nigeria
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Olo’oruko Mi: Legacy Ponderings of a Nigerian-but-Mostly-American
I’d spent two years on this earth when I met my paternal grandmother Julianna Oni for the first—and last—time. As I was her sole olo’oruko mi—the only heir to be her namesake—she took an immediate liking to me, often raising my youthful frame in her firm, mahogany arms and chanting “Julie Julie Julie Julie” with…
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Awkward Black Guy: I’m Not Nigerian But I Played One for a Whole Weekend
“You’re totally Nigerian,” Nkechi Nneji said, holding her hands out in a frame like she was sizing up my face for a photo. “And you’ve got an Igbo head!” This was uttered to me in a vaguely complimentary way by my friend, Nkechi (pronounced EN-KAY-Chee), as she and fellow Nigerian Omarosa (yes, that Omarosa), tried…
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Meet the 35-Year-Old Who Wants to Be Nigeria's Next President
What does it take to become the next president of Nigeria? Thirty-five-year-old Chike Ukaegbu wants to find out. Ukaegbu—who made history as Nigeria’s youngest presidential candidate when he announced his candidacy in June—grew up in the West African Nation. In fact, Muhammadu Buhari, the current president of Nigeria, took over as a military dictator the…
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Could She Be the Most Beautiful Girl in the World? A 5-Year-Old Nigerian Girl Is Making Headlines
At only 5 years old, the doll-like looks of Nigerian-born Jare Ijalana have made her a viral sensation on social media. The child’s beauty and direct stare—framed by a halo of naturally textured hair (a wig)—have captured the attention and imagination of tens of thousands of commenters; some of whom have questioned whether the child’s…
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11-Year-Old Nigerian Artist Creates Stunning Portraits of Figures in His Community
The youngest professional artist in Nigeria is gaining international exposure for his stunning lifelike portraits. Eleven-year-old Kareem Waris Olamilekan draws family members, friends and other community members from his makeshift art studio in Lagos. He also recently caught the attention of French President Emmanuel Macron. Watch the video above to learn more about this amazing…
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Hooray for Nollywood! Nigerian Celebrities Slayed the Ocean’s 8 Lagos Premiere
Naija! On Monday night in Lagos, Nigeria, “Nollywood” celebrities showed up and showed out for the Ocean’s 8 Nigerian premiere. The stars pulled up to the Filmhouse Imax Cinema in Met Gala-themed attire, correlating with the film’s plot, in which the all-female cast attempts to steal jewels while attending the gala. The annual event, dubbed…
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Fela Kuti Is the Artist Who Brought My Musical Journey Home
One of my biggest regrets in life is how late I discovered so much music that became immediately influential to me. While I grew up in a house where music was constantly present, there were various artists that my parents didn’t know, didn’t show or just didn’t care about. What that means is that many…
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Naija! Nike’s Nigeria World Cup Kits Sell Out in 15 Minutes!
Now, this is what we call team spirit: Fifteen minutes after the June 1 release of Nigeria’s Nike-designed World Cup kits, the collection entirely sold out online. After pushing back the collection’s release because of high demand—3 million preorders, to be exact—and fear of knockoffs, the brand then had to contend with lines around the…
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Naija, Please: Omarosa Wants Back In, Confirms Trump Called African Nations ‘Shithole Countries’
Black God’s most beloved belly flop, Omarosa Manigault Newman, wants back on the Underground Railroad. Ever since being kicked out of her master’s house, where she was receiving a paycheck for being the president’s closest black friend, Omarosa has been revamping herself as a bitter “Spook Who Sat Near the President and Was Totally Fine…
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Lagos Fashion Week: Emmy Kasbit Wins the Prize
The Glow Up congratulates Nigerian fashion designer Emmanuel Okoro of Emmy Kasbit on his award-winning collection presented at 2018 Lagos Fashion Week, which concluded Sunday night. Lagos Fashion Week is an annual showcase in Nigeria for African designers, underwritten by Heineken. Twelve designers showed at the three-day event, providing a global showcase and the chance…