Welcome to Vol 74 of The Spread!
The Spread is a weekly edit of the best stories and global news on Africa(ns) influencing mainstream culture.
Welcome new to our subscribers who signed up since the last issue! If you haven't already, hit subscribe and join 3,535 culturally-curious people.
Now, on to the real peel...
🔥 Trending Stories
- Meet Oyinkansola Dada, The London Gallerist Spotlighting Art From Across The African Diaspora via British Vogue
- Teni Knows People Want Her Art. But Do They Want Her Truth? via Teen Vogue
- Coca-Cola in Africa: a long history full of unexpected twists and turns via The Conversation
- Portraying Africa's Beauty and Challenges Through Music and Art via NPR
- Where to go in 2024: The African best places to visit via CNN Travel
- 5 design lessons I learned from spending the holidays in Morocco via Homes & Gardens
- South Africa's Tyla says 'people are not ready' for debut album via BBC
⏳ Trivia Time
Which popular musician from Nigeria holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by an African artist?
A) Femi Kuti
B) Wizkid
C) Burna Boy
Scroll to the very bottom for the answer.
🧭 A Marmalade Guide To...
Cold Purewater! Cold Mineral!
We present to you an insightful journey into the heartbeat of African creativity as we sit down with the creators of the captivating podcast, "Cold Purewater! Cold Mineral!" In this exclusive interview, co-founders Kolapo and Oladapo and Samuel Ugwu share the origins, inspirations, and aspirations that shape their unique perspective on the African creator economy, particularly within the bustling context of Lagos traffic.
Our conversation kicks off with the intriguing story behind the podcast's name, "Cold Purewater! Cold Mineral!" - a familiar cry in the lively streets of Lagos. Kolapo and Samuel explain how this catchy phrase encapsulates the essence of their podcast, exploring conversations about the African creator economy amidst the interesting backdrop of Lagosian traffic. Read on to gain more interesting insights!
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What We're...
📰 Reading: A Spell of Good Things. Ayòbámi Adébáyò, the Women's Prize-shortlisted author of Stay With Me, unveils a dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two families caught in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession and political corruption.
📺 Watching: Innovating Africa Documentary 'The Rise of Tech in Nigeria' tells the growth story of the tech scene in Nigeria over the last 15 years. Through raw interviews, it paints a vivid picture of the struggles & triumphs of the industry’s early days.
🎧 Listening to: Homemade 'African Lofi Edition' playlist on Spotify. Find calm by listening to the fusion of hip-hop and African instrumentals on this "African Lofi" Spotify playlist as you ease into the new year.
👣 Doing: New Year Forest Walk. Designed for people who want to kick off the new year in nature and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, founders, professionals and creatives.
👀 Eyeing: Hawa Tie-Dye Bag by AAKS. handcrafted rainbow tie-dye raffia bag with an adjustable strap and signature tassel. Its vibrant pattern and streamlined, spacious shape make this sustainable bag a versatile, effortless everyday style.
👏 That's a wrap!
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Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. As of 2024, he has charted over 80 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, the most by any African artist in history. He has collaborated with major Western artists like Drake, Chris Brown, and Beyoncé, helping bring African music to a global audience. Wizkid is considered a pioneer of the Afrobeats genre and one of the most influential African musicians today.
