Rema, Ayra Starr Land the World Cup Anthem, Dave Heads to Lagos, Esoterica Is Apple Music's Next One

Welcome to Vol 189 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.

I've been behind the scenes for a while now, reading every edition of the Spread, taking notes, nodding along, absolutely loving Mary's warmth and the way she made this feel like a letter from a friend. So naturally, now that it's my turn to hold the pen, I'm a little nervous. Okay, more than a little. But the show must go on!

I figured the best way to ease myself in was to come in after a weekend that’s been exciting: Ayra Starr in a Gele in the club (I am still not over it), and My Father's Shadow back in cinemas all over Nigeria (if you haven't gone yet, you should). What a time to be alive, genuinely.

One last thing before we get into it, one of my specialities is recommending things, so keep a close eye on that section. I'm kicking it off this week with our interview with Jumoke Adeyanju, one of the coolest people I've had the pleasure of talking with. We spoke on culture preservation, the spaces she's building, and a question I've always wanted to ask anyone who curates music: "Do you ever get overwhelmed with just how much music there is to explore?" Go read it and let me know what you think.

Omotola x

Now on to the real peel 👇