a glimpse of what that inflexion will look like, lending inspiration from the popular Afro-house sound dance infused with her soulfully altered vocals about “dancing the night away”. Laced with trippy dance drums, ambient synths and pianos, the message at the core of “Shaku”, seems simple enough, even in the vapid emptiness of our existence, true beauty is in the simple things like a dance move we can all enjoy no matter what side of continent you are from.

Stream WavyTheCreator’s “Shaku”

BOJ and Ajebutter 22 release “Make E No Cause Fight”

Posted on by The Native

Given that both artists only just debuted projects last year, it may be premature to immediately expect another full solo body of work from either of them in this age of digital releases. Make E No Cause Fight, embellishes the synergy of more ambitious full-length joint projects, in a good way. This is why the 5-track offering almost feels too short. However, between pseudo-romantic musings and trap-inclined party starters, both collaborators make the short run time count.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi7LiXzH3za/?hl=en&taken-by=ajebutter22

The tape’s Apple Music description reads aptly, “Five tracks of buttery, slow-wind goodness”. And from the opening track to the last, BOJ and Ajebutter 22 maintain a mid-tempo groove backed by production from Spaz, EKelly, and Studio Magic. Both artists have proven to be quite the harmonious pair with their pseudo-alternative take on Afropop, heard on previous singles like “Omo Pastor”. But their latest collaborative effort is more expansive, allowing them cover several themes like supernatural favor on opening track, “24”, something for the lovers on “Tungba” and an hustler’s anthem on Teezee assisted closing track, “Amala”. ‘Make E No Cause Fight’ also features additional vocals from Tay Iwar on the pre-released lead single, “Yawa”, though it’s not nearly as prominent as Teezee’s.

You can stream BOJ and Ajebutter 22’s ‘Make E No Cause Fight‘ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ajebutter22

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: You can read all about the pre-released lead single for BOJ and Ajebutter’s ‘Make E No Cause Fight’ EP, “Yawa”, here

Wizkid has been silently reclaiming the homefront in the last few months

Posted on by The Native

In the perpetual turn of the spotlight wheel for Afropop stars in Nigeria, no artist is sacred—not even Wizkid. The Starboy’s fans will say otherwise but returning from a world tour in 2016 to run his RCA album campaign in 2o17 took him away from home for far too long. Rising to international fame on the steam of  “One Dance”, allowed him to venture into American soundscape with his ‘Sounds From the Other Side‘ album, but it came at the cost of his lockdown of the homefront.

While music pundits anticipated the RCA recording deal will force Wizkid’s releases to become few and far between, that wasn’t to be the case. It merely led to a more experimental sound from Wizkid than Nigerian fans could take, leaving just his familiar vocals and charisma to make it convincingly Nigerian. But over the last few months since the album’s release, Wizkid has doubled down on connecting with home fans again, releasing music under his Starboy label’s imprint.

“Medicine”, his first release, just a couple of weeks after the album dropped, features tin-pan drums popularly referred to as ‘pon-pon’. Thanks to the beat Masterkraft produces, fusing ambient synths with the Afropop drums that had become the rave following hits mimicking Tekno’s “Pana”, Wizkid was presented as being in tune with the local zeitgeist. He quickly followed that with “Odoo”, also produced by Masterkraft as they continued to push a local sounding Wizkid.

Though “Medicine” and “Odoo” were given the attention deserving of Wizkid’s releases, local fans couldn’t shake off that subtle indifference they had developed since Wizkid’s outlook turned global. Releasing “Everytime” next with a feature from Future sure didn’t help either, despite the uniqueness of their unexpected chemistry. It wasn’t till the release of “Manya” in November that Wizkid seemed to really hit gold with the interpolation of VIP’s 2003 hit single, “Ahomka Womu”. And even then, it was first met with skepticism till the video’s release, showing Wizkid partying at the Fela memorial African Shrine. Something about the bold embrace of his local influences made the song exponentially more affecting and led Wizkid into a career renaissance.

The Starboy team quickly queued up “Soco” featuring guest verses from Wizkid, Terri, Ceeza Milli and Spotless. The single dropped just weeks after Wizkid had been on Twitter, promising fans a new album and hinted that the sound would be closer to home than ‘Sounds From The Other Side’. And as promised, “Soco” is reminiscent of the good ol’ days, a subtle Baba Nla’s flex to show off Wizkid’s prominence on the soundscape

Having scored two back to back hits with what seemed to be effortless throwaways, Wizkid was now returning to past glory. And what better way to go than to release a pseudo ‘Twitter project’, promoted almost solely via his tweets. Wizkid doesn’t need a major label’s backing to realise his music goals, especially in Nigeria, when he can take advantage of his 4 million followers and have the song go viral on social media.

His latest Starboy release, “Fake Love”, featuring himself and Duncan Mighty is not only a great Afropop song, it also maintains Wizkid’s connection with his roots. The Duncan Mighty feature is a sharp contrast from last year when the Starboy still had his international campaign running through Drake’s contribution on “Come Closer”. Though both songs were well accepted by fans, “Come Closer” didn’t have the nostalgic tone that makes “Fake Love” so intimate for Wizkid fans.

If the goal for SFTOS was to reach a new audience, Wizkid has spent the last couple of months using his Starboy music group to appease the bruised ego of jilted fans. Perhaps somewhere along the line, he realized he’s better off staying true to his local sound, or it’s all just PR for an album targeted at a local audience. We may never know for sure. But the Starboy is back to his roots, where it all started and we can’t wait to see what he has in store.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/wizkidayo

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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Read the NATIVE Essentials for Wizkid’s 4-track project

See the trailer for this goofy new film by Emeka Kachikwu, “Boss of All Bosses”

Posted on by The Native

Bad bosses are the worst, aren’t they? I wouldn’t know myself (thankfully), but my neighbour, Martin, once described his as a blood-sucking demon who terrorised his life. My cool friend would see his boss’ name pop up on his phone screen and have a panic attack. Emeka Kachikwu’s new film, “Boss of All Bosses” is a satire of those terrible office situations when your boss is particularly evil.

Tony, an obnoxious managing director of an oil and gas company, is the ‘Boss Of All Bosses’ in Emeka Kachikwu’s film. Tony somehow finessed his way into running the company the way he likes until the CEO of the company returns, and his joy ride is finally put to a halt.

Comedic as the trailer promises it to be, “Boss of All Bosses” touches on toxic masculinity, sexual harassment in the office, and inhospitable work environments. We hope that these issues don’t get attenuated like Nollywood likes to do sometimes, but we’ll know for sure when its released on the 15th of June.

Watch the trailer for “Boss of All Bosses” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/

Check out the trailer for forthcoming documentary, “Journey Of An African Colony; The Making Of Nigeria”

Posted on by The Native

It is always a bit of a struggle piecing the history or Nigeria pre-colonial times together. We do our best to piece the information taught by students of history, books we stumble on from that period and what our parents and grandparents may recall. But with the growth of the information distribution, it’s easier to exchange materials and stories, making it easier to piece our history holistically. Nigerian Social Entrepreneur, Olasupo Shasore, SAN, intends to add to this pool of information with a new documentary.

https://twitter.com/suposhasore/status/995013024435068928

Titled “Journey of an African Colony; The Making Of Nigeria”, the documentary is modelled after Olasupo Shasore’s book, “A Platter of Gold; Making Nigeria”. Like the book, the film promises to bring suppressed truths about Nigeria’s history to light, to tell the stories of the real heroes, the riots that were fought and survived, and the history of Nigeria’s growth from colonization. It also promises to debunk myths about Nigeria and our history and replace them with the truth. Not only will he show us what Nigeria was and what it has come to be, he will also touch on the history of Africa in relation to the rest of the world.

Olasupo Shasore is a writer, historian, commercial lawyer, and former Attorney-General of Lagos State. There’s currently no official release date for  “Journey of an African Colony; The Making Of Nigeria”, but we can watch the trailer in anticipation here:

Featured Image Credits: Vimeo/Nemsia Studios

6 videos you should see this week

Posted on by The Native

Slim Case – “MTV Base Nigeria Freestyle”

Slim Case has become the face of street music’s renaissance in Nigeria. Off a handful of features on hit street-pop releases like Idowest’s “Shepeteri” and D’banj’s “Issa Banga”, his distinctly slurry vocals quickly became popular and instantly recognizable heard from all the features, with his humors take on the street lifestyle. Recently, he featured on MTV Base Africa’s  Official Naija Top 10, where he delivered a freestyle over a Maleek Berry produced beat. His mixture of Yoruba and English bars are introspective, revealing his street reality and his hip-hop influence.

Craig David – “Magic” Feat. Yxng Bane

Craig David just released the video for the opening track, “Magic”, from his ‘The Time Is Now‘ album, released at the start of the year. The new video features a guest verse from Yxng Bane and well choreographer dance sequence from the featured dancers who dance to the glossy pop song. Against a sleek backdrop with lighten effect, they all groove to the energetic blend of 90s R&B pop and the new sound on UK radio. And if you pay attention to the dance routine, you’ll notice a shaku shaku inspired dance move, so keep a look out.

Victoria Kimani – “Wonka”

The video for Victoria Kimani’s “Wonka” in inspired by her raunchy lyrics. Shot with a jungle themed setting, the Kenyan singer is seen in a leopard print attire, accompanied by a well built and tattooed model who dances and watches her performs over the Gospelondebeatz produced track. Just like the song, the video also contains some suggestive sexual metaphors like the monkey and the banana imagery. “Wonka” is the lead single from Victoria Kimani’s coming album, ‘AFROPOLITAN‘, set for release on the 18th of May.

Kyle – “Playinwitme” Feat Kehlani

Kyle’s ‘Light of Mine’ album debut is also due on the 18th of May and he just released the video for “Playinwitme”, the album’s lead single featuring Kehlani. The video is a parody of ’80s/’90s dating show, “The Dating Game” directed by Colin Tilley. He casts Kyle and Kehlani in the game, trying to win the affection of Bianca (Amara Vayder) through a series of competitions like ‘Question and Answer’, ‘Surfs Up’ and ‘Dance Off’, but she eventual picks her date through a blindfold game, leaving both Kyle and Kehlani for the nerdy third contestant. Just like the video for Kyle’s break out single from 2 summers ago, “iSpy”, the video for “Playinwitme” is colorful and cheerful, only more humorous and derivative.

Phyno “Onyeoma” Feat. Olamide

Coming up with new videos for each hit song must be a bother for artists like Phyno and Olamide, with the good run they’ve had with their music releases. The strain to keep up the good quality for their visuals to match their songs may have started to tell as they latest collaboration, “Onyeoma” has a rather interesting concept. The video starts off showing both artists exchanging ideas for the song’s video but after some back and forth, eventually decide their best bet is to leave it to the fans to come up with a video on social media. The result is a collage of skits reflecting the money spraying sentiments heard on the song.

Trailer “Deadpool 2”

Set to debut in cinemas around the world on the 18th of May, Marvel’s favorite anti-hero, Deadpool, is set to return for a thrilling second part of his film. If you’ve seen the first “Deadpool” film, you may already know you’re in for some bloody violence, comical fourth wall breaking and more swearing than can ease the pain from smashing your toe against a table. Wade Wilson is reunited with his girlfriend but has a new mission that requires him to create a team called the X-Force. They’ll go up against Cable who seems badass (*Deadpool Interjects* “But what’s a badass when you have some sweet buttcheeks like these”). Really looking forward to seeing that. I mean the film.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/20th Century Fox

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Listen to Boyewa’s “Blood Is On D Flo Demo” before he takes it down

Mr Eazi Signs licensing deal with Columbia Records, UK

Posted on by The Native

Whether you make visual art or music, foreign licensing is important and insanely lucrative for business. Mr Eazi is undoubtedly tapping into this honey pot as relentlessly as he can muster the will to. Signing a record deal with Mad Decent, a record label owned by Major Lazer’s DJ Diplo and also a licensing deal with Universal Africa, before signing another licensing deal with Columbia records is the cherry on top of the events that have trailed the announcement of his new project, ‘Lagos to London’, a  sequel to the ‘Life Is Eazi: Accra to Lagos’ EP.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Biyo0rch7rn/?hl=en&taken-by=mreazi

Eazi is making all the strategic moves to ensure that his upcoming project is A1.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Biy67uKhIui/?taken-by=columbiauk

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/MrEazi

Davido and Tiwa Savage are nominated for BET awards

Posted on by The Native

Davido and Tiwa Savage have been announced as nominations for the “Best International Act, Music” category at the BET music awards. This is not the first time either one would be nominated though. In 2014 Davido won a BET international award which Tiwa Savage was also enlisted for. He was also nominated in the same category in 2016, along with Tekno and Mr Eazi, and Wizkid, who won the award.

But this year is a little different. In the past, the International award category was split into UK and Africa. The has been changed to accommodate acts from everywhere outside the United States. While this integration gives room for universality, it means the artists are paired from all regions in the world, except America.

Davido and Tiwa Savage are nominated in the category along with equally notable acts such as Cassper Nyovest from South Africa, Booba from France, Stormzy and J Hus from UK.

The 2018 BET Awards is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 25, 2018 at the Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, United States. See the full list of nominees below.

Best International Act Award

Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
Booba (France)
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Davido (Nigeria)
Dadju (France)
Distruction Boyz (South Africa)
J Hus (UK)
Niska (France)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Stefflon Don (UK)
Stormzy (UK)

Best Female R&B / Pop Artist Award

Beyoncé
SZA
H.E.R.
Rihanna
Kehlani

Best Male R&B / Pop Artist Award

Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
The Weeknd
Khalid
Daniel Caesar

Best Group Award

Migos
A Tribe Called Quest
N*E*R*D
Rae Sremmurd
Chloe x Halle

Best Collaboration Award

Bruno Mars f/ Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
DJ Khaled f/ Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
DJ Khaled f/ Jay Z, Future & Beyoncé – “Top Off”
Cardi B f/ 21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi”
French Montana f/ Swae Lee – “Unforgettable”
Kendrick Lamar f/ Rihanna – “Loyalty”

Best Male Hip Hop Artist Award

Drake
Kendrick Lamar
DJ Khaled
Jay Z
J. Cole

Best Female Hip Hop Artist Award

Cardi B
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Dej Loaf
Rapsody

Video of the Year Award 

Drake – “God’s Plan”
Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow”
Bruno Mars f/ Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
DJ Khaled f/ Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
Kendrick Lamar – “Humble”
Migos f/ Drake – “Walk It Talk It”

Video Director of the Year Award 

Benny Boom
Director X
Ava DuVernay
Chris Brown
Dave Meyers

Best New Artist Award 
SZA
H.E.R.
Daniel Caesar
GoldLink
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award 
Lecrae f/ Tory Kelly – “I’ll Find You”
Snoop Dogg f/ B Slade – “Words Are Few”
Ledisi and Kirk Franklin – “If You Don’t Mind”
Marvin Sapp – “Close”
Tasha Cobbs Leonard f/ Nicki Minaj – “I’m Getting Ready”

Best Actress Award
Tiffany Haddish
Lupita Nyong’o
Issa Rae
Angela Bassett
Letitia Wright
Taraji P. Henson

Best Actor Award 
Chadwick Boseman
Michael B. Jordan
Donald Glover
Sterling K. Brown
Denzel Washington
Daniel Kaluuya

Young Stars Award
Yara Shahidi
Ashton Tyler
Caleb McLaughlin
Lonnie Chavis
Marsai Martin
Miles Brown

Best Movie Award
Black Panther
Girls Trip
A Wrinkle in Time
Detroit
Mudbound

Sportswoman of the Year Award
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Candace Parker
Elana Meyers Taylor

Sportsman of the Year Award 
Stephen Curry
LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Dwyane Wade
Odell Beckham Jr.

Album of the Year Award
Kendrick Lamar – Damn
SZA – Ctrl
Jay Z – 4:44
Migos – Culture II
Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists – Black Panther: The Album
DJ Khaled – Grateful

BET Her Award
Janelle Monáe – “Django Jane”
Lizzo – “Water Me”
Mary J. Blige – “Strength of a Woman”
Remy Ma f/ Chris Brown – “Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)”
Chloe x Halle – “The Kids Are Alright”
Leikeli47 – “2nd Fiddle”

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
SZA f/ Travis Scott – “Love Galore”
Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow”
Kendrick Lamar – “Humble”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Migos f/ Nicki Minaj and Cardi B – “MotorSport”
DJ Khaled f/ Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”

 Featured Image Credits: Instagram/BETAwards

“Tomiwa is figuring it out…” Tweet at her @fauxxbella

The Shuffle: Revisiting how Davido damned the underdog story with “Dami Duro”