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| From Left to Right: Beverly Naya, Lupita Nyong'o, Taraji P. Henson, and Mo'Nique. Image Credit: Daily Post Nigeria, Essence, US Weekly, and BellaNaija |
Black Women, the Film Industry, and the Art of Being Overlooked
By Atinuke Adeosun
Let us be real: everyone loves a good underdog story. But Hollywood? Hollywood practically built its brand on it. That whole “started from the bottom, now we are here” vibe is the industry’s favorite genre. Struggle, rise, triumph, and repeat.
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| Photo by jannet eldhose on Unsplash |
By Cynthia Umeh
In many parts of Africa, heavy rainfall is no longer seen as a blessing. Instead, it brings destruction, disease, and death. As climate change continues to affect weather patterns, flooding has become more frequent and more dangerous. One of the most serious results of this flooding is the spread of cholera.
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| Photo by Madalena Veloso on Unsplash |
By Chiamaka Mbah
Zainab sat quietly under the neem tree near her family’s hut. Her arms were thin, her belly slightly swollen, and her eyes carried a tired glow no child should bear. At three years old, she weighed what an average one-year-old should. Her mother, Mariam, tried to feed her from the bowl of watery porridge they shared, but she knew it was not enough. It never was.
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| Photo by Emma Ou on Unsplash |
By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
Shiana stirred her pot of stew as it simmered on the cooker. The stew wasn't as red as she loved it, but this would have to do. Her spoon flitted around the chunks of meat, noting the spaces where she used to have more. She took the spoon out, hit it on the edge of the pot to get most of the stew back in, then she carefully placed what was left in the middle of her palm. She raised her palm to her mouth and licked the stew off.
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| Panel Session at the Double Minority Documentary Premiere in Abuja on July 14, 2025 |
By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
A few days ago, I posted a new video about the worth of women, particularly in politics, leadership, and governance. It was the first vlog I had posted in a long while. I remember waking up one morning, more enraged than usual by the state of politics and governance in Nigeria, especially the way it continues to affect women.
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| Shades of Us at the 2025 Charity Half Marathon Hosted by Run Club Abuja (with Support from Norrenberger) on July 12, 2025 |
By Cynthia Umeh
Guess what I did on July 12, 2025? I ran a Marathon!
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| Participants at the Shades of Us Script Development and Storytelling Workshop in Abuja |
“So… why storytelling?”
I asked one of the participants during a short break while the projector warmed up. She gave a small laugh, looked down at her notebook, and said, “Because stories make people feel. And when people feel, they begin to care. That is where change starts.”
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| Panel discussion on ‘Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Service Delivery in Nigeria,’ at the SRHR Policy Dialogue Hosted by Nigeria Health Watch |
By Cynthia Umeh
Shades of Us participated in the SRHR Policy Dialogue organized by Nigeria Health Watch and supported by Organon. The event, titled “Closing Reproductive Health Impact Gaps – Strategic Approaches for Equity and Access,” brought together key voices in the health and development space to examine the growing challenges in delivering sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. With global funding on the decline, the conversation highlighted the pressing need for creative, homegrown strategies to ensure equitable and sustainable access to SRHR for all.
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Panel discussion on ‘Addressing Policy Implementation and Funding Gaps for SRHR Impact’ at the SRHR Policy Dialogue Hosted by Nigeria Health Watch |
By Yecenu Sasetu
Imagine this. There is a girl. We will call her Anna.
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Speakers of Panel I, who Discussed Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Service Delivery in Nigeria |
By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
Shades of Us attended the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Policy Dialogue hosted by Nigeria Health Watch with support from Organon on July 3, 2025. The theme, Closing Reproductive Health Impact Gaps – Strategic Approaches for Equity and Access, was an important conversation focused on the gaps in SRHR information and service delivery with global funding cuts and the need for more innovative approaches for sustainability.
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| Ramatu (Shades of Us) and Bernard (EVA Nigeria) Discussing “Rethinking Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for the Young Nigerian.” on Montage Radio |
On July 5, 2025, Shades of Us and Education as a Vaccine (EVA Nigeria) joined the Health 360 program on Montage Radio, 99.7 FM, Abuja to discuss “Rethinking Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for the Young Nigerian.” This conversation was inspired by the ongoing SRHR Policy Dialogue hosted by Nigeria Health Watch (with support from Organon) on July 3, 2025.
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| Image by Shades of Us |
By Yecenu Sasetu
Poverty became a harsh reality for me about ten years ago when I met a pregnant woman who had never attended antenatal care because she couldn’t afford the N100 registration fee. She was eight months pregnant but had never been examined by a doctor or nurse, simply because she couldn’t pay to register at the Primary Health Center.
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| Photo by Sunday Abegunde on Unsplash |
By Yecenu Sasetu
I tried my hand at gambling once, even though I grew up with the words “gambling is a sin” ringing in my ears. If you are a Christian, you don’t go near gambling, but I did. My friend convinced me to, and like many young Nigerians today, I wanted to hit and hit fast.
Lightning Talkat the Solutions Journalism Africa Summit in Abuja Reflections from the SoJo Africa Summit 2025 By Simbiat Amzat The SoJo Afri...
