Writer / Contributor
James Melbin
James Melbin is a Cultural Manager, Art Critic, Anthologist/Curator, Creative Director, and Publisher with special interests in the arts, creative industries, classical and contemporary culture, and sustainability.
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Reviews
Immigration Becomes an Unmaking in Salmah Salam Oiza’s Foreign in a Long-Familiar Leap Year
In modern Nigerian culture, the “Japa” story is typically framed as a binary: success or tragedy. Sa…
Features
A Nigerian Book Club Founder on Why Trauma Reading is Good for the Soul
In an age where the relentless pace of adult life threatens to consume personal well-being, Lynda Nd…
Interviews
Why Amaka Azie Interviewed Her Daughter to Write Her New Novel
In this edition of The Lane, novelist Amaka Azie opens a window into the tender and tumultuous world…
News
Revisiting NoViolet Bulawayo’s Best of Caine Winning Story, Hitting Budapest
NoViolet Bulawayo’s “Hitting Budapest,” the powerful and evocative short story tha…
Interviews
How Idoma Tales Became Ochoche Agada’s Poetic Muse
In this edition of The Lane, Moveee sits down with poet Ochoche Agada, whose collection Conversation…
Features
The Making of a Crime Writer: Derek Somto Nwokoye on the Books That Made Him
In this edition of The Lane, Moveee welcomes debut crime novelist Derek Somto Nwokoye, tracing the l…
Reviews
Where Secrets Live review: Where the Sacred and Supernatural Collide in Magdalene Agweven’s Gripping Debut
Welcome to Owuro Every small town in Nigeria has secrets. Owuro, the fictional Ondo State municipali…
Features
I Cry at the Feet of My Other Body review: Mustapha Enesi’s Ode to Endurance
In his striking debut collection, I Cry at the Feet of My Other Body and Other Stories, Mustapha Ene…
Features
What the Museum of West African Art Launch Means for Global Cultural Redefinition
The recent unveiling and impending grand opening of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin …
News
Nigeria and Brazil Forge Stronger Ties Through Creative Industry Exchange
In a bid to strengthen their bilateral relationship, Nigeria and Brazil are focusing on the vibrant …
Features
Architects of Vision: How Young Curators are Navigating Nigeria’s Art Landscape
This story references discussions held during the 8th edition of Moveee’s monthly live culture…
News
Aishat Adesanya’s Exploration of Grief and Resilience in “Funerals & Firecrackers”
The fifth edition of The Platform features Aishat Adesanya discussing her short story collection, Fu…
News
EbonyLife Place London is About to Open as a Beacon for African Creativity in the Heart of the Capital
Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu is set to make waves in the UK’s cultural landscape with the launch of…
News
The Witsprouts Project Calls for Submissions to Inaugural Storytelling Prize
The Witsprouts Project, a project dedicated to creative expression and storytelling, has launched &#…
News
Five Years On: When Will Mo Abudu’s Netflix Adaptation of ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’ Be Released?
In June 2020, Netflix announced a multi-title partnership with Nigerian producer Mo Abudu’s EbonyLif…
News
How Doechii Transformed Rejection into Grammy Glory
Did you know that Doechii – now hailed as the “Swamp Princess” – was once shown the door from her da…
News
Pfumo Collective Launches to Open New Chapter for African Non-Fiction Writers
The Pfumo Collective has been officially launched, aiming to nurture and promote non-fiction writing…
Features
How to Build a Resilient Creative Business: Financial Planning Checklist for the Unexpected
Running a creative business can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re an artist, designer, photogr…
Features
Doc Shebeleza: A Kwaito Pioneer’s Journey Through Music and Community
Victor Bogopane, universally known as Doc Shebeleza, was a seminal figure in South Africa’s kw…
News
Venice Biennale Names Koyo Kouoh First African Female Curator
The Venice Biennale has appointed Koyo Kouoh, a Cameroonian curator, as its first African female cur…
News
Venom: The Last Dance – A Night of Epic Action, Dark Elegance, and Glamour at Filmhouse
Filmhouse Group hosted an unforgettable night of entertainment on Friday, October 25th, as they prem…
News
Kemi Badenoch Elected Leader of UK Conservative Party
Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the new leader of the UK Conservative Party, becoming the first Bl…
News
Moniepoint Becomes Another African Unicorn After Raising $110M from Google
Moniepoint, a leading Nigerian fintech company, has announced a significant $110 million investment …
News
Yaa Gyasi’s ‘Transcendent Kingdom’ to be Developed into TV Series by Yvonne Orji
Yaa Gyasi’s novel Transcendent Kingdom has been optioned for TV by Sony Pictures Televisio…
News
Tomi Adeyemi Releases Dates for Children of Anguish and Anarchy US Book Tour
Tomi Adeyemi’s “Children of Anguish and Anarchy”: The eagerly anticipated final installment in the L…
News
Check Out This First Look at Bernardine Evaristo’s Mr Loverman TV Series
The BBC recently offered a tantalizing glimpse into the upcoming Mr Loverman TV series, based on Boo…
News
Lebogang Mashile’s Poetry Illuminates Tutu Puoane’s Latest Album
Tutu Puoane, a distinguished jazz artist from South Africa, has unveiled her latest musical offering…
News
African Studies Association Launches Film Fund Commemorating Renowned Scholar Kenneth Harrow
The African Studies Association (ASA) has unveiled two significant initiatives: the Ken Harrow ASA F…
News
Uzodinma Iweala Steps Down as CEO of The Africa Center After 7 Years of Leading the Charge for African Culture
After serving as the CEO of the Africa Center for seven years, Uzodinma Iweala is set to resign from…
News
Editi Effiong Signs to US-based Zero Gravity Management
Zero Gravity Management, a prominent film and television production and management company, has rece…
News
Africa Migration Report: An Anthology of Poems is Accepting Submissions Until May 25
Submissions are now open for the poetry anthology Africa Migration Report: An Anthology of Poems, or…
News
Willow Smith’s Debut Novel Combines African and Viking Folklore
Willow Smith’s debut novel, “Black Shield Maiden,” is set to publish this May with Del Rey Books, an…
News
The 2025 Cave Canem Prize is Now Open for Submission Until May 13
The Cave Canem Prize is an annual award given to the best debut collection of poems submitted by a B…
News
Nigerian Academic Olutayo Adesina Awarded Global Professorship Worth $1 Million USD
Olutayo Adesina, a renowned academic from Nigeria, has been honoured with one of the eight prestigio…
News
5 African Writers Shortlisted for the 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Five African writers have been shortlisted for the prestigious 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, …
News
Bolanle Austen-Peters’s Biopic “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” Hits Nigerian Cinemas in May
Bolanle Austen-Peters’s compelling biographical drama, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, is set to hit Ni…
News
The Caine Prize for African Writing Announces 2024 Judges Chaired by Chika Unigwe
The Caine Prize for African Writing has just revealed its distinguished panel of judges for 2024. Ch…
News
Review: “Afamefuna” Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
Masquerade dances, titled men wearing the Ozo cap, talking drums, and celebratory noises at the cent…
Features
“Afamefuna” review: Uncritical Love
Afamefuna: An Nwa Boi Story, Kayode Kasum’s celebratory stab at the nwa boi system, starts at the en…
News
The 31st New York African Film Festival Welcomes“Over The Bridge”, “This Is Lagos”, Other Afrocentric Titles
African Film Festival (AFF) will celebrate the 31st edition of the New York African Film Festival in…
News
Wale Ojo To Lead As Soyinka In Film Adaptation “The Man Died”
Ace Nollywood actor Wale Ojo is set to play Africa’s foremost dramatist and Nobel laureate Wole Soyi…
News
Mo Abudu, Other Africans Join The International Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences
The International Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences has welcomed CEO of EbonyLife Media, Mo A…
News
Tiwa Savage’s “Water and Garri” To Debut Exclusively On Prime Video
Acclaimed Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage is set to make her first appearance on the silver screen in th…
News
Rixel Studios Unveils Bukky Wright, Ruggedman, Others As Cast For Nollywood Action Thriller “Red Circle”
Nora Awolowo’s Rixel Studios reveals cast for anticipated Nollywood blockbuster titled Red Circle. T…
News
Bakwa Magazine Launches Woman-Centered Issue Titled When Love is a Scream
Cameroon-based literary magazine Bakwa recently unveiled its latest issue, Bakwa 11: When Love Is a …
News
The New Issue of Maroko Magazine Features the Here and Now Anthology by LIPFest Writers
Márọkọ́ Magazine: Named after the thriving migrant community east of the Lagos Lagoon, who were viol…
News
Showmax Releases Trailer For First Nigerian Horror Movie “Dead of Night”
Showmax has released the trailer for its latest Nigerian Original movie, Dead of Night, which is now…
News
The 10th Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA 2024) Nominations List Unveiled
MultiChoice Nigeria has disclosed the full list of nominations for the 10th edition of the Africa Ma…
Features
Afolayan’s Vision Overwhelmed by Cluttered Plot and Underdeveloped Characters in ‘Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre’
Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre, a sequel series to the 2022 film Aníkúlápó, transports viewers to th…
News
In ‘Sounds of Nollywood,’ IN Nollywood and WeTalkSound Spotlight Unsung Heroes of Nigerian Cinema
Sounds of Nollywood is a captivating five-part documentary series that sheds light on the artis…