"A cultural product I loved as a teenager and still love: Nollywood movies and Afrobeats. Before, Nigerian entertainment could easily be found on Netflix or American radio stations, I remember waiting eagerly for my cousins in Nigeria to send me the latest CDs and VCDs. (One of my favorites at the time was an epic thriller called Egg of Life.) As a child of immigrants, those films and songs helped me connect with my parents and gain a better understanding of their childhoods."
"Usually made on shoestring budgets, the movies back then had no choice but to rely on powerful storytelling and dialogue. The budgets have gotten bigger and the production has improved significantly as the industry has gone more mainstream in recent years ( King of Boys on Netflix is a modern-day favorite), but the storytelling is still just as fantastic-and fantastical."
Toluse Olorunnipa is a staff writer who has covered major political events including the president’s disappearance, the Project 2025 shutdown, and Kari Lake’s attempt to deport employees. He enjoys Nollywood movies and Afrobeats and grew up waiting for CDs and VCDs from relatives to stay connected to Nigerian culture. He names Egg of Life as an early favorite and praises Nollywood’s reliance on storytelling despite low budgets, noting recent production improvements and modern favorites like King of Boys on Netflix. He has heard "Shallow" many times and recommends the band Shallow Alcove. He dislikes America’s Funniest Home Videos since becoming a parent.
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