Children of Blood and Bone Gets Its First Look, Americanah Finally Finds a Screen Home, Bukayo Saka Shines at the World Cup, Tyla Gets a Bratz Doll

Welcome to Vol 195 of the Spread!

Hello and welcome back to the Spread, your weekly edit of all the best stories and global news about Africans shaping mainstream culture.

Last weekend, it was my phone. This weekend, it was the home devices. In true Nigerian fashion, I tried smacking them first. But at this point, I'm convinced it's a message.

In between all of that, I was sitting in my French class, genuinely reconsidering my life choices. Learning a new language when you do not have the time to practise properly is a whole thing, and please, do not recommend another app or digital tool to me, or I will combust. Eventually, I decided to just laugh it off, which brought me to something I've been noticing: comedy has somehow become one of my favourite genres of anything. Improv and theatrical comedy especially. I love a larger-than-life setting, a room where anything could happen.

But enough about me. Every time I put this newsletter together, I feel genuinely hopeful. The art, the fashion, the culture, the craft, the music, I'm always in awe. All I hope is that more Africans get into the spaces where they can tell their own stories, and not have others tell it for them. Which brings me perfectly to this week's feature; it's a controversial one, and it has sparked discourse ranging from very considered essays to the funniest memes. I'd love to know your thoughts.

Omotola x

Now on to the real peel 👇