INNE Other Stories: Good Sh*t
A weekly roundup of the most interesting stories about Nigeria and Nigerians worldwide. Hand curated with love. Delivered via email on Sundays.
Sunday, 21 January 2018 | Welcome back to INNE Other Stories. They say good things come in threes, so…third time’s a charm! Whether you’re an old faithful reader from the early days of this newsletter in 2016, to the redesign in 2017, or a brand new subscriber, welcome and come on INNE to the third iteration of INNE Other Stories.
This edition is full of good sh*t. (Perhaps Cheeto needs to subscribe so he can gain another perspective of Nigeria and Nigerians.) If you have a good story to share, interested in partnership opportunities, or just want to say Hi, feel free to get in touch: hello@inneotherstories.com. Otherwise, read, share, tweet, repeat.
LOST IN TRANSLATION
1 Is This Web Form Preventing Online Shopping From Taking Off In Many African Markets? | Idea by David Okwili for Quartz Africa
What happens when you copy and paste Western innovations without adapting accordingly to the local context? You end up lost in translation…or in the case of e-commerce, lost upon delivery. Nigerian road networks, and consequently postal addresses, are nothing shy of convoluted. So does it really make sense to follow the same delivery address nomenclature as countries with established and formal addresses? File this one under: sometimes the answer is much easier than you think.
THIS SH*T DOESN’T STINK
2 Baby Diapers in Nigeria | Insights by Danielle le Clus-Rossouw via Nonwovens Industry
Over 20,000 babies were born in Nigeria on New Year’s Day this year. Both a blessing and a curse. Let’s talk blessings. Babies are cute and cuddly and they poop. This is good sh*t. The diaper industry in Nigeria is booming, although not without the expected challenges (access to capital and forex, electricity constraints, fragmented distribution network). In light of, multinationals and local manufacturers are duking it out for this sh*t.
GO HUT YOURSELF
3Cheap Tech Fixes That Could Transform Life In Developing Countries | Infographic by Karla Lant, G Luhman, and Lou Patrick Mackay via Futurism
Trump may have gotten one thing right. Perhaps Nigerians should go back to living in huts. 3-D printed mud homes that are naturally insulated and made from locally sourced materials to be precise. And they cost $50. Cheap chic solution for the 51% of the population who live in rural areas. From $50 3-D printed mud homes to solar cookers made from cardboard, glass and newspapers, this infographic shows the West certainly isn’t best when it comes to frugal innovation.
THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
4 Transition: My Surgeries Were A Bridge Across Realities | Story by Akwaeke Emezi via The Cut
Gender identity. A mindset and state of being that is commonly explored from a western standpoint. But throughout Africa, and in Nigeria, we have our own philosophies. Sometimes, otherworldly. More oft than not, unspoken. In this beautifully written narrative by Akwaeke Emezi, author of soon-to-be-released novel Freshwater, Akwaeke explores the concept of the Igbo spirit Ogbanje, and her journey towards realizing her true self. |
A TRIBE CALLED GIDI
5 Gidi Tribe Documentary | Video via Gidi Culture Fest
You’ve heard of Coachella in the US. You’ve heard of Glastonbury in the UK. But have you heard of Gidi Culture Fest in Nigeria? Well if you don’t know, now you know. And even Diplo knows. In a short 5 years, Gidi Culture Fest has become one of Africa’s largest beach festivals, taking place during Easter weekend in Lagos annually, and bringing together a tribe of people who love to revel in good vibes. The culture and the creators were captured in this documentary. Welcome to a Tribe Called Gidi.
That’s just a glimpse of this week’s newsletter. There are more stories where that came from. Click here to read the full newsletter.
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