In 1926, Italian writer and poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, the founder of the Futurist movement, travelled to South America as part of a highly publicised lecture tour. He arrived not simply as a literary celebrity, but as one of Europe’s most controversial cultural figures, a man whose artistic movement celebrated speed, technology, violence, masculinity and…
His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the 51st Ooni of Ife, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amaranta Oil & Gas Development Company Limited. The appointment was announced on Friday, September 11, 2026, as Amaranta moves into a new phase of development involving Oil Mining Lease 42 (OML…
Africa’s colonial history is often told through battles, treaties, forced labour and the struggle for independence. Yet one of the darkest aspects of that history has received far less attention: sexual violence committed against African women and girls during periods of colonial conquest, military occupation and rebellion. In many parts of the continent, sexual violence…
In an era when women faced enormous barriers to education and professional careers, one Nigerian woman achieved something remarkable. In 1929, Agnes Yewande Savage became the first Nigerian woman to qualify as a medical doctor, graduating from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland with first-class honours. She was only 23 years old. Her achievement was…
Before Nigeria had hundreds of television stations, before television presenters became household names, and long before Nigerians could watch news, football, movies and entertainment from the comfort of their homes, television was still a new technology on the African continent. Then, on 31 October 1959, history was made in Ibadan. Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) began…
In the history of Nigerian Christianity, few names are as closely associated with revival, divine healing and extraordinary religious claims as Joseph Ayodele Babalola. Born in 1904, Babalola became the central figure in one of the most remarkable Christian revivals Nigeria had witnessed. His preaching attracted enormous crowds, while reports of healings, visions and other…
Today, Nigeria has hundreds of celebrities, from musicians and actors to comedians, athletes and influencers. But long before Nollywood, Afrobeats and social media, Nigerians already had entertainers who attracted huge public attention. Who was Nigeria’s first celebrity? There is no official record naming one person as Nigeria’s first celebrity. However, Chief Hubert Adedeji Ogunde is…
Today, private jets are often associated with Nigeria’s wealthiest businessmen, politicians and celebrities. But decades before private jets became a familiar symbol of wealth in Nigeria, one Nigerian had already entered this exclusive world. His name was Chief Godfrey Kio Jaja Amachree, popularly known as G.K.J. Amachree. Several Nigerian historical accounts identify Amachree as the…
Every time the Nigerian flag flies, its simple green-and-white design represents one of the most recognisable symbols of the country. But who designed Nigeria’s flag? The answer is Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a young Nigerian student whose design was selected in a national competition in 1959, just one year before Nigeria gained independence. His story is…
Nigeria’s decision to move its capital from Lagos to Abuja was one of the most important administrative and political changes in the country’s history. On 12 December 1991, Abuja officially became Nigeria’s new capital, replacing Lagos after more than 75 years as the seat of government. But why did Nigeria move its capital? The answer…