Welcome to Vol 128 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.

Now, on to the real peel 👇

FEATURE STORY

Aṣa Selected for Prestigious 2025 Yale World Fellows Programme

Image Credit: ASA/Instagram

Nigerian singer-songwriter Asa just added another impressive achievement to her already stellar career—she’s been named a 2025 Yale World Fellow!

The programme, run by Yale University’s International Leadership Centre, brings together a select group of global change makers for an intensive four-month leadership experience. Out of thousands of applicants, only 16 were chosen this year, and Aṣa is one of them.

Aṣa has never been just about the music. Sure, she’s given us timeless hits like Jailer and Fire on the Mountain, but her influence goes far beyond that. She’s always used her platform to talk about identity, culture, and social change, making her a perfect fit for a program about shaping a better world.

Since its launch in 2002, the Yale World Fellows programme has trained over 400 leaders from 101 countries, helping them expand their impact. In other words, Yale isn’t just picking successful people—they’re picking people who want to make a real difference.

Who knows? This might be the beginning of Aṣa stepping into an even bigger role—one that blends music, activism, and leadership in ways we haven’t seen before. Whatever happens next, one thing’s for sure: she’s making Nigeria (and the world) proud.

Read on BellaNaija
Image Credit: XOWIE/Instagram
Image Credit: NSG/Instagram

⏳ Trivia Time

What inspired Asa to choose her stage name?


A) A childhood nickname
B) A Yoruba proverb
C) Her favourite animal, the hawk
D) Her grandmother's maiden name

Scroll to the very bottom for the answer.

ICYMI

🧭 Guide: Telling Stories That Matter: Nyasha Kadandara on Film That Transcends Borders

Image Credit: Nyasha Kadandara

The last of our iconic Womens’ Month features is Nyasha Kadandara, an award-winning Pan-African director and cinematographer whose work spans various storytelling mediums, including documentaries, virtual reality, and fiction. Hailing from Zimbabwe, she has garnered international recognition with her films, such as Through the Fire, Le Lac, and Matabeleland, which have premiered at major festivals like SXSW, DOC NYC and CPH DOX.

In this conversation, we explore Nyasha's journey from finance to filmmaking, her passion for stories that challenge the status quo, and how she’s using her platform to empower African women.

Read & Share Guide

What We're...

📰 Reading: Soft Magic, by Upile Chisala

🎧 Listening to: ‘4Kampe II’ by Joe Dwet File and Burna Boy

📺 Watching: Journey of an African Colony; a deep-dive into the untold stories and unsung heroes that paved Nigeria's road to independence.

🎟️ Booking: JAM: Nigerian Trivia Edition; A very special edition of JAM to celebrate Nigerian pop culture, and bring together the Marmalade community for a night of fun, connection and friendly competition.

👀 Eyeing: The Kathiani Link Bracelet, by Jiamini

We See YOU!

At Marmalade, we believe in celebrating all the incredible voices that make our community thrive. Are you a creative shaking up the scene, an entrepreneur building something bold, or a culture enthusiast with a story or two to tell? We'd like to hear from you!

Share Your Story

👏 That's a wrap!

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Trivia Answer: C) Her favourite animal, the hawk
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