From Afropop Prodigy to Antihero: How HEIS Changed Everything Cover image credit: Yuriy Baranov HEIS, Rema’s sophomore album, turns one today. A year on, what sounded like a left turn from the Afropop sweetness that introduced us has become a defining pivot in his career, a turning point that silenced doubt, crushed the Afropop status…
Nigerian-born, London-based artist Gbogboade has unveiled his new 3-track EP, FLAVOUR—a smooth, summer-ready project that effortlessly blends Afrobeats, jazz, and soul with candid storytelling. Released on July 4th, 2025, the EP captures the highs and lows of modern connection. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Burna Boy, Odunsi The Engine, and Ezra Collective, Gbogboade crafts a sound that’s nostalgic and…
It defined football eras before and it’s back, redefining style now. When Nike started teasing the return of the iconic T90 line in June 2024, it signaled the comeback of a shoe that defined early-to-late 2000s football swag. The silhouette being reimagined for everyday wear only amplified the hype—and for a streetwear-loving, nostalgia-obsessed generation, this…
Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Tems has unveiled The Leading Vibe Initiative, a groundbreaking new program aimed at supporting and uplifting young Nigerian women in music. The initiative is designed to create space for emerging singers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and other behind-the-scenes talents in a male-dominated industry. “There are thousands of young women just like me—with a…
Wales Bonner just concluded her Spring/Summer 2026 menswear showcase at Paris Fashion Week. Here’s a slideshow of some of our favorite looks—each one reaffirming how she moves through time, rhythm, and identity with the fluidity that’s become her signature. The SS26 collection swayed between sharp tailoring and relaxed, almost spiritual draping. Bonner has long mastered…
Ayra Starr is making a bold leap into a new creative territory: film. The Nigerian star is set to make her acting debut as one of the leads in the Hollywood adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone, the bestselling fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood—whose previous work includes The Woman King—the…
The glasses at the Saint Laurent SS26 show were sculptural sunglasses—oversized, bold, and oh-so-fresh. At the Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2026 Menswear show, the eyewear perfectly echoed that sunlit, effortless tone—thanks to creative director Anthony Vaccarello. Models sported wide-shouldered trenches and airy silks, but it was the sunglasses that truly defined the look. Oversized, slightly retro frames—some with…
Nella is a Cameroonian-born, Los Angeles-based Afro-Fusion artist whose sound is making waves across the global music scene. With only a year in the game professionally, Nella has already amassed over 1.3 million streams and a following of over 250K+ across all socials. All of these have been achieved through self-written releases that honour her…
For Pharrell Williams, storytelling is never accidental. At the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2026 Menswear show, all eyes may have initially been on the giant Snakes and Ladders-inspired runway set—but it was the bags, crafted with a spirit of adventure and youthful curiosity, that ultimately stole the spotlight. Each piece felt like a slice of visual…
Not everyone will f**k with your craft Not everyone will agree with your work. In fact, most successful creatives will tell you they got a lot of pushback when they first started. That’s what makes you special. The cognitive dissonance of seeing something that hasn’t been done before often triggers negative reactions from the general…
Success can be deceiving. It feels like the ultimate validation—the moment where your work, or an iteration of it, finally resonates, your style clicks, and the world pays attention. But for many creatives, that very success can quietly become a trap. When a musician, designer, or artist finally gets recognized for their work, an unspoken…
Glenn Mena made his mark years ago with his first single “Movement” in 2016—long after starting music in 2006. Now based in Cape Town, South Africa, the Warri-born artist has finally felt a clear sense of sound identity and direction with his latest album Night Bus, released in December 2024. It is a deeply personal…
The ongoing collaboration between visionary designer Grace Wales Bonner and sportswear giant adidas Originals, which began in 2020, has evolved into a cult-favorite partnership in recent years—most notably through the reimagining of the classic adidas Samba silhouette. Her versions of the Samba played a key role in the silhouette’s popularity over the past few years,…
Today, May 27, NoteSphere is celebrating Children’s Day with a heartwarming Creativerse segment that bridges culture, creativity, and the limitless dreams of the next generation. Partnering with the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History and Mavin Global, we’re making the future imagination the spotlight of our narrative today. But to kick off the…
Afro-indie artist Joyce Olong who is also Spotify’s EQUAL artiste for the month of May, doesn’t create music for the algorithm; she creates it for the moment. Her sound isn’t loud, but it lingers in your thoughts for hours after you’ve heard it, much like a half-remembered dream. With SOSEO, her latest project, she’s building…