#Nigerian storytelling

[rizumuj]

Tola is the moment!!

Have you all seen Iwájú? It's pretty good, and I hope it gets another season to properly explore the advancement of technology in Lagos and fixing the classism that takes place throughout the series.

[mightymur]

[ISBW] From Patent Memos to Nebula Nods with Wole Talabi

S20 Ep13: In Which Mur Attends Wole Talabi’s Creative Alchemy Transcript   “The primary driver of my sense of success is, ‘do I feel happy with what I’ve done?'” – Wole Talabi Mur chats with Wole Talabi, an engineer turned author (but still engineer). They discuss the Schrodinger’s Cat of publishing, the thrill of rewriting old stories for new audiences, and the joy of challenging the norms of…

[inkfulinsight]

…

How could I explain that mentally, I was always there? In the mornings before class, I’d play on the lawn behind the white fence. Between classes, I’d run through the yellow corridor. At lunch, I’d sit alone at the center of the trauma, at that table. After school, I’d visit my mother’s library, and at night, I’d find myself in that too-bright room at the far end of the house with its barren furniture.

With very few belongings, none of which were ever really mine, leaving should have been easy. Yet I stayed—and even after my body escaped, I lingered a little longer.

[melanatedmedia2]

"Iyanu: Child of Wonder" - A New Frontier in Animated Storytelling

Hey everyone! Have you heard about the upcoming animated series "Iyanu: Child of Wonder"? It's an exciting project that celebrates Nigerian culture and mythology. Can't wait for this epic journey to unfold!

[blackscifimatters]

“I am over the moon to be embarking on such an epic storytelling adventure with Prentice, Sebastian and the team at Payback Entertainment,” Badaki said in a statement to Deadline. “As a geek and as a Nigerian it has been a dream come true to be able to fuse both of these elements in this unconventional coming of age tale and to hopefully play a small part in further expanding inclusivity in genre spaces. To see Naija Vamp, an idea that originated in my mind, brought to fruition in partnership with the immense talents and experience of Sebastian, Prentice and the team, is the absolute geektastic cherry on top. Gratitude is an understatement.”

[champagnebutch]

not really an original thought, but i'm thinking about how each of the individual character stories of the cast of Sense8 all read like stories common to their part of the world. like, granted i have relatively little experience of non-US based stories, but like,

will's personal story reads as like, a police drama, where it's all about him and his work partner diego and his relationship with his dad and trying his best to do the right thing,

and riley's story looks a lot like a nordic drama series with quiet shots of the landscape, as well as tragedy due to the cold and how you live with it,

and lito's story feels like an absolutely amazing telenovela, including all sorts of amazing beats surrounding him finding his own relationship with his masculinity, while also getting the classic masculine acts-of-violence-as-redemption and the will-they-or-won't-they-get-back-together,

and wolfgang is in a crime drama that's very viscerally about family and what you owe (or don't owe) to people based on blood or based on friendship, intertwined with some heady moments referencing the fraught history of his country over the twentieth century,

and kala's story reads like a bollywood romance/drama including all sorts of classic tropes from there, like the suddenly breaking into a dance number, or the arranged/love marriage dichotomy, the will-she-get-with-the-foreigner drama,

and capheus, well, i grant that Kenya doesn't really have a huge media output, but it seems that the wachowskis took a lot from the Nigerian film scene (second biggest in terms of sheer output) and made sure that the political and economic struggles faced were true to the real-life setting,

and sun is in a fucking martial arts movie, complete with a personal grudge as motivation and a fucking superhuman ability to kick ass and storytelling through fight choreography,

and nomi lives in a fucking queer drama/love story, complete with shitty family that doesn't get you, the other family that does, medical abuse as metaphor for more realistic versions of medical abuse, her relationship with Amanita that remains the best representation that I (a transfemme lesbian) have ever seen of myself in a large-scale production, and gosh i could gush about her for while

anyway, i fuckin love this show, i need to rewatch it

[oleworm]

With white actors, their stereotypes are clear satire, while their authentic portrayals of accents are taken seriously—African accents are not afforded that luxury. Part of the authenticity and grit we’ve come to love in Good Will Hunting (1997) owes to the fact that both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck speak in accents native to South Boston—which successfully shows the importance of class distinctions, Will’s intellectual ability despite his “rough” surroundings, and rooting him in his neighborhood and background even as he progresses to new places and opportunities. Part of the joy of watching Mary Poppins (1964), is the grating sound of Dick Van Dyke’s bizarre “Cockney” accent. Often noted as one of the worst accents in film history, Van Dyke’s character sounded like he came from New Jersey, Australia, but Poppins is a children’s comfort film filled with magic, so audiences are already prepared to suspend their disbelief.  Language, voice, and tone are vital parts of storytelling, but somehow caricature-like portrayals of African accents still manage to win Oscars, while Dick Van Dyke’s “Cockney” failure is an actor’s cautionary tale. This speaks to a larger issue: the hierarchy of occidental languages over languages from the global south, the (lack of) knowledge of African dialects, and a general laziness toward the research required to thoughtfully and effectively learn regional African accents. Alongside my research for this article, I also spoke to Djeneba Bagayoko, a linguist who specializes in African languages and is currently working on a book exploring the similarities in Ebonics and continental languages. When we discussed Beasts of No Nation—no nation indeed, as the film is set in an “unspecified” West African country—Djeneba pointed out the prevalence of guttural sounds and line delivery in a lower vocal pitch. While having a lower-pitched voice is completely within the rights of directors and actors to be a stylistic choice for a character, its unfortunate prevalence goes beyond artistic prerogative and seems closer to laziness or ignorance. Viola Davis’s accent in The Woman King is also delivered in a lower register, with an emphasis on guttural sounds and a sprinkling of that American English rhotic R that would not be present in a West African accent during the 1820s. Winston Duke’s accent in Black Panther (2018) also features guttural sounds, a low pitch, and even Nigerian facets of speech (adding “o” as a standalone sound at the end of sentences), despite the fact that the fictional nation of Wakanda is supposedly located in southeast Africa. Bagayoko rightly asked, “Why, when it comes to Africa, are we all lumped together?” Reducing Western and Southern African accents down to hard, low-pitched noises positioned at the back of the throat perpetuates the idea that African languages are too “other” for any attention to detail. The frequency with which we see this technique reiterates the view of Africans as homogenized and underdeveloped—a colonial perspective.

[gollancz]

Gollancz has signed Nnedi Okorafor’s "tour-de-force", the Death of the Author. Death of the Author is an "exhilarating" story about a disabled Nigerian American woman who writes a science fiction novel that becomes a bestselling phenomenon, but her success comes at a price. Billed as a "sweeping narrative" for fans of Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow,Tomorrow and Tomorrow, the story is "a multi-threaded meta drama examining the relationship between storyteller and audience". 

Okorafor said: “Death of the Author is the most ambitious and naked work I’ve ever written. I’m so proud of it. I’ve been writing it in my head for 30 years. It brings together so many of my many parts, my contradictions, fusions and my weirdness. The title comes from a famous essay by French scholar Roland Barthes, an essay that I’ve always loathed but also chewed on throughout my years working on my PhD in literature. I want readers to come away from this novel with questions, answers, and a refreshed love of what we as human beings are and what we’re capable of. Also, I wanted to tell a really good story.” 

We're so delighted to have Nnedi joining the Gollancz family with this phenomenal, layered and poetic novel. Which also has robots.

[the-joy-of-knowledge]

The well-rounded woman

I am on a journey to becoming a well-rounded woman. On this journey I want to devote myself to learning about the arts, history, and life-changing events of the world. Of course, it is a lot to learn about the world but if you focus on a specific aspect, you will get a grasp of things.

Why am I doing this? I admire intelligent, artistic, and adventurous women because they make good storytellers.

How am I doing this? I have chosen to list things I am interested in/curious about, and they are:

World wars

American Jazz

French pastry

German Cars

Italian Fashion

Ancient Rome

The human brain

Olympic sports

British literature

Nigerian history

The Roaring 20s

NASA's missions

Industrial Revolution

Japanese Culture

European economies

Oscar-winning movies

20th Century Invention

Humanistic Psychology

Nobel prize winning economist

Dutch Arts (particularly Johannes Vermeer's)

This seems like a lot, but there is time to learn them. This shouldn't feel like a task, instead you should slowly gravitate towards your interests by just being curious.

A simple google search, Educational YouTube channels, or even a movie can help you be more well-rounded. If you want to go deeper then read National Geographic, History.com, Vogue magazine, and more other websites/books that you may find interesting.

I know a bit about everything I listed but I wonder what it'd feel like to go deeper.

[theliterarywolf]

I watched Kizazi Moto and I really liked it a lot! One of the things I found especially interesting was the difference in…I want to say emoting? expression? with how some of the characters responded to things. Like with tongue clicking and some hand motions. I thought that was very interesting. Did you have a fave episode?

YES! Finally, someone watched/sent in an ask about this anthology!

And what you said here, noticing the differences in emoting. I am so glad you mentioned that because, yes: African storytelling, particularly when it comes to bringing stories to the big (or in this case, streaming) screen, does have its own style of emoting, staging, and composition.

And, yes, every culture does (for all people meme on Indian soap operas having the 'twenty dramatic zooms with matching music', you can tell that's a modernized carryover from traditional storytelling), but I have been yearning for African stories to be able to be seen by a wider audience so they can be a part of the conversation.

Because, yeah, we have companies like Netflix picking up a few Nigerian and Ghananian movies/shows for streaming, unless you're searching for them or your algorithm is trained, you'll never find them.

Also, shout-out to Supa Team 4

An upcoming CGI animated series from Zambia that is looking like a fusion of Miraculous and DC Super Hero Girls.

But, my rambling aside, for me there were three stand-outs from the anthology.

My favorite cultural-reflection, My favorite spectacle, and My Overall Favorite (kind of like a Best in Show).

My Favorite Cultural-Reflection

And by this, I mean which of the shorts reflected the culture it's creators are from the best (even though it may not have been my Overall Favorite):

Moremi (Nigeria)

(Hate that I couldn't find a gif for this one...)

Before this series aired proper, If you showed me 15 seconds of each short and told me to identify which country they came from, with this one it would have been a no-brainer. The staging and composition are such a strong mirror to Nigerian storytelling, a facet that is made even more obvious when we're introduced to the scientist character.

My Favorite Spectacle

Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer (South Africa)

The sheer definition of 'Hype'. When I was liveblogging my first time watching some of the anthology, I made the comment 'Who at Triggerfish Studios marathoned Gurren Lagann and Kill la Kill before coming into work that day?!' But, yes, this short was extremely anime, extremely colorful, and extremely action-packed. All while still having a message about maintaining the connection with your ancestors.

My Overall Favorite (Best in Show)

Enkai (Kenya)

Everything about this short, the composition, the color-scheme, the acting, the setting, and the messages are beautiful. While the initial scenes give us the impression of a simple, more intimate story of a mother and daughter, as the story progresses, the audience is presented with themes of family, spirituality, environmentalism, and even a bit of generational trauma sprinkled in (if you know where to look).

In fact, I'm going to discuss the moment that solidified this short as Best in Show for me. Spoilers under the Read More

When Enkai and her mother finally escape the destroyed Earth and Enkai is showing the new world she's made, free of mankind's greed and destruction, her mother has a moment of hesitation and looks back towards the Earth.

Even though the Earth and it's people, the ones who she was trying so hard to protect, have hurt her so much, she still says, "...I can still fix this!"

And Enkai has to be the one to tell her mother, "If we didn't leave, we would never be free from them. They have to save themselves now."

As much as the environmentalist message is there, it also reflects a story of a woman being abused by her family, hurt by her family, and internalizing the fact that she has to stay; she has to take care of her loved ones, only finally being told by the next generation 'No, you have done enough! You have been hurt enough!'

I just... God, the beauty of African storytelling being presented in the medium of modern animation got to me, okay?

[caintooth]

can i get a name opinion?

i am torn between Charlie Moon and Charlie Tadgh.

backstory: when first choosing a new last name I chose Charlie Tadgh (pronounce Charlie Tyge, like the first part of the word “tiger)

Tadgh is a common masculine Irish name meaning poet, philosopher, and storyteller. i really like this name and feel connection to it

i changed it because, sorry if this sounds silly, but i am worried it is hard to remember? having a name that is easily recognizable is important to me for the future if/when i am able to publish my work, and for networking in general!

at the time i was also worried it would upset my dad. i thought picking a name which sounded more traditionally like a ~writer’s pen name~ would make more sense to him. BUT he recently has talked about changing his own full name legally (long story) so obviously he doesn’t have the connection to our last name I was worried he might lol, this is no longer an issue at all

but because those things were both on my mind, i chose the last name Moon back in October. it is short and easy to remember, has a good “oh this person is definitely a writer” vibe to it, has a werewolf theme which is always my jam, and shares a first initial with my legal last name

BUT. i do worry because while Moon can be a white name, it is more commonly a Korean name. i don’t want someone to ever follow me or pick up my work because they think i’m someone i’m not. this is of particular concern during a time when there have been so many white writers caught pretending to be Asian for clout, it is truly sickening tbh. AND if my partner and i get married and hyphen our names, which we want to, then this will become even more of an issue. they have an obviously Nigerian last name, and tbh it could also be mistaken as Asian to people unfamiliar with it.

[have-you-heard-of]

Have You Heard Of?

“A man who would be intimidated by me is exactly the kind of man I would have no interest in.”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie b.September 15, 1977

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an award-winning author and an influential advocate of feminism. She has captivated people worldwide with her powerful storytelling and her outspoken campaign for gender equality. She was born in Enugu, Nigeria, and was raised in an academic environment that surely nurtured her passion for writing. As one of six siblings she grew up in the university town of Nsukka, her Mother was the first female registrar at University of Masuka and her father was Nigeria's first professor of statistics, and later became Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the same university. She attributes her success in part to her parents for, encouraging her self-confidence and being supportive by always showing that they had confidence in her. She began studying medicine and pharmacy at the university school her parents worked at; though, writing seems to have called to her, as she also edited the magazine created by the medical students. She left her medical studies after a year and a half when at nineteen she gained a scholarship to Eastern Connecticut State University in America, where she graduated summa cum laude (with highest honours) with a degree in communication and political science and continued her passion for writing by producing articles for the university journal. She went on to gain her master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University, become a Hodder Fellow at Princeton University, earned an MA in African Studies from Yale University, and she was awarded a fellowship by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University. During this time, she has released numerous novels, including A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions. She holds strong feelings regarding gender equality and is proud of her femininity, taking pleasure in fashion whilst grappling with the knowledge that she will be judged for the way she chooses to dress. Her belief is that you should be happy to be who you are, without being forced into a mould society has decided fits your gender. Refusing to conform to a female academic stereotype, she loves make-up and has been the face of Boots No7 cosmetics. Now married with a daughter, she splits her time between Nigeria, where she teaches writing workshops, and the United States. All in all, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a world-renowned writer, acclaimed academic, fashion icon, beauty queen and a feminist warrior we all should have heard of.

“If you criticise X in women but do not criticise X in men, then you do not have a problem with X, you have a problem with women.”

Books and Novels

Notable Awards and Honors

35 awards, 21 are literary awards, including: Future… Award (Young Person of the Year category), 2008 Global Hope Coalition's Thought Leadership Award, 2018 Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award, 2018 UN Foundation Global Leadership Award, 2019 Africa Freedom Prize 2020 Business Insider Africa Awards, 'Creative Leader of the Year', 12 April 2022 Influential people lists including: The New Yorker's '20 Under 40', 2010 '100 Most Influential Africans 2013', New African '100 Most Influential People' by Time Magazine, 2015 Fortune Magazine's List of 50 World Leaders, 2017 'World's Most Inspiring People in 2019' by OOOM Magazine Forbes Africa's '100 Icons from Africa', 2021 'Changemakers: 100 Nigerians Leading Transformational Change', 2022

“Teach her to reject likeability. Her job is not to make herself likeable, her job is to be her full self, a self that is honest and aware of the equal humanity of other people.”

Trivia

Her childhood home was one formerly occupied by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe

Beyoncé's song, "Flawless," features excerpts from Adichie's TED Talk.

Adichie thought she had invented purple hibiscus & was shocked to receive a call from her editor telling her they existed in America!

[zennesamuel]

Nigerian Masquerade, Village Differentiation, and Cultural Education

Igbo and Yoruba masquerade theatre was not something that I had any prior knowledge of, but the craftsmanship of it is something phantasmic. It also serves as a rich testament to the importance of oral traditions and storytelling prioritized over written documentation of ritual. The similarities between Igbo and Yoruba masquerade theater are not lost on me: their patrilinear societies, their celebration of the importance of the ancestors, beliefs in life after death of the physical body, and roots in religion and community as a space for performance. However, what has become most significant in my study of it is the idea of the circle in which ritual, theatrical performance, life on Earth, and life in the Otherworld intersect. Igbo and Yoruba masquerade theater serve the purpose of not only entertainment in villages, but as a vehicle for socialization and education, with the mask as a material representation of ancestral presence, symbolic of the spirits of the community, both in the past and in its current climate. The bridge between the members of these kingdoms and the Orishas cultivates health, protection, and prosperity. I think that one of the things that makes this form of ritual so compelling is its vitality to the overall culture of Nigeria, not in spite of but because of its variations throughout different sections of the country.

[thelensofyashunews]

NIGERIAN PRINCE OF AFROPOP OXLADE RELEASES TRAILBLAZING DEBUT ALBUM “OXLADE FROM AFRICA”

Today,Nigerian superstar Oxlade continues his hot streak by officially releasing his anticipated debut album, Oxlade From Africa, via Epic/Sony Music France. Listen to the album here.

Blending his past, present, and future into an all-encompassing vision, Oxlade From Africa is a bold and expansive 16-track musical and cultural journey that transcends borders, celebrating African heritage from Lagos to the world. With its title reflecting a broad, inclusive vision, the album highlights Africa’s cultures, elegance, and beauty, marking the next step in the Lagos-based artist's rise, showcasing his journey from breakout success to mainstream recognition.

Aiming to continue making Africans proud of their heritage, Oxlade uses his music, visuals and fashion to deliver a powerful message of unity, and is continuing the momentum from his massive global hit ‘Ku Lo Sa’, which has 574 million streams and was certified GOLD by the RIAA this week, and Double Platinum in Canada. The project is also home to recent singles ’Intoxycated’ ft. Dave, both halves of the double ‘KATIGORI/PIANO’ release, ‘Arabambi’ and most recent offering ‘IFA’ featuring Congolese superstar Fally Ipupa.

LP opener ‘Interlude’ features Ugandan political activist and musician Bobi Wine who introduces the album with a powerful co-sign and thought-provoking message, setting a powerful tone with an uplifting message of resilience and African spirit. ‘OLAITAN (Olaoluwa)’ which translates to “the wealth, the favor and the grace of God shall never leave you” in Yoruba, see’s Oxlade reflects on his life journey, embracing a mindset of faith and destiny over a warm and feelgood production. ‘Blessed’ features Jamaican Dancehall legend Popcaan and becomes an instant highlight as they share stories of overcoming struggles, highlighting that despite their youth, valuing your self-worth and positivity is key.

2023 summer smash ‘Intoxycated’ continues to ooze star quality alongside London rap king Dave as they showcase their storytelling finesse, delving into a story of love and the intoxicating traits that come with it. Oxlade’s global breakout hit ‘KU LO SA’ follows. Originally a spontaneous decision before his COLORS performance, the songs heartfelt lyrics symbolizes trust in intuition and the power of seizing opportunities, putting his vocal talents front and centre. ‘IFA’ is a sultry love song infused with Coupé-Décalé and Afrobeats rhythms, as Oxlade reassures his love interest that she is his priority, painting vivid images of devotion with cheeky metaphors, whilst Fally Ipupa’s melodic touch further amplifies the song's seductive energy.

‘Ovami’ features High-life legend Flavour and delivers a harmonious blend of love and unity as Oxlade taps into the rich heritage of High-life music, a sound central to Nigerian culture, making the track a celebration of love in all its forms.Spring single ‘Arabambi’ is the nickname of K1 De Ultimate, an iconic Nigerian Fuji musician and means “the child of the people”, “the community gave birth to this child”, “the one”. The track’s melody, inspired by Miguel’s vocal style, mixes African tradition with modern R&B, creating an irresistible fusion of rhythm, love and pride. ‘Tamuno (Interlude)’ is a spiritual pause in the album, offering a moment of reflection. Named after a deity in Nigerian culture, it serves as a homage to Oxlade’s faith and spiritual journey, laying the groundwork for the more sensual and energetic songs to follow, and ‘ASUNASA (Hold Your Waist)’ featuring Wande Coal offers exactly that. With influences from Wande Coal’s classic ‘So Mi So’, this stylistic offering sees both artists trade risque, Afrocentric verses, merging spiritual undertones with sensual energy to become an instant album highlight.

The P-Prime produced ‘Piano’ is a heartfelt love song that blends the soft hits of a log-drum, piano and drums with Oxlade's signature falsetto and ad-libs that characterises Oxlade’s effortless ability to create romantic anthems. The Sarkodie featuring ‘Ololufe’ is a tribute to the iconic "Ololufe" by Wande Coal, adding a modern twist with influences from Reggae, Dancehall, and Afrobeats. Sarkodie’s hard-hitting verse complements Oxlade’s smooth vocals, creating a dynamic love song that pays homage to African R&B while setting new standards. ‘RMF’ (Rich Motherf*cker) is a declaration of confidence and self-worth, drawing inspiration from Fela Kuti’s vintage Afrobeat sound as the 27-year-old unapologetically boasts about success, luxury, and the journey that got him here.

‘On My Mind’ (OMM) features TOMi Owo & OJAHBEE dives deep into the emotional rollercoaster of love, becoming an ode to first love as it explores the excitement and nervousness that comes with falling for someone. ‘Katigori’ is Oxlade’s manifesto, written during a time when he had fame but was still striving for success. Closing the album, ‘OFA’ embodies

Oxlade in his ultimate form. Again drawing from Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and blending it with his Afro-Pop style, this track is the culmination of his journey—his evolution into a fully-realised artist. It's a powerful anthem of self-awareness, confidence, and embracing one’s destiny.

[jobaaj]

🚨𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠🚨 16 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 300+ 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑!!😨 🤔✨ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝?

🔸 Thousands of Nigerians, mostly youngsters, have taken to the streets in protest. 🔸 Clashes with security forces escalated into violence, with tear gas and gunshots used to disperse the crowd. 🔸 A devastating bomb blast in Borno claimed 4 lives and injured 34 others! 💔

🧐✨ 𝐖𝐡𝐲?

🔹 Due to a cost of living crisis. 🔹 President Bola Tinubu's reforms last year have led to a staggering 40% jump in food inflation and tripled fuel prices! 😰 🔹 The Nigerian Naira has massively devalued as a result of these reforms. 🔹 Protests also target systemic corruption. Despite being one of Africa's largest oil producers, Nigeria's economy has stagnated, and people have become poorer! 😱

😲𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲: - Corruption is rampant in Nigeria. - Armed bandits and Islamist militants are running rampant in the country’s north. - Over 40% of the population is now living in dire poverty! - Nigeria is now under 24-hour curfews!! ❓𝙷̲𝚘̲𝚠̲ 𝚕̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚐̲ 𝚠̲𝚒̲𝚕̲𝚕̲ 𝙽̲𝚒̲𝚐̲𝚎̲𝚛̲𝚒̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚜̲ 𝚜̲𝚞̲𝚏̲𝚏̲𝚎̲𝚛̲?? Follow Jobaaj Stories (the media arm of Jobaaj.com Group for more)

Jobaaj Stories started as a storytelling branch and now includes news, inspiring stories, and valuable information. Our mission is to educate and inspire young professionals and students through storytelling, providing you with information and motivation.

[teck-zilla]

UK-based Nigerian Producer/DJ Teck-Zilla presents Summer Zilla II, the sequel to his 2018 summer-themed instrumental project of the same name. Inspired by his birth month which falls in the warmest season of the year, nostalgic memories of the 90s as a kid and crates of weird and somewhat recognizable sample flips, Summer Zilla II, continues where the first edition left off some 6 years ago. The 10-track body of work is a masterclass in lofi sampling techniques, engaging storytelling culminating in the element of surprise as it progresses. Much like its predecessor, Summer Zilla II, is anchored on genre-bending layered sample chops, and dynamic arrangement threaded by the element of nostalgia and warmth. Starting with the anthemic “RETURN TO SUMMER (SUMMER MADNESS)” with its enthralling vocal samples and pulsating drums which help usher us back into the world of Summer Zilla to the solemnity of “SUMMERZILLA II” or the breezy sunny day vibes of “SUMMER SOCIETY THEME”, listeners get a heightened sense of comfort as the project moves along. As a call back to Summer Zilla, Teck-Zilla also brought back the voice of Summer, the French-speaking narrator who appears throughout the project but this time it’s voiced by Nigerian rapper/fashion stylist Yemoja whose sultry vocals draw audiences into the surreal, summery world of Summer Zilla II.

Bandcamp: https://str8buttah.bandcamp.com/album/summer-zilla-ii Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/44vZkZqt56FEunbvNJflsd Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/summer-zilla-ii/1752773758 Audio Mack: https://audiomack.com/teck-zilla/album/summer-zilla-ii

SUMMERZILLA II

1 RETURN TO SUMMER (SUMMER MADNESS) 2 SUMMER SOUL 3 SUMMER ZILLA II 4 DEFINITION OF SUMMER 5 SON OF SUMMER 6 SUMMER BREAK (SKIT) 7 SUMMER SOCIETY THEME 8 WISHING ON A SUMMER RAY 9 BLACK SUMMER LOVE 10 REQUIEM FOR SUMMER