Afrocritik: Redefining Art and Culture through African Perspectives

By Ahmed Yerima

In the last three years, Afrocritik has established itself as a media platform dedicated to promoting African arts and culture.

Since its official launch in 2021, the platform has maintained its focus on advancing cultural discourse through thought-provoking reviews, spotlights, interviews, and weekly dialogues.

With a dedicated commitment to amplifying the creative expressions of African artists, writers, and cultural practitioners, Afrocritik continues to carve a niche in the continent’s growing art ecosystem.

One of Afrocritik’s most notable contributions is its emphasis on fostering critical engagement with African art and literature. By publishing works from writers across the continent, the platform has become a bridge for sharing authentic African stories with a global audience.

These publications encompass critiques of books, movies, visual art, and performances, offering insightful perspectives that deepen understanding and appreciation of Africa’s rich cultural heritage. Afrocritik also regularly hosts interviews with creators, uncovering the inspirations and processes behind their work.

Beyond written content, Afrocritik leverages social media to engage with a broader audience. The platform’s AfrocritikSpaces, held weekly on X (formerly Twitter), explores topical issues in the African music industry, ranging from emerging trends to challenges faced by artists.

These conversations, moderated by co-founder Samson Jikeme and other key participants, have become a go-to forum for creators and enthusiasts alike. The inclusivity of this initiative, coupled with its focus on education and open dialogue, underscores Afrocritik’s mission to empower the creative community.

Central to Afrocritik’s vision is its co-founder, Samson Jikeme. Known for his critical analysis and advocacy for African art and culture, Samson has been instrumental in shaping the platform’s identity.

With a legal background and a deep passion for the arts, he has successfully navigated the intersection of entertainment, culture, and business. Samson’s journey into cultural criticism began during his university years, evolving from a personal interest into a professional pursuit.

This trajectory ultimately led him to co-found Afrocritik as a platform for celebrating African excellence across various creative disciplines. Samson has led a number of projects through Afrocritik that are meant to enhance the cultural landscape.

The platform’s goal goes beyond entertainment to include more diverse forms of cultural expression, such as literature, stage performances, and visual arts. Samson and his team have created a knowledge base that not only honors but also questions and promotes African innovation by gathering critical commentary and encouraging discussions about African art forms.

Afrocritik’s dedication to developing rising stars is further demonstrated by its publishing methodology. The platform is crucial in guiding the upcoming generation of cultural commentators by providing a venue for authors and critics to showcase their work.

This strategy fits with Samson’s goal of fostering an atmosphere that encourages the success of African artists. His leadership is demonstrated by the way Afrocritik continuously elevates the voices of marginalized authors and artists, highlighting their contributions to the changing cultural narrative of the continent.

A unique feature of Afrocritik’s engagement strategy is its ability to combine entertainment and education.

From its in-depth reviews to its interactive Twitter Spaces, the platform consistently addresses issues that impact the African creative industry.

Recent discussions on AfrocritikSpaces have featured notable artists like AQ and Ajebo Hustlers, providing audiences with insider perspectives on the music business.

Samson’s role as producer and co-host of these spaces demonstrates his commitment to fostering transparency and growth in the industry.

Samson’s influence extends beyond Afrocritik to his work as an entertainment lawyer, where he has represented record labels and creatives, ensuring their intellectual property and business interests are protected.

His dual expertise in law and media adds a layer of credibility to Afrocritik’s operations, allowing the platform to address issues like copyright, royalties, and artist management with a nuanced perspective.

The impact of Afrocritik during the last three years is indicative of a concentrated effort to rethink the way that African art and culture are viewed and analyzed.

The platform keeps creating tales that both honor and question the creative output of the continent by fusing critical discussion with real-world projects. Afrocritik, which is co-led by Samson Jikeme, is a monument to the ability of African creativity to establish venues where critical thinking, art, and culture all effectively converge.