Essays & Arguments
Who Wants a War in West Africa? (August, 2023) essay in Popula
Nigeria’s Last General Departs the Political Stage (May, 2023) essay in Foreign Policy.
Nigeria’s Presidential Candidates Are Deeply Uninspiring (July 6, 2022) | Essay in Foreign Policy.
Nigeria’s Twitter Ban Is Another Sign Dictatorship Is Back (June 2021) | Foreign Policy.
Early Yorùbá books at the BL and How to Find (some of) Them Online (September 2, 2020) | Essay for the British Library.
How Should We Write Yorùbá? Diacritics in Modern Yoruba Writing (August 14, 2020) | For the British Library African and Asian blog, a preview to the Webinar on Yorùbá orthography.
Writing Africa’s Future in New Characters (July 2020) | For Popula.com, a review of the new Ndebe Script created to write Igbo into the coming future.
Ẹ̀ṣù at the BL: Journeys Through Literature and Technology (May 2020) | For the British Library Afrian & Asian blog, an overview of the transformation of Èṣù from religious folklore to literature, and to technology.
Trump’s Nigerian Ban Is About Race, Not Security (February 2020) | Foreign Policy.
African Literature through the Language Lens: The Yorùbá Example (December 30, 2019) | For the British Library African and Asian Studies blog, an overview of the Yorùbá language publishing history, from the earliest days in bilingual colonial newspapers to Tútùọlá, Ekwensi, and Achebe.
On Lionheart’s Oscar ban: Is Nigerian English a Foreign Language? (November 6, 2019) | For AfricanArguments.com, an essay that argues that Nigerian English is either a Nigerian language (and thus should not be disqualified for the Oscars) or is not a Nigerian language (and thus TOEFL should be revisited).
Why Write in Yorùbá on the Internet (May 2019) | For the School of Oriental and African Studies blog, a short expose on the problem of writing African languages (with Yorùbá as a familiar example) on the internet, and potential solutions in crowdsourcing.
On African Languages and Literature: Lessons from Korea (April 17, 2018) | For Agbowó, the transcript of a speech delivered at Kyung Hee University, Korea, on January 25, 2018, to a group of literature students and professors on the subject of language and literature.
Complementary ‘Insularity’ as a Language Development Strategy (February 27, 2018) | For Premium Times, a defense of which I call “complementary insularity”: a decision to work on one language as a way of encouraging other languages, rather than a limitation compelled by the ‘problem’ of a multilingualism.
Another Kind of Poverty Gap: The Erosion of Language Diversity (January 21, 2018) | For Premium Times, the transcript of a speech delivered at the PyeonChang Humanities Forum at the Seoul National University Seoul, South Korea, on January 20, 2018 on the problems of the erosion of language diversity on economics and other values. [Audio here].
The Suspended Leg in the Tripod of Identity: Yorùbá Around the World Today. (November, 2017) first published in English and Italian in Il Suono di Pan, an anthology edited by Prof. MM Tosolini and launched at Cividale del Friuli, near Udine in Italy.
In the Shadow of Context (March 20, 2017) | In Enkare Review, a response to a 2016 literary controversy in the Nigerian literary space, and commentary on context as a problematic presence in the culture of literary prizes, using examples from classical and contemporary attempts at objectivity.
In Defense of Engagement: KABAFEST, Literary Festivals, and Bad Faith Protest (July 2017) | First published on OlisaTV, an opinion piece on the Kaduna Book and Arts Festival, the controversy surrounding Nigerian writers’ participation in it, and the arguments against the bad-faith protest of some of the loudest vitriolic voices against it.
MAGA America? Oh Well. LOL (Jan 11, 2017) | Inspired by a series of morphological, phonological, and political coincidences, this piece written for my Medium page plays the devil’s advocate in recreating the etymology of the word that has captured the American imagination since the 2016 elections.
Are You Smarter Than Zuckerberg? (January 5, 2017) | for Medium/Danfomatic, an essay using Mark Zuckerberg’s family and bilingual child-rearing techniques to illustrate a problem with Nigeria’s myopic middle class when it comes to the idea and prospects of of biligual education.
Èṣù” isn’t “the Devil”; But You Knew That Already (December 16, 2016) | For the YorubaNames Blog, an essay on the mistranslation of Èṣù in popular culture but mostly in technology; and my role as an employee at Google (2015/2019) in correcting the error for good.
My Feminism: On the Necessity of Men (November 28, 2016) | For Brittle Paper, a personal essay on the inclusion of men in the conversation about feminism and its character, written against the background of Donald Trump’s election as the 45th President of the United States. The essay itself, a contribution to a Brittle Paper symposium on the subject, stems from a controversial comment by writer Chimamanda Adichie on the “type” of feminism practiced by Beyonce Knowles with whom she’d worked in the past.
“Lingua Fracas” as a Positive (June 3, 2016) | For Premium Times, a nonfiction reflection from Ostana in Italy on the issues of multilingualism and the advantages from other countries’ successful examples.
How Many People Speak Yorùbá? (June 15, 2015) for the YorubaName Blog, an essay examining the problem of actually determining how many people speak Yorùbá or any Nigerian language.
Books & Reviews
Ogadinma: Book Title as Prayer (March 29, 2020) | For The Lagos Review, a review of Ogadinma by Ukamaka Olisakwe and a season of pandemic under which the book was read, and under which the author, moving from one country to another, contemplates the meaning of life and death.
Ulli Beier at the British Library (March 23, 2020) | For the British Library African and Asian Studies blog, a short overview of the work of (and about) Ulli Beier at the British Library, looking at his role in the development of African literature.
Art Chasing Life Blatantly(February 20, 2017) | For Brittle Paper, a review of Chibundu Onuzo’s sophomore novel Welcome to Lagos, examining its use of language and craft.
On Memory, Identity, and Home: On Tope Folarin’s “A Particular Kind of Black Man” September 8th, 2019 | For KTravula.com, a review of Tọ́pẹ́ Fọlárìn’s debut novel as “a kind of meditation on identity, memory, and the definition of home.”
Bassey’s Literature as Truth; Truth as Literature (July 18th, 2019) | For KTravula.com, a review of I’m Telling the Truth but I’m Lying, a book of essays by Bassey Ikpi.
Thoughts on “Freshwater” (April 26th, 2018)|For KTravula.com, a review of Akwaeke Emezi’s Freshwater, a story that looks at the phenomenon of Ọgbanje through the modern lens of gender dysphoria, mental illness, and the moving life of one intensely fascinating character.
Níyì Ọ̀ṣúndáre: A Literary Biography (October 9, 2017) | For Brittle Paper, a review of the latest literary biography of one of Africa’s most prominent poets and bard.
On “The Heresiad” by Ikeogu Oke (October 1st, 2017) | for KTravula.com, a review of a shortlisted poetry collection for the 2017 Nigeria Prize for Literature.
On “Songs of Myself” by Tanure Ojaide (September 28, 2017) | for KTravula.com, a review of a shortlisted poetry collection for the 2017 Nigeria Prize for Literature.
On “A Good Mourning” by Ogaga Ifowodo (September 25th, 2017) | for KTravula.com, a review of a shortlisted poetry collection for the 2017 Nigeria Prize for Literature.
Reading JP’s America (July 18, 2017) | for KTravula.com, a review of JP Clark’s impressive travel nonfiction classic about America, written from the experience of the author as a recently-ejected Parvin Fellow at Princeton.
Ngugi’s Tribute to Memory (June 26, 2017) |For Brittle Paper, a review of Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s third memoir titled Birth of a Dream Weaver which focuses on the writer’s early life in the university, and the first few years of his writing career.
Soft Notes and Love Notes | A Review of Odafe Atógun’s Taduno’s Song (June 11, 2017) | For BrittlePaper.com, a review of Odafe Atógun’s debut novel.
Dystopia in Many Words (May 15, 2017) |For Brittle Paper, a review of Lauren Beukes’ Slipping which is a collection of dystopian short stories that challenge the contemporary idea of the modern African short story.
A Book for the Tasting | First published in January 2017 on Village Factor, a review of Yẹ́misí Aríbisálà’s Longthroat Memoirs of "...encounters, hilarious personal stories told through the keyhole of a writer obsessed with the dimension of food in everything, from sex to dreams."
Travel as Life: A Review of Route 234 (September 6, 2016) | For KTravula.com, a review of the travel stories anthology edited by Pẹ̀lú Awófẹ̀sọ̀.
A Diligent Retelling: Reading Teju Cole’s Essay Collection (August 22, 2016) | For KTravula.com, a short review of Tẹ́jú Cole’s 2016 book of essays, including commentary on a problematic habit of style relating to writing conventions, and orthographies by African writers publishing in English.
A Dance of Complexities (July 20th, 2014) for KTravula.com, a review of a drama production by Ṣẹ́gun Adéfilá.
The Travails of Logan – A Review of “Foreign Aid” (June, 2013) | For NigeriansTalk, a review of a short story shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize.
The Fledgling Whispers of a Story – a review of Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s short story (June, 2013) Written for NigeriansTalk, a review of a short story shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize.
No, Not “America”, but Love – A Review (June, 2013) | Written for NigeriansTalk, a review of a short story shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize.
Losing a Faith You Never Had: A Review of Tọ́pẹ́ Fọlárìn's "Miracle" (May, 2013) | Written for NigeriansTalk, a review of a short story shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize.
The Children of “Bayan Layi” – A Review of Elnathan John’s “Bayan Layi” (May, 2013) | For NigeriansTalk, a review of a short story shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize.
Literature & Travel
Biyi Bándélé: The Storyteller Departs (August 8, 2022) An Obituary in OlongoAfrica.
Lingua Fracas in Rio a conferencegoer's adventure (February 18 2022) A travelogue in Popula.
A Lagos of Memories (July 2021) For Google Arts & Culture’s exhibit on Lagos.
A Book Collector’s Journal (April 9, 2021) Essay for OlongoAfrica about book collection.
London in September, a Homage to Memory (October, 2019) | For The Lagos Review, a recap of a month in London as a Chevening Research Fellow, covering other issues relating to forgetting, creating a canon, navigating a new city, and growing old.
Nigerian Food Culture Explained in 3 Yorùbá Sayings (July 2019) | For Google Arts & Culture exhibit on food.
Humans of New York visits Lagos (March 17, 2019) | For Popula, a write-up on a week spent with Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York collecting and documenting stories in Lagos, Nigeria.
A House for Mister Ṣóyínká (August 24, 2018) | For Popula, an essay on a day spent with Africa’s first Nobel Laureate to gather his thoughts on living in the jungle, engaging the Nigerian literary space, and encountering VS Naipaul as a young writer.
One Day in New York (October 29, 2018) | For Popula, a narrative about one non-eventful day in New York.
“City Changes in the Face of Collective Memory” (July, 2018) | An essay in Open City Lagos (a print journal published by Heinrich Boll Stiftung and Nsibidi Institute) about Lagos and the changes to its landscape conditioned by economic forces and a nonchalance towards history and documentation.
Class Sessions (September 15, 2015) | For JaladaAfrica.org, a fictionalized event first published at KTravula.com from my teaching days at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Abẹ́òkuta’s Living History (April 16th, 2014) | For KTravula.com, a travel nonfiction about the histories, stories, and memories hidden and visible under the many places we pass by every day, using Abẹ́òkuta as a notable example.
A Short History of My Face (May 11, 2010) | For AfricanWriter.com, a personal essay first published on KTravula.com, addressing an early childhood incident with a Yorùbá cultural practice of tribal marking, childhood precociousness, and parental influence.
More of my travel-related writings, mostly published as blogs of visits to different places in the world, have been itemized and can be found on this page on my travel blog, along with their dates of publication.
Language & Technology
Africa Represented: Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún considers technology issues in African languages and why the ability to write online is crucial. Essay in The Linguist (April/May, 2022)
Poetic Evolution: When the translator becomes lexicographer and a driver of language evolution and growth. Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún discusses his poetry translation into Yorùbá Essay in The Linguist (February/March, 2022)
Decolonizing Innovation (October 2019) | The text of a talk delivered at Sussex Nigerian Society’s Black History Month event at the University of Sussex on Wednesday, October 10, 2019, focusing on the importance of native language in innovation and development.
Progress and Directions in Mobile Tonemarking (July 31, 2018) First published on Medium, a positive appraisal of the recently-launched GBoard with my role in it, and suggestions for future solutions in the directions of mobile tonemarking.
Wetin Dey? Nigerian Pidgin and Its Many Pikin (June 2, 2017) | First published by the National Theatre, London, as companion to the play Barber Shop Chronicles by Innua Ellams which showed from May 30, 2017, this piece takes a look at the origin of Nigerian Pidgin from its first likely word in 1456.
What We’re Building Next (March 14, 2017) | For Medium, an overview of the current state of African language technology, and a proposal to build a speech synthesis application to fill in the gap.
The Role of Reporting in the Preservation of Culture and Indigenous Knowledge (January 3, 2017) | First delivered as a speech at the Union of Campus Journalists’ Induction Ceremony, University of Ibadan, On Saturday, October 8, 2016, giving first hand tips to young student writers about the future and how they can change it.
Raising a Bilingual (August 2016) | First published on Medium, this piece examines the problem of raising a child in Lagos on a language that, though his mother tongue, appears to become less available for speaking because of a number of metropolitan challenges.
A Night in Wales: Pursuing The “English Not” (March 4, 2016) | First published on my travel blog KTravula.com along with A Night in Wales: Of Bilingualism in Britain, the essay uses a first-hand travel experience in Cardiff to examine the history of language discrimination in Wales, as compared to the example in Nigeria, as a way to propose that all hope is not yet lost.
Studies of Initial Tonal Acquisition by American English Speakers Learning Yorùbá (2012) | Masters Thesis at Southern Illinois University, now published on Academia.edu.
Speaking the Machine (2007) | for Farafina Magazine Issue 12, print issue, a personal narrative essay on my first major translation experience, with lessons and challenges that have motivated my future work.