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  • Everything To Know About the “Americanah” TV Show We Never Watched 

    2013 was famous for many things — Beyoncé dropped her self-titled album like a thief in the night, Don Jazzy and Wande Coal went through a musical divorce, and 2Baba married Annie Idibia — but the moment that stood out was the release of Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah after a four-year drought. 

    And today, exactly ten years after Chimamanda introduced us to Ifemelu and Obinze, we’re looking at the film/TV show adaptation that didn’t happen. Who was behind it? What did Brad Pitt have to do with the whole project? And what went wrong? 

    Let’s start. 

    Lupita Nyong’o acquired rights to the book in 2014 and was supposed to play Ifemelu. 

    Source: Variety

    Anyone who’s read Americanah knows the chokehold it can have on an individual, and Lupita Nyong’o was no exception. The actress read the book when it came out in 2013 and immediately contacted Chimamanda for the rights to turn it into a movie. Not long after, 12 Years a Slave got Lupita an Oscar, and let’s just say she became Hollywood hotcake. Chimamanda gave her blessings, and Lupita set her sights on playing our beloved Ifemelu. 

    David Oyelowo as Obinze? Inject It 

    Source: Popsugar

    Before rocking the Martin Luther King moustache in Selma, British-Nigerian actor, David Oyelowo, was announced as Obinze, Ifemelu’s love interest in Americanah. Did someone say, “Dream casting”? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves because there’s more Obinze gist on the way. 

    Americanah would’ve been a Black Panther reunion 

    Source: NBC

    Remember when everyone and their grandmother started shouting, “Wakanda Forever”, after the first Black Panther dropped in 2018? With the movie becoming a huge part of the culture, it was announced that Danai Gurira, who played General Okoye, would join her Black Panther sister on Americanah. Rather than taking on an acting role, Danai was hired to adapt the book for film. Yes, she’s an award-winning writer too. Bet you didn’t know that. 

    No longer a movie, now an HBO show 

    Source: HBO 

    Right after Danai Gurira was hired to adapt Americanah, the format changed from a full-length movie to a 10-episode TV show for HBO Max. HBO previously gave us Game of Thrones, The Wire, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Euphoria and Insecure, so we knew Americanah was about to slap harder than the small chops at a wedding reception. 

    RECOMMENDED: TV Shows You Shouldn’t Watch with Your Parents

    Brand new Obinze and a star-studded cast 

    Source: Brittle Paper

    With a new format and massive studio backing the project, Americanah went all out with the casting. David Oyelowo dropped out as Obinze due to scheduling issues and Zachary Momoh from Harriet replaced him. Rounding up the TV show’s cast were Corey Hawkins from The Walking Dead as Blaine, and Uzo Aduba from Orange is the New Black as Aunty Uju. 

    What did Brad Pitt have to do with everything? 

    Source: The Today Show 

    I know what you’re thinking, thee Brad Pitt? Like, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston’s former man who also happens to be an actor? Yep. Brad Pitt was also on the Americanah train as one of the show’s producers. Besides being an award-winning actor, Brad Pitt do usually produce movies. He worked on Moonlight, The Departed and If Beale Street Could Talk. 

    Lupita and Danai visited Nigeria 

    Source: Lupita’s Instagram
    Source: Brittle Paper 

    Since Americanah is a Nigerian story, with most of the scenes set in Nigeria, it made sense that both Lupita and Danai visited Lagos in 2018 to research and location-scout for the TV show. Lupita, AKA Lupinwa (her Igbo name from now on), came back to Lagos before the pandemic in 2020 and hung out with Chimamanda, Dakore Akande, Omoni Oboli, Flavour, Jola and FK, Onyeka Onwenu and Lala Akindoju. A moment in time. 

    Miss Rona, you will crummbleeee

    Source: Imgflip

    Americanah had a killer cast, a badass writer, a popular TV studio and a powerful producer behind it, but nothing could’ve prepared the project for the COVID-19 pandemic. Shooting on location in Nigeria, America and the UK were suspended indefinitely. 

    Lupita is booked and busy

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

    Yes, lockdown is over, and everyone is hugging with nary a face mask in sight. So why haven’t they come back to the Americanah project yet? Well, word on the street is Lupita is booked and very busy. The actress had to shoot Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as soon as lockdown wrapped up, and now, she’s part of the new installation of A Quiet Place. She could no longer commit to shooting, and HBO said, “No Lupita, no Americanah.” 

    HBO, haba. Sis, let’s pause and think about this. 

    There’s still hope 

    Although HBO has cancelled Americanah, it doesn’t mean we’ll never see the project as a TV show or movie. Lupita still has the rights, so when her plate is less full, she might return to it. HBO isn’t the only TV network in the world. Let’s keep our fingers crossed on one hand and hold our anointing oil on the other. 

    ALSO READ: These 7 African Books Need to Be Adapted Into Film ASAP

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

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  • 10 Moments Nigerians Who Watched “Avatar 2” Can Totally Relate To

    After making audiences wait 13 whole years, James Cameron has finally graced cinemas with his presence with the sequel to his 2009 hit, Avatar. 

    Avatar: The Way of Water picks up over a decade after the events of the first film as we head back to the alien planet of Pandora to catch up with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and their children, Kiri, Neteyam, Lo’ak, Tuk and Spider. 

    While Avatar: The Way of Water was incredible to see, you can’t help but have some deep thoughts while watching it in glorious 3D. 

    The moment you realise the film is over three hours long 

    Why is anyone making a film over three hours long in the year of our lord 2023? Bollywood is the only industry granted this right, and even Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was shorter than Avatar: The Way of Water. 

    Time is money, James Cameron. Don’t try this again. 

    The moment you realise you really should’ve rewatched part one first

    Yes, I made the same mistake of thinking I’d remember everything that happened in a film I saw only once, way back in 2009. I was wrong. While it’s possible to watch Avatar: The Way of Water without seeing the original blockbuster, having a refreshed memory of what happened on Pandora before makes the entire movie experience so much better. Trust me. 

    The moment you realise it’s about what it’s makers did to Nigerians

    White men killing natives and mining their resources for selfish reasons — can somebody grab the mic and shout “colonisation”? While the first Avatar disguised itself as a film about environmentalism, a large part of Avatar: The Way of Water’s story actually focuses on colonialism. It’s hard to watch the film and not feel a certain way about the evil white men perpetrate daily. We see you, colonisers. 

    The moment you realise this isn’t the Avatar: The Last Airbender remake we’ve been praying for 

    I believe everyone who went in expecting to see a bald boy with an arrow on his head was grossly disappointed. Next time, watch the trailer or read about a movie before you buy tickets and end up confused.  

    The moment you realise Avatar: The Way of Water is just Wakanda Forever but with taller blue people 

    Blue people who can breathe underwater, colonisers trying to mine a sacred substance for capitalism and a tribe hidden from the rest of the world. Please, tell me it doesn’t sound a lot like the premise of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with Namor, the Talocans and vibranium? The big whale-like animals in Avatar: The Way of Water are called Tulkuns. Fascinating coincidence if you ask me. 

    RECOMMENDED: 8 Cool Things You Missed While Watching “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

    The moment you realise Avatar: The Way of Water is just Titanic, but with blue people 

    Am I the only one who felt a weird sense of déja vu when the ship started to sink in Avatar: The Way of Water? That entire sequence, and the Sully family trying to escape, gave serious Jack and Rose vibes. Maybe I’m reading into it too much because it’s the same director, but oh well. 

    The moment you realise there’ll be a third Avatar film

    It seems affliction will rise again next year with another possibly three-hour-long Avatar film. As a matter of fact, we still have three more Avatar movies on the way, so we’ll be visiting Pandora until the fifth one, scheduled to drop in December 2028. 

    The moment you realise unlike Marvel, Avatar doesn’t have an end credits scene 

    Did you sit through the end credits hoping another scene would pop up? Well, you’re not alone. I sat there like a fool, and honestly, I blame Marvel for spoiling us with end-credit scenes so much that we now expect them from every franchise. 

    The moment you realise Zoe Saldana has spent the whole of 2022 crying hot tears 

    After crying over her husband in From Scratch, Zoe Saldana painted herself blue and flew into the Avatar: The Way of Water world to continue wailing. When will my good sis catch a break? I’m worried. 

    The moment you realise maybe you don’t want kids anymore 

    The entire plot of Avatar: The Way of Water revolves around Jake and Neyteri’s quest to save their children from all the wahala they willingly strolled into. I couldn’t help but think of how much simpler our faves’ lives would’ve been if they had chosen to use birth control and avoid tiny blue alien babies.

    ALSO READ: 9 Times We Wanted to Fight Puleng From “Blood and Water” For Being Chaotic AF

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

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  • 8 Cool Things You Missed While Watching “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is out, and I can’t keep calm about it. One of the most anticipated films of 2022, this sequel manages to be action-packed and grounded in emotion at the same time. Between the drama and fight scenes, here are some moments you might’ve missed watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 

    Shuri and Killmonger have similar Black Panther suits 

    Shuri and Killmonger have a lot in common, being two people who became Black Panthers out of a desire to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. A cool move the film made to point to this similarity is seen in the design of Shuri’s suit. Just like Killmonger’s, hers has gold details, while her brother, T’Challa’s suit had silver details. 

    The film’s reference to Chadwick’s actual death 

    Chadwick Boseman’s death in 2020 was a massive surprise to his fans and most of the Black Panther cast. The actor allegedly hid his colon cancer diagnosis from everyone on set and worked through the pain. Referencing this silence in a scene between Shuri and Namor, Shuri mentions her brother “suffered in silence” and didn’t reach out to her for help until it was too late. 

    Ironheart and Iron Man have more in common than you think 

    Yes, Riri Williams is set to replace the massive iron-sized hole in our hearts after Tony Stark, a.k.a Iron Man, died in Avengers: Endgame. But did you also notice she’s a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) student, just like Stark was, as revealed in Captain America: Civil War? Fun educational fact. 

    Chadwick Boseman’s real birthday makes an appearance 

    In a blink-and-you-’ll-miss-it moment, Wakanda Forever references Chadwick Boseman’s birthday towards the end of the film, when Okoye rescues Agent Ross. If you look closely at the plate number of the car he’s locked in, you’ll see the plate number “CB112976”, a direct reference to Chadwick’s birthday — November 19, 1976. 

    RECOMMENDED: 7 Must Listen Songs on the New Black Panther Soundtrack

    Guess the comedian who voices Shuri’s AI, Griot? 

    If your money was on The Daily Show Host, Trevor Noah, you’re absolutely correct. 

    Namor might signal the arrival of the X-Men 

    While sharing the backstory of how he became the Serpent King, Namor refers to himself as a mutant, a term that isn’t common in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But with X-Men moving into the MCU space just like Spiderman did, Namor’s statement might imply that Marvel Studios is ready to fully explore their mutant characters moving forward. 

    Is M’Baku a vegetarian for real? 

    One funny scene from the first Black Panther was when M’Baku threatened to feed Agent Ross to his children before revealing he was joking because his family are vegetarians. In Wakanda Forever, we see M’Baku eating carrots at least twice during the film, which might hint he’s actually vegetarian. 

    References to the upcoming Antman film 

    While it was cool to have actual CNN anchorman Anderson Cooper break most of the fictional news on TV in Wakanda Forever, his presence might’’ve distracted you from reading the headlines on the screen. In one scene, while announcing Queen Ramonda’s death, we can see a headline that references Scott Lang, AKA Antman, stating that the superhero is now a celebrity based on his memoir. This seems random, but since the next Marvel film is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantomania, I doubt it’s a coincidence. 

    Shuri remembers M’Baku’s diss 

    Shuri never forgets. In a tender scene between the new Black Panther and M’Baku after her mother’s burial, Shuri reminds the towering M’Baku of the time he referred to her as a “child who scoffs at tradition”. However, things are good between them, as M’Baku advises Shuri against succumbing to her grief and thirst for revenge. 

    ALSO READ: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Is Great, But Some Things Are Off

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

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  • “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Is Great, But Some Things Are Off

    When Marvel‘s Black Panther premiered in February 2018, it was more than just a superhero movie; it was a cultural movement. In a time when audiences were getting tired of the Marvel formula of replacing creative risks with unnecessary jokes (and let’s not forget the lineup of superheroes that looked like the cast of Friends), Black Panther was visually vibrant, epic and far removed from the overly manufactured stories we’d come to know Marvel for. 

    Making over $1 billion worldwide, and almost ₦1 billion in Nigeria, Black Panther was a massive success. And just like everyone else, I was excited about a sequel. Then the film’s lead actor, Chadwick Boseman, passed away in 2020, leaving a massive void in the Black Panther world, and honestly, in the real world as well. 

    Arriving as one of the year’s most anticipated films, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had huge shoes to fill. It had to deal with the passing of its lead character on screen, follow the Marvel formula of being bigger than its predecessor in every way possible, meet the expectation of Black people, who have placed the first one on a pedestal, and still lay the groundwork for at least two or three upcoming Marvel films/TV shows. 

    That’s too much for one film. 

    In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, we meet the women T’challa, aka Black Panther, left behind. His sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright) is dealing with her inability to save her brother despite being one of the brightest minds in the Marvel universe. Okoye (Danai Gurirra), the ever-loyal Dora Milaje leader (who M’baku calls a “bald demon” in one hilarious scene), is focused on physically protecting her country. While Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), T’Challa’s mother, is forced to quickly deal with her grief, assume the throne and protect Wakanda from colonisers trying to steal vibranium. 

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also introduces Namor (Tenoch Huerta), the king of Talokan, an underwater city rich in, wait for it, vibranium. After the US develops a vibranium-detecting machine that brings them close to his people, Talokan gets pissed and kills them. But that’s not enough for this demi-god who can swim and fly. He also makes his way to Wakanda and demands that Queen Ramonda bring the scientist who made this vibranium machine to him. If not, he’d be more than happy to deal with Wakanda and its people. 

    RECOMMENDED: ​​7 Must Listen Songs on the New Black Panther Soundtrack

    Namor’s introduction into the story is great, but it also sends it down a path that’s all too familiar for Marvel fans. While the first Black Panther was contained and dealt with the story of it’s main characters without the interference of the outside Marvel world, the mission to find this scientist pushes the story into the regular “we must introduce a character from our upcoming film/ TV show”  pattern. In comes Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), aka Ironheart (from the upcoming Ironheart TV show, duh). 

    Don’t get me wrong, I love all the Riris in Wakanda’s world, including Rihanna, but Riri Williams is introduced as the new teenage comic relief now that Shuri is too busy dealing with grief to be funny. We also spend too much time with CIA agent, Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), and his ex-wife/CIA boss, Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Their dispute is cute but does nothing to push the story along. Also, the fewer colonisers I see on my screen, the better. The unnecessary funny scenes with these characters take away from time that could’ve been spent focusing on building Namor’s world a bit more. 

    We’re introduced to the Talokan city after Shuri offers herself as a living sacrifice to Namor (a guy who looks like that, I’d be a sacrifice too, for sure), but it feels brief. Outside of Namor, the other Talokans don’t feel fully developed beyond being just an army. 

    Another underutilised character is Aneka (Michaela Coel), who plays one of the Dora Milaje turned Midnight Angels. In interviews leading up to the film’s release, Michaela spoke about accepting the role because it helped portray a queer couple in the Marvel Universe. Outside of these interviews (which I’m sure the average audience doesn’t know about), nothing hints at Aneka and Ayo, another Dora Milaje soldier, being in a relationship. Aneka gives Ayo a peck on the head in the closing scene, but it’s a “blink, and you’ll miss it” moment. I get the “show, don’t tell” filmmaking technique, but nothing was shown here. 

    Compared to Black Panther, this sequel also falls short in its action sequences. While the bridge car chase scene and Okoye’s fight with the Talokans in Boston are major highs, the final fight scene feels crowded and rushed. An oversaturated fight scene is nothing new in Marvel (people of God, Endgame), but it’s almost uncoordinated here. None of the sequences blew my mind or sent a shockwave of adrenaline into my body. 

    That being said, my biggest gripe with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is its failure to submit to the grief side of the story it was trying to tell. After Namor attacks Wakanda and kills Queen Ramonda in the film’s second act, Shuri is ultimately left with no one. She recreates the purple heart-shaped herb and drinks its nectar to become the new Black Panther and avenge her mother. Then she goes into the spirit world where she meets none other than Eric “Killmonger” (Michael B. Jordan), her cousin, and the villain from the first film. 

    Shuri being greeted in the spirit realm by Killmonger, instead of her father or mother, signals her full descent into revenge mode, the same emotion that fuelled Killmonger’s actions. Another scene that solidifies this is her decision to go with the gold-lined Black Panther suit similar to Killmonger’s, as opposed to the silver-lined T’challa-inspired suit. Despite all of this, the script refuses to let Shuri go all the way.  

    For someone hellbent on avenging her mother’s death, doing a full 180 degrees and dropping her spear just because she saw her mother’s ghost feels insincere. She should’ve taken more time to contemplate which part she’d take — murderer or peacemaker — especially after all the lives she risked (and lost) to get there. 

    Rushing Shuri’s grieving process to wrap the film up in a lovely peaceful bow doesn’t sit right with my spirit. 

    Minor hiccups aside, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a brilliant film that does its best to honour the legacy of the man whose back it was built on, appease the fans and still make sure the Marvel monster machine is well fed. Major props to Angela Basset for commanding every scene she was in, Danai Gurirra for the action sequences and comedic timing, Lupita Nyong’O and Winston Duke for eating up their roles, and finally, Letitia Wright for being the new back that carries the film. 

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever isn’t perfect, but then again, can any film about grief be? I don’t think so. 

    ALSO READ: “Black Panther” Premiere Looks From “Vibranium Strong” to “Wakanda Fashion is This?”

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

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  • BBNaija Stars Are Replacing Industry Stakeholders and It’s a Problem

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premiered in Africa on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX, Lagos. I’d been excited about the event because some of the actors in the movie were attending. I liked the idea of people from the same industry in different countries coming together to celebrate a blockbuster.

    But while a few Nollywood stakeholders and actors attended, I quickly realised a large number of Big Brother Naija (BBN) alumni did too. If you looked at photos shared online alone, you’d think they outnumbered actual industry stakeholders. In an event that should’ve hosted legendary Nollywood actors, movie critics, directors and producers, instead, we saw ex-housemates of the reality show fill up the red carpets. But why? 

    Most entertainment events in Nigeria have become BBN affairs. It seems BBN stars are at the top of every (Public Relations) PR list these days. When Fenty launched in May, the PR agency thought it would be wise to invite them instead of actual beauty influencers who would have given target audiences more in-depth content about the launch and products. 

    When former BBN housemates attend high profile events, they simply become fashion shows. The conversation focuses on who wore what and little else. We barely hear much about the actual movies, products or anything being promoted during or after the events. At movie premieres, all we see are the same set of people with their sparkly and sometimes outrageous outfits. There are industry professionals, veterans and relevant influencers who would do better jobs at covering important talking points, so why not invite more of them? 

    I understand why PR agencies invite BBN influencers. They get people talking and create buzz around their events. People are still talking about what Hermes, Elo, Prince and the rest wore to the Black Panther Premiere, even though days have passed. People like Tacha trend for months on end because her fans keep talking about her.

    It’s the same reason why brands rush to have them as ambassadors; they drive massive traffic to the business’ pages. But sometimes these brands stray too far off track. Tell me why a waist trainer brand decided White Money — a man who isn’t associated with fitness in any way  and Mercy Eke who has told everyone she got her snatched waist through surgery — would make good ambassadors. Or why Doyin, a person who has always been slim — is an ambassador for a weight loss tea brand? At this point, Nigerians brands  are just just signing reality TV stars for signing case whether or not these people align with their products. 

    When events revolve around BBN stars, it’s difficult not to think that these events are being diluted. Even the publicity they bring focuses on their personal brands than on what said events are about. All these reality TV stars do is dress up, create content around their outfits, show up and post pictures with uninspiring captions. 

    Some showbiz industry events could be great opportunities for both  established stakeholders and rising stars to network, but many aren’t given the opportunity because the guest lists prioritise BBN alumni. Take Black Panther’s director, Ryan Coogler, for example. He attended the African premiere, but it doesn’t seem like enough Nollywood professionals got the chance to meet him. Imagine if more Nollywood directors or filmmakers attended.  A collaboration might’ve come out of some interactions, who knows?  

    If PR agencies keep treating BBN stars as red carpet honourables for every entertainment event, stakeholders’ interest may become even more lukewarm. This is not to say don’t invite BBN alumni to your showbiz events. After all, they’re celebrities in their own right, and great for PR. But they shouldn’t take up centre stage or fill up guest lists every damn time.

    Dammy Eneli

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  • “Black Panther” Premiere Looks From “Vibranium Strong” to “Wakanda Fashion is This?”

    After storming Los Angeles and London over the last few weeks, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally held its African premiere in Lagos, Nigeria. And the film’s stars, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright and Tenoch Huerta, pulled up to the premiere looking like this: 

    Nigerians decided to do the usual and create a theme to match the red carpet — Afro-Futuristic *sigh*. These are some of the looks that stood out for me.

    18. Hermes

    Chadwick Boseman didn’t kill his role as T’challa to be disrespected like this. The theme didn’t even ask for outfits to honour the late actor, so Hermes did too much and still missed the point. No one saw this in his dressing room and thought, “Hmm, something is off”?

    Chadwick, who? 

    17. Erica Nweledim

    Where is the effort? The theme for the premiere is “Afrofuturistic”, but this dress is giving Aso Ebi Bella, and I’m stressed. It’s one thing to try and fail, but not trying at all? Yeah, I love Erica, but it’s a big no. 

    16. Kunle Remi 

    This is another case of missing the memo completely. Where is the “Afro” or “Futurism” here? This man is dressed like he’s going out to drink beer. No wonder his wife poured all his juju away in Anikulapo.

    15. Bella

    Girl, not this Danshiki fabric. I love Bella’s Krispy Kreme donut hair, and who knows, I might’ve even liked the dress, but you see this fabric? God forbid. Why would anyone make an outfit using the same fabric white tourists buy at the reception of Eko Hotels? 

    14. Sheggz

    I have to laugh. You know what, Segun. I get it. Maybe it’s still Halloween in the UK. 

    13. Bovi

    Like Shuri said to T’challa in the first Black Panther: 

    Bovi’s jacket is fire, but his shoes don’t work for this outfit at all. Take them off, bro. 

    12. Liquorose 

    It’s okay to be inspired by an outfit, but I draw the line at “copy and paste”.

    RECOMMENDED: 7 Must Listen Songs on the New Black Panther Soundtrack

    11. Idia Aisien 

    All this attention to the design of this dress, but the front stitching still looks like it was done by someone in Home Economics class. I see the vision, but the execution is not hitting at all. 

    10. Prince Enwerem

    Someone needs to tell Prince to take off at least one article of clothing. Sir, are you not hot? This man looks like the wildlings from Game of Thrones. 

    9. Ini Edo 

    I can’t decide whether I like her outfit or not. I’ve stared at it for hours, and I still can’t come to a decision. I just wished they’d ironed her satin skirt sha.

    8. Enioluwa 

    Since he popped up on our radar over a year ago, Enioluwa has risen to become one of the most consistently well-dressed men on the red carpet. However, I can’t really say I like this look, especially with the butterfly-looking jacket. The picture on the right slaps, though, so E for effort. 

    7. Priscy Ojo

    I’m not supposed to like Priscy’s look because I hate the Kim Kardashian Balenciaga trend of wearing an outfit that covers your hands and legs, but for some reason this outfit works. The chalk thing might be a bit much, but I love the hair and silver dress. 

    6. Omowunmi Dada 

    Omowunmi Dada has been on fire lately, and I’m quickly becoming a fan. I love the black leather bodice and frills. I just wish she’d worn a different pair of shoes, like strappy sandals or something. 

    5. Allysyn

    I know I’ve complained about the Halloween looks, but it’s different with Allysyn. Unlike Sheggz and Prince, she pulls off this Dora Milaje look with so much confidence, it looks like something she’s worn all her life. 

    She wears the look; it doesn’t wear her. 

    4. Toyin “Tiannah Styling” 

    I was waiting for Toyin’s look, and I wasn’t disappointed. Toyin dresses like this on her way to Shoprite, so I’m happy she got a valid reason to unleash her outrageous style. 

    3. Elozonam 

    Is it me or does Elozonam look like an anime character? Hmmmmm. 

    2. Adunni Ade

    Okay, Portifar’s wife. I love how simple and well-tailored this dress looks. The Egyptian-inspired hat also reminds me of Queen Ramonda’s looks. 10s across the board, sis. 

    1. Adebayo Oke Lawal 

    Bayo is a fashion fave, and this right here is a look. I love the leather gloves, gold detailing on his suit and gold make up — even his hair is dyed gold. This is how you execute an Afrofuturistic look without it looking like a Halloween costume. 

    ALSO: 13 Nigerian Celebrity Halloween Costumes, Ranked from “Meh” to “Creepy AF”

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

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  • 7 Must Listen Songs on the New Black Panther Soundtrack

    After teasing everyone with the Tems co-written Rihanna ballad Lift Me Up, the full Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Soundtrack has finally made its way to the public, and it takes a significantly different direction than the 2018 soundtrack for the first film. 

    While Kendrick Lamar was at the helm of the first Black Panther album in 2018, the film’s soundtrack was very American, with appearances from SZA, Travis Scott and The Weeknd. Kendrick seemed to ignore the African heritage that inspired the fictional kingdom of Wakanda and made the album like T’challa (Chadwick Boseman) was an Atlanta-based superhero. 

    Finally giving Black Panther and its fans the album we deserve, The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever album is a diverse mix of Nigerian, South African and Mexican sounds. Despite featuring international stars like Future, Stormzy and Rihanna, it’s African stars like Tems, Burna Boy, Fireboy, Busiswa, Ckay, Bloody Civilian, DBN Gogo and Rema that steal the show.

    Taking us on a journey from grief to celebration as Wakanda tries to deal with the loss of T’Challa and Chadwick Boseman in real life), these are the standout songs from the new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. 

    Anya Mmri — CKay and PinkPantheress 

    It’s hard to listen to the flutes on Anya Mmri (translates to tear-filled eyes) and not remember those Old Nollywood films with Pete Edochie as the king and Genevieve Nnaji as the resident village maiden. The combination of ancient Igbo flutes and house-like beats is great, but the unexpected collab between Ckay and PinkPantheress (two artists who blew up on TikTok) is what makes Anya Mmri  an attention grabber on the soundtrack. 

    People always ask us to hold on to the memories when dealing with heartbreak or pain, but like CKay and PinkPantheress sing on Anya Mmri, sometimes, the memories are not enough. 

    Alone — Burna Boy 

    Remember when we said Burna Boy was in his sad boy era? Well, it looks like Damini has found another record to channel his deepest thoughts into. Reflecting on the need to be grateful for every second, Burna Boy’s Alone fits perfectly in this album about celebrating life amid grief. 

    Even though the song is titled Alone, listening to Burna Boy sing on it, you start to realise that the last thing this man wants right now is to be alone. 

    Pantera — Aleman and Rema 

    We all know Rema can sing (and whisper like he did on Soundgasm), but why didn’t this man tell us he could rap too? 

    Collaborating with Mexican rapper Aleman, Rema goes ham on Pantera.  He mentions how he doesn’t condone violence, violence condones him. His flows on this song are so smooth it’s easy to assume he’s been doing this rap thing for a while. Come through, Mr Divine. 

    Love & Loyalty — DBN Gogo, Sino Msolo, Kamo Mphela, Young Stunna and Busiswa

    Love & Loyalty is hands down one of the best amapiano songs I’ve heard this year. Coming right after Rihanna’s deeply moving Lift Me Up on the album’s soundtrack, the song is not upbeat enough to have you stepping like crazy in the club, but it still has enough energy to ginger you. 

    I had Love & Loyalty on repeat in the gym, so I highly recommend it for moments when you just need that extra push to do something. 

    RECOMMENDED: ​​Interview With Amapiano: “Nigerians Have Killed Me”

    Interlude — Stormzy 

    Probably one of the saddest songs on the album, Stormzy’s Interlude dives deep into the concept of grief and how to move on after someone you love dies. My favourite rap genre is when rappers get really vulnerable and rap-sing about their deepest emotions. 

    On Interlude, Stormzy understands that blaming or questioning the person who died won’t do anything to bring them back, but he can’t help himself from doing it. It’s a sad song about channelling pain, and I can see this playing during a scene with Shuri (Letitia Wright), T’Challa’s sister, who’s been rumoured to be the new Black Panther. 

    Coming Back For You — Fireboy DML 

    I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Fireboy DML’s Coming Back For You is the next song on the album after Stormzy’s Interlude. 

    Although Fireboy sings Coming Back For You like a romantic song, a closer listen to the lyrics will show that it’s more or less a response to Interlude. “When the tears fall like shooting stars, remember who you are,” he sings on the bridge before adding, “Look up to the sky, and you’ll see. I’m coming back for you.” His reassurance that they’ll never be alone makes Coming Back For You feel like a warm hug from the great beyond — or wherever you believe dead people go. 

    Wake Up — Bloody Civilian and Rema 

    If you haven’t heard of Bloody Civilian before (and didn’t listen to her incredible song, Goliath, before it was taken off streaming), please go listen to How to Kill A Man as soon as you finish listening to Wake Up. As the only somewhat unknown Nigerian artist on this soundtrack, Bloody Civilian holds her own on Wake Up, leading Rema on a mission to wake everyone up for war. 

    And yes, Rema raps again. 

    ALSO READ: We Ranked Some Of Rema’s Best Songs

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

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  • The 8 Stages of Emotions You’ll Feel Listening to Rihanna’s New Song, “Lift Me Up”

    After making us wait for six years and five months, Rihanna is back.  

    Even though I initially thought Lift Me Up would be a Wakanda-themed push-up bra or contour palette, I’ve finally listened to her latest single for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, and I love it. 

    Co-written by our very own Tems, get ready to feel these emotions in stages while listening to Lift Me Up: 

    Doubt 

    We all love Rihanna, but we also know Ms Robyn Fenty can lie for Africa. She’d been saying new music was on the way since 2017, so it makes sense to doubt that she’ll actually sing on this track. If you mistakenly play Lift Me Up’s instrumental instead, the doubt might give way to heartbreak as you wait for vocals that never come. 

    Fear and anticipation

    Once the humming starts, fear and anticipation follow. It’s been six years. What does her voice sound like now? Can she still sing? Will the song be a disaster? Why Black Panther? Are you going to have to defend your fave on the internet in front of the people that call her “The Mary Kay Lady”? 

    So many questions. 

    Shock

    There’s a high chance you may collapse as soon as you hear Rihanna sing, “Liffffft me up.” You knew the vocals were coming, but it still feels like they come out of nowhere. 

    RECOMMENDED: 8 Songs That Prove That Tems Is Not Your Mate

    Cue in hot tears 

    I feel you boo. I’ve missed her too. 

    As Lift Me Up starts to build up with the strings and backing vocals, you’ll start to lose your shit because of how glorious the song is. There will be tears because Rihanna is back and better, tears because the song actually slaps and more tears when you remember the song is about Chadwick Boseman. 

    Confusion 

    Deep in your tears, you start to wonder if it’s Rihanna singing or our sister, Temilade. There’s no way you’ll get through Lift Me Up without pausing to acknowledge Tems’ pen game and vocal influence on the song. Remember when we said Tems and Rihanna are like the same artist? This song confirms it. 

    Warmth 

    Lift Me Up is such a beautiful inspirational song that it starts to feel like a warm hug towards the end. You start thinking of all the people you’ve lost, the people you love and how nothing in life is promised. All you can do is love and cherish the moments you have right now. 

    Anger 

    Anger sets in when you realise Lift Me Up is just a little over three minutes long. Why? Other artists are making six-minute-long songs, and since we’ve waited impatiently for six years, we deserve a longer song. 

    Happiness

    Rihanna is back, and nature is healing. Goodbye, fuel scarcity. Goodbye, bad boy Buhari. Goodbye, falling Naira. Our mummy has come back to rescue us. 

    ALSO READ: 9 Times Rihanna and Tems Made Exactly the Same Song

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

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  • 9 Times Rihanna and Tems Made Exactly the Same Song

    Tems and Rihanna were destined to work together. They’re on the same wavelength, with similar sounding alto voices and songs like Try Me and Hard that announced each of them as women not to be messed with. 

    When I heard Tems was co-writing Rihanna’s new song for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it reminded me of these Tems and Rihanna songs I’ve always thought share similar vibes.

    Crazy Tings / Work 

    Tems really sang Crazy Tings are happening, and crazy things started happening to her career for real — Grammy nominations, working with Beyonce, and now, Rihanna. Even though Crazy Tings and Rihanna’s Work talk about different things, their videos have the same house party energy that makes me want to break my waist and drink from a red cup till I pass out. 

    Found / Looveeeeeee Song

    It’s not a coincidence Tems collaborated with toxic prince, Brent Faiyaz, on Found, almost ten years after Rihanna collaborated with the king of toxicity, Future, on Loveeeeeee Song. These women are obviously kindred spirits, even when it comes to their collaborations. 

    Damages / Bitch Better Have My Money 

    Tems and Rihanna already warned us that they’re not to be messed with on Try Me and Hard, but in case people didn’t listen, they recorded Damages and Bitch Better Have My Money to reiterate their points. The latter songs will unleash your inner bad bitch whenever the world tries to bring you down. Trust me, I’ve been there too. 

    Live Life / Live Your Life 

    Two features in which Rihanna and Tems sing about living life to the fullest and ignoring the haters? Inject it inna mi veins with a quickness. Tems’ part on Show Dem Camp’s Live Life makes for the perfect pregaming vibe, while Rihanna’s voice on T.I’s Live Your Life might make you order that bottle of Azul you know you can’t afford. 

    RECOMMENDED: Don’t Be Late To The Tems Party

    Avoid Things / Fading 

    Fighting for a relationship is great, but it’s important to know when to walk away. Tems and Rihanna explore this in their songs Avoid Things and Fading. On Avoid Things, Tems tells her lover she’s sick of his games, while Rihanna is quick to tell hers to bounce on Fading. These are the songs you listen to when you need ginger to break up and regain your freedom. 

    Higher / Higher 

    Rihanna opens up Higher with the line, “This whiskey got me feeling pretty. So pardon if I’m impolite,” before she goes on a rant to convince her lover to come over. The same energy could be felt on Tems’ song of the same title, in which she asks her lover if they’ll come for her if the world was ending. These two were definitely in their feels when they recorded these songs. 

    Free Mind / Redemption Song (Bob Marley Cover)

    It’s hard to go on TikTok and not see a morning routine video set to Tems’ Free Mind. Off of her 2020 EP, For Broken Ears, Free Mind is a delicate song about mental struggles and adulting. Even though Redemption Song is not a Rihanna original, her haunting version of the song is on the same frequency. 

    Vibe Out / Cheers (Drink to That) 

    Tems rarely makes songs about partying, so Vibe Out is a special one for me. Coming off a Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and carrying the whole summer of 2021 on her back, with Essence, Tems deserved a big ass party. Looking for a party is something Rihanna can also relate to on Cheers (Drink to That), which came out after her long LOUD Tour of 2011. 

    Looku Looku / Stupid in Love

    Dealing with a man who doesn’t deserve you is the theme that unites Tems’ Looku Looku and Rihanna’s Stupid in Love. I support women’s rights, so I support their choices after they realise niggas ain’t shit. 

    ALSO READ: 9 Things Rihanna Will Most Likely Do at the Superbowl Instead of Perform

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

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