Nigeria
Battle of the Buffer Wheel
Twitch, Amazon’s multibillion-dollar streaming platform, is on the rise in Nigeria, but young creators hoping to ride the slipstream of Afrobeats to internet stardom face an uphill battle with bandwidth and cultural buy-in.
The President Who Died Twice
The recent death of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari recalled a long-running conspiracy theory that he had actually died in 2017 and been replaced by a Sudanese double. New Lines explores how that bizarre theory took root and what it reveals about public distrust in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Returnees Are Not Always Welcome
A growing number of Nigerians are leaving their lives abroad and returning home, a trend known as “japada.” While their reasons range from burnout and lost family ties to a desire for purpose, many face harsh judgment both online and from family and friends.
The Hard Truth About Nigeria’s Performance-Enhancing Potions
In a nation where masculinity is associated with power, performance in the bedroom is a crucial currency. Increasingly, men and boys are turning to home-brewed Viagra dupes, despite dangerous side effects that can lead to unhappy endings.
The Young Nigerians Reclaiming Magic
In a country where sleight of hand is often mistaken for sorcery, a new wave of Nigerian illusionists is fighting stigma, reclaiming magic and daring to dream on their own terms.
Living in Part-Time Exile on the Niger-Nigeria Border
Violent bandit attacks have rendered Illela, once a thriving rural hub in northwestern Nigeria, a ghost town by night and created a peculiar new kind of refugee in the region: the cross-border commuter. Many residents flee to safety each night across the border to the small Nigerien town of Birni-N'Konni.
‘Kin Cloth’ Brings People Together — and Sets Them Apart
At Nigerian weddings, it’s not just the bridesmaids who wear matching attire. Every guest sports a matching outfit to celebrate their unity with the bride and groom as part of the “aso ebi” custom. But “kin cloth” is more than just fabric. It’s a recipe for drama.