Album: ENERGY BANK Unleashes THE QUIET RESILIENCE: A 6-Track Afro-Fusion Inferno Now Blazing Across All Digital Platforms

 The future of African sound just detonated. ENERGY BANK, the electrifying collective that turned underground Lagos into a global voltage hub, storms the world with THE QUIET RESILIENCE, a razor-sharp 6-track EP that fuses highlife grit, Amapiano pulse, and alt-R&B silk into a defiant anthem for the unbreakable. Available NOW on Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, Audiomack, YouTube, Deezer, and every corner of the digital universe.

This is not an album drop. This is a power surge.

From the cinematic opener “Title: The Quiet Resilience” – a haunting spoken-word manifesto over shimmering log drums – to the explosive closer “End Of Discussion”, every second crackles with purpose. ENERGY BANK distills two years of studio warfare, heartbreak, and triumph into a sonic Molotov cocktail that demands repeat spins.

Tracklist:

Title: The Quiet Resilience – A 72-second orchestral storm that sets the manifesto: “Silence is strategy.”

Kum Kum – Infectious street-pop banger already crowned TikTok’s #KumKumChallenge with 2.1M videos in 48 hours.

Oldtaker – A brooding mid-tempo ode to ancestors, featuring rare Yoruba flute samples and trap hi-hats.

Jumanji – Pure adrenaline. Amapiano meets drill in a jungle-rave anthem built for midnight drives.

9/5 – The grind never sleeps. A relentless hustle hymn with distorted 808s and call-and-response hooks.

Next One – Vulnerable yet victorious; a love letter to tomorrow over acoustic guitar and soaring falsetto.

End Of Discussion – The mic-drop finale. A genre-defying closer that leaves no doubt: the conversation is over.

Frontwoman Zara “Zee” Bankole roars:

“We didn’t make music. We forged weapons. THE QUIET RESILIENCE is for everyone who’s been counted out but never bowed. Stream it loud. Live it louder.”

Early critical fire:

OkayAfrica: “A masterclass in controlled chaos. ENERGY BANK just rewrote the Afro-fusion playbook.”

Pulse Nigeria: “Six tracks. Zero skips. Infinite replay value.”

BBC 1Xtra: “Kum Kum is the song of the summer… in November.”

Stream THE QUIET RESILIENCE NOW:

energybank.lnk.to/quietresilience

AFRIFF Still Holds Our Dreams, Even When It Disappoints: A Reflective Milestone as the 14th Edition Concludes in Lagos

 As the curtains fall on the 14th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), the continent’s premier cinematic showcase, a poignant truth emerges: AFRIFF still holds our dreams, even when it disappoints. This year’s festival, held from November 10–16 at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, delivered a powerful blend of triumph and introspection, reaffirming its role as a beacon of African storytelling while candidly confronting its growing pains.

Under the theme “Cinema: A Catalyst for Change,” AFRIFF 2025 screened over 180 films from 45 countries, hosted 12 masterclasses, and welcomed more than 30,000 attendees—including global icons like The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood, Nollywood legend Genevieve Nnaji, and South African filmmaker Jahmil X.T. Qubeka. The Globe Awards honored excellence across categories, with The Fisherman’s Daughter (Ghana) taking Best Feature Film and Oge (Nigeria) winning Best Short Film, while The Last Breath (South Africa) earned the Audience Choice Award.

Yet, amid the glamour, honest conversations dominated. Attendees and panelists openly discussed logistical hiccups—delayed screenings, venue overcrowding, and accreditation bottlenecks—that tested the festival’s infrastructure. Founder Chioma Ude addressed these in the closing press conference:

“AFRIFF is a mirror of our industry—brilliant, ambitious, and still growing. We celebrate the wins, but we own the disappointments. Every glitch is a lesson. We are committed to scaling with grace, because African cinema deserves a world-class home.”

The festival’s Talent Development arm trained over 1,200 emerging filmmakers through the AFRIFF Academy, while the Women in Film initiative spotlighted 45 female-led projects, including the world premiere of Sisters in Silence, directed by rising star Ifeoma Chukwuogo. Industry sessions tackled funding gaps, distribution challenges, and the rise of streaming platforms, with Netflix Africa announcing a $2 million commitment to AFRIFF-supported projects over the next three years.

Critics and fans took to social media with the hashtag #AFRIFFDreams, sharing stories of inspiration alongside constructive critiques. As one attendee posted: “AFRIFF gave me my first red carpet moment. The sound failed during my short film, but I still met my mentor. That’s the dream—imperfect, but alive.”

AFRIFF 2025 also marked a digital milestone, livestreaming 20 events and reaching over 1.5 million viewers globally via YouTube and the AFRIFF app—its largest virtual audience to date.

As the festival looks ahead to its 15th anniversary in 2026, organizers have pledged infrastructure upgrades, expanded venue partnerships, and a renewed focus on accessibility. In the words of jury president Akin Omotoso:

“AFRIFF is not just an event—it’s a movement. It holds our dreams because it dares to show our full humanity: the brilliance, the struggle, the hope. Even in disappointment, it teaches us to build better.”

About AFRIFF

Founded in 2010 by Chioma Ude, the Africa International Film Festival is a non-profit platform dedicated to nurturing African cinema through screenings, training, and industry development. With support from the Lagos State Government, Netflix, and Bank of Industry, AFRIFF continues to bridge local talent with global opportunities.

BOJ Elevates Anticipation for ‘Duplicity’ Album with High-Octane Pair of Singles Featuring Olamide and Rising Star Mavo

 Alté pioneer and genre-defying maestro BOJ is turning up the heat on the rollout of his sixth studio album, Duplicity, with a dynamic dual single drop scheduled for this Friday. The twin releases – “Contraband” featuring Afrobeats heavyweight Olamide and “Diamonds” featuring emerging sensation Mavo – promise to encapsulate the project’s core theme of duality, blending introspective vibes with infectious energy as the December 5 premiere draws near.

In a strategic nod to the album’s conceptual backbone, BOJ has adopted a “duplicity” rollout format, releasing tracks in pairs to mirror the contrasts at the heart of Duplicity: vulnerability versus confidence, calm chaos, and the multifaceted layers of identity. This latest wave builds on the momentum from his October dual singles “Shana” (ft. Show Dem Camp & Joey B) and “After Hours” (ft. Anaïs Cardot), which have collectively amassed over 5 million streams across platforms, earning praise for their seamless fusion of Alté soul, Afrobeats rhythms, and global electronica influences.

“Contraband,” produced by BOJ’s long-time collaborator Genio, teams the smooth, raspy-voiced visionary with Olamide – the YBNL boss and architect of modern street-hop whose discography boasts timeless anthems like “Wo!” and “Science Student.” Early teases suggest a gritty, high-stakes narrative laced with Olamide’s razor-sharp bars and BOJ’s laid-back charisma, bridging the gap between underground Alté experimentation and mainstream Afrobeats dominance. This marks a long-awaited full collaboration between the two icons, whose paths have crossed at pivotal moments in Nigerian music history, including Olamide’s feature on BOJ’s seminal 2017 album Magic.

Complementing the intensity, “Diamonds” spotlights Mavo, the fresh-faced prodigy whose soulful melodies and youthful flair have been turning heads in Lagos’ burgeoning scene. A snippet circulating on social media has already ignited viral buzz, showcasing shimmering production and a tender interplay of vocals that highlight BOJ’s knack for elevating new voices. As BOJ explained in a recent Instagram Live:

“Duplicity is about those two sides we all carry – the hidden gems and the contraband we smuggle through life. Teaming with Olamide brings that raw edge, while Mavo shines light on the sparkle. These tracks are just a taste; the album’s a full feast of contrasts.”

The Duplicity era underscores BOJ’s evolution as a cultural architect. Since bursting onto the scene with his 2012 breakout “BOTM” and co-founding the Alté collective LOUD (alongside Odunsi The Engine and Tems), BOJ has redefined African soundscapes through projects like Gbagada Express (2016) and the collaborative EP Make E No Cause Fight (2018) with Ajebutter22 and Falz, which birthed the enduring hit “Tungba.” Now, at the helm of his independent banner Platoon Africa, BOJ is poised to deliver what many are calling his most ambitious body of work yet – a 14-track odyssey exploring self-expression, love’s contradictions, and the hustle of diaspora life, all underpinned by Genio’s maverick production blending electronica, palmwine grooves, and hip-hop undercurrents.

Olamide, reflecting on the partnership, shared via X:

“Boj’s always been ahead of the curve. ‘Contraband’ is that real talk over fire beats – duality in action. Dropping gems with the king.”

Mavo, in his first major feature, added: “Working with BOJ feels like unlocking a new level. ‘Diamonds’ is us celebrating the shine in the struggle.”

With Duplicity set to drop on December 5 via Platoon Africa/Universal Music Group, the album has already secured playlist placements on Spotify’s “African Heat” and Apple Music’s “Afrobeats Hits,” signaling its global trajectory. Fans worldwide are rallying under #DuplicityDuality, with pre-save numbers surging 300% since the announcement. As BOJ prepares for a string of promotional shows, including a headline slot at Lagos’ Palmwine Festival in December, Duplicity positions him not just as Alté’s blueprint, but as a timeless force in the ever-expanding universe of African music.

About BOJ

BOJ (Bolaji Odojuku) is a Lagos-born, London-raised singer, songwriter, and producer whose innovative sound has earned him acclaim as the godfather of Nigerian Alté. With millions of streams and collaborations spanning Wande Coal, Simi, and Joey B, BOJ continues to push boundaries, blending Afro-fusion, R&B, and experimental electronica. Duplicity is his sixth studio album, following a string of critically lauded releases.

About Olamide

Olamide Adedeji, founder of YBNL Nation, is a Grammy-nominated Afrobeats icon with over a decade of chart-topping hits. A mentor to stars like Fireboy DML and Asake, his influence on street-pop and indigenous rap remains unmatched.

About Mavo

Mavo is an up-and-coming Nigerian artist whose emotive vocals and genre-blending style are capturing the next wave of Afrobeats innovation.

Oyinkan Braithwaite and Bolu Babalola Join Four Fellow Nigerians on TIME’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2025, Spotlighting Fresh Voices in Global Literature

 Acclaimed Nigerian authors Oyinkan Braithwaite and Bolu Babalola have been named to TIME magazine’s prestigious 100 Must-Read Books of 2025 list, alongside fellow Nigerians Nnedi Okorafor and Olufunke Grace Bankole. The selection highlights a powerhouse quartet of Nigerian talent redefining contemporary fiction with stories that blend dark humor, cultural critique, and romantic depth, cementing Nigeria’s position as a global literary force.

Braithwaite’s highly anticipated novel, The Road to Obodo, weaves modern Lagos hustle with supernatural drama and her signature dark humor, exploring themes of family, legacy, and the blurred lines between reality and myth in a rapidly changing Nigeria.

Babalola’s Sweet Heat, a sizzling follow-up to her Reese’s Book Club pick Honey and Spice, delivers rom-com energy laced with substance—through sharp banter, emotional heat, and probing questions about love, second chances, and the shadows of the past.

Announced on November 13, TIME’s annual list celebrates the year’s most compelling new releases, selected by the magazine’s editors for their innovation, timeliness, and storytelling prowess. The inclusion of these four Nigerian authors—each bringing unique perspectives from Afrofuturism to romance—underscores the vibrant diaspora’s influence on international literature. As TIME noted, the list features works that “challenge, comfort, and captivate,” with Braithwaite and Babalola’s entries praised for their unflinching wit and emotional resonance.

Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of the internationally bestselling My Sister, the Serial Killer (shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction), expressed her delight:

“Being on TIME’s Must-Read list alongside such brilliant Nigerian voices is a profound honor. It’s a reminder that our stories—from the streets of Lagos to the complexities of love—are resonating worldwide. I’m thrilled for what this means for African literature.”

Bolu Babalola, a British-Nigerian screenwriter and Sunday Times bestseller whose Love in Colour reimagined global myths, added:

“Sweet Heat is my love letter to messy, beautiful second chances. To share this spotlight with Oyinkan and our Nigerian siblings on TIME’s list feels electric—like the world is finally catching up to the fire we’ve always known burns in our words.”

The recognition arrives amid a banner year for Nigerian publishing, with Braithwaite’s book set for release in early 2025 and Babalola’s already generating buzz since its July launch. Fans and critics alike have taken to social media with #NigerianLitOnTIME, celebrating the authors’ contributions to diverse narratives.

About Oyinkan Braithwaite

Oyinkan Braithwaite is a Lagos-born author and storyteller whose debut novel, My Sister, the Serial Killer, has been translated into over 30 languages. Her work fuses thriller elements with sharp social commentary, earning her spots on the Booker Prize longlist and the CWA International Dagger shortlist. The Road to Obodo is published by Doubleday.

About Bolu Babalola

Bolu Babalola is a British-Nigerian author, journalist, and screenwriter whose books blend romance, folklore, and cultural insight. A former BBC producer, she is the author of Honey and Spice and Love in Colour. Sweet Heat is published by Headline.

Don Jazzy Welcomes Rising Star CupidSZN as Mavin Records’ Newest Signee: “A Fresh Voice in Afrobeats”

 Iconic music executive and Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy has officially unveiled the label’s latest addition, the vibrant singer-songwriter CupidSZN, marking the first major artist signing since Lifesize Teddy in 2023. This move signals a bold new chapter for the Grammy-nominated powerhouse, renowned for launching global Afrobeats sensations like Rema and Ayra Starr.

Announced via a high-energy video reveal on social media, CupidSZN – whose real name is Oluwatobiloba Oladapo – joins an elite roster that includes Ladipoe, Johnny Drille, Boy Spyce, and Bayanni. Don Jazzy, celebrating the 13th anniversary of Mavin Records this year, shared his excitement:

“CupidSZN is Don Jazzy’s newest Mavin! His energy, work ethic, and that undeniable talent? It’s the kind of fire we’ve been waiting for. Welcome to the family, king – let’s take over the world.”

The 22-year-old Benin City native, who relocated to Lagos in 2023 with his family’s full support after overcoming initial parental skepticism, has already captivated audiences with his debut EP, Myth eRA, released just days ago. The project features flirtatious, hook-driven tracks like “Tuka Tuka,” blending Afropop, R&B, and playful lyricism over infectious beats. With over 675,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, CupidSZN’s rise from bedroom producer to label star embodies Mavin’s legacy of nurturing raw talent into international forces.

CupidSZN reflected on the milestone:

“Signing with Mavin feels like destiny. Don Jazzy believed in my vision when others were still figuring it out. This EP is just the start – thank you to my family, fans, and the Mavin squad for the love.”

Under Mavin’s global distribution via Universal Music Group, Myth eRA is available now on all streaming platforms. CupidSZN is set to embark on promotional tours and collaborations, with whispers of features alongside label heavyweights already buzzing online. Fans have flooded X with #CupidSZNxMavin, hailing the signing as a “game-changer” for the next wave of Afrobeats.

Mavin Records continues to dominate as Africa’s premier label, with recent successes including Ayra Starr’s The Year I Turned 21 and Rema’s HEIS EP, both cementing the imprint’s role in the genre’s worldwide explosion.

About CupidSZN

Oluwatobiloba Oladapo, aka CupidSZN, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter whose genre-blending sound fuses Afropop with R&B and romantic storytelling. His debut EP Myth eRA marks his explosive entry into the music scene.

About Mavin Records

Founded in 2012 by Don Jazzy, Mavin Records is a trailblazing Nigerian label that has propelled Afrobeats to global stardom. Home to multi-platinum artists and backed by Universal Music Group, Mavin champions innovation, community, and unbreakable hits.

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