Category: Uncategorized

Estranged. City. Stranger(s).

In 2023, I had an opportunity to contribute to a publication that accompanied the “Following the Fish” exhibition at the Venice Biennale. I decided to write a short poetry collection entitled,  Estranged. City. Stranger(s). After this publication came out, Ali Al-Safadi, a student at Queen’s University, was commissioned to help bring the poetry alive by adding visuals. I’m pretty happy… Continue reading Estranged. City. Stranger(s).

For Kemi (Death in the City) 

A poem written after the passing of a research participant in July 2023  There should have been no traffic the day you died.  The raucous honking should have at least observed a moment of silence.  The hawkers should not have been engaged in intricate dance steps while trying to sell their goods.  The whole city… Continue reading For Kemi (Death in the City) 

A review of Obadare’s Pastoral Power, Clerical State (Notre Dame Press) 

Upon invitation to participate in an Author meets critic session as part of the Lagos Studies Association conference that took place in June 2023, I elected to review , Pastoral Power, Clerical State: Pentecostalism, Gender, and Sexuality in Nigeria by Ebenezer Obadare to gain further insights into the salience of Pentecostalism in the lives of… Continue reading A review of Obadare’s Pastoral Power, Clerical State (Notre Dame Press) 

#ToxicWorkplaces: The future of youth employment in Nigeria

Grace Adeniyi-Ogunyankin, Queen’s University, Ontario Since Nigeria declared its aspiration to be one of the world’s top 20 economies by 2020, I have been doing research on the damaging impact of urban restructuring and economic growth on marginalized urban women in Ibadan, Nigeria. However, in the past four years, my interest has widened to include… Continue reading #ToxicWorkplaces: The future of youth employment in Nigeria

Late night confession… (I should be writing a paper, but I’m not!)

The following is a “review” (?) of  Francesca Ekwuyasi’s brilliant debut novel, ‘Butter Honey Pig Bread”. (Okay, it’s probably more of a reflection/reaction piece). It’s been too long since I allowed myself to devour a novel. I remember promising myself, about six years ago, to not lose the essential part that makes me who I… Continue reading Late night confession… (I should be writing a paper, but I’m not!)

The Uncertain Road to Tenure

I write this aware of my privilege of having a tenure track job. I gave birth to my second child in November 2020. I took a parental/maternity leave that enabled me to take a leave from teaching but didn’t feel like much of a leave from anything else, especially, anxiety. Although I was well aware… Continue reading The Uncertain Road to Tenure

“Postfeminism cruelly promises happiness”: A review of Simidele Dosekun’s Fashioning Postfeminism: Spectacular Femininity and Transnational Culture

I recently had the opportunity to read Simidele Dosekun’s book Fashioning Postfeminism: Spectacular Femininity and Transnational Culture as part of a panel discussion at the 2021 Lagos Studies Association Conference. Reading Simidele’s book excited me largely because my current project on youth and labour is in conversation with the insights she makes about moving beyond… Continue reading “Postfeminism cruelly promises happiness”: A review of Simidele Dosekun’s Fashioning Postfeminism: Spectacular Femininity and Transnational Culture

“Someone will eventually pay for this ice cream for me”: Youth, consumer-citizenship and cruel optimism in Ibadan, Nigeria

One late evening, in December 2018, I was tired but also in a giddy mood. I had just been offered a new job and I was taking the evening off to chill and chat with Lola, a new friend, in my hotel room in Ibadan. While we were talking about her future plans and potential… Continue reading “Someone will eventually pay for this ice cream for me”: Youth, consumer-citizenship and cruel optimism in Ibadan, Nigeria