| Good morning! ☀️ | If your partner hasn't bought you one of those copy-and-paste Valentine's packages, consider yourself lucky. (Or… perhaps you're single? 👀) | The internet is currently in shambles. Vendors are complaining about "wasted" stock that no one's buying, while everyone else is wondering why every package looks the same, despite costing a small fortune. | Let's get into it. | In this edition: | Esiri Brothers' Clarissa The Problem with Vague Valentine Packages Pressed by the Juice: An exclusive Love Playlist 6 Nigerians on What They're Gifting This Valentine's
| | | | Did you hear? Clarissa is here | 🔍 THE CONTEXT | If you missed Eyimofe, here's your chance to catch up—the Esiri brothers, Arie and Chuko, are back with their sophomore feature. Clarissa is a contemporary reimagining of Virginia Woolf's iconic 20th-century novel Mrs Dalloway, set against the vibrant backdrop of Lagos and Delta State. | The stellar cast includes Oscar-nominated British-Nigerian actress Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), David Oyelowo (Selma), the ever-dazzling Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), India Amarteifio (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story), and Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso). | Many critics consider Eyimofe a landmark in Nigerian cinema, praised for its bold style and intimate portrait of Lagos. It premiered at Berlinale, won five AMAAs, and became the first Nigerian film in the Criterion Collection. This sets sky-high expectations for Clarissa. |
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| | ZOOM IN | Set in Lagos and Delta State, Clarissa follows socialite Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares to host a party, only to unexpectedly reunite with intimate friends from her youth. Over one night, the group confronts memories of passionate love, hidden desires, and lost dreams in a bittersweet reckoning with their past. Shot on 35mm film, it's Woolf's introspective classic reimagined through a Nigerian lens. |
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| | ZOOM OUT | The Esiri brothers' debut Eyimofe premiered at Berlin, won five African Movie Academy Awards, and became the first Nigerian film in the Criterion Collection. Clarissa has been acquired by Neon for worldwide distribution and is financed by Africa-based Afreximbank's CANEX Creations Inc, a groundbreaking shift for Nigerian cinema. Even films like My Father's Shadow relied on UK funding, but Clarissa shows Africa finally backing its own stories. The future may be bright, after all. | Fingers crossed on the accent, though 🤞🏽 |
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| | | | Romance isn't Vague - So What Are These Valentine Packages? | It's February again, Cupid's favourite month, and your timeline is probably flooded with Valentine's packages. Flowers and chocolate combos. Plush toys and perfume. Wine. A teddy bear. Maybe a card. And of course, the dramatic tier names: The Princess Bundle. The Yori Yori Package. | Two things are certain about this year's Valentine's Day: one, I don't have a date, and two, about fifty people will be opening the same Valentine's packages. | And therein lies my biggest gripe: romance is personal, so why does it look mass-produced? | The Igbo people capture a thought well with the words "afurum gi n-anya", which translates to "I see you with my eyes." So, romance could be summarized in one word: attentiveness. To participate in romance is to listen carefully, remember details, and act on what you have gathered. Gifting is where this knowledge you have accumulated comes to the test. | A good gift says, "I see you. I hear you." A gift should reflect the person receiving it. | So tell me, how can fifty people receive the same box? Do they all share the same personality? | Romance frowns at sameness because it thrives on tailor-made gestures. Take, for example, Valentine's packages like the "Love in a Box" curated by a certain Lagos brand—two cupcakes, a bottle of wine, a single rose, and a card. Can you really tell who it's for? No, because they lack personality, they are curated blandness. They also appear elaborate but require minimal thought; it is an illusion of effort. | These packages ask you to outsource romance. You outsource the thinking, the remembering, the creativity. You are basically outsourcing emotional labour, which is a building block of any relationship. And romance becomes a thing you check off the list; Valentine's Day becomes a reluctant obligation. | I do know that capitalism has a hand in the thwarting of romance. The reason these packages exist in the first place is because of capitalism. Capitalism made chocolate, roses, and teddy bears synonymous with romance. That is why the anti-Valentine squad can make the "Valentine's Day is commercial" argument because, to an extent, it is true. Capitalism thrives on uniformity, scalability, and repeatable symbols. The oversimplification of Valentine packages proves this. | The secret is that true romance sits in observation. It can look like a handwritten letter referencing shared moments, a recreation of the first date, a dress they mentioned two months ago, or a gift tied to an inside joke. | If your partner really likes chocolate, then please feel free to buy them the Snickers building. I'm not saying those Valentine's packages are necessarily bad, but they are not the epitome of true romance. And I assume we all want to be real lovers. Don't lie; I see your tweets. | You may not remember anything else, but please remember that romance requires your presence and attention. Before you pick up that hamper or text that vendor, ask yourself, does my partner really care about teddy bears? What's the name of that TV show they really love? What have they said they wanted in the past weeks? | Romance says, "I see you." | Now look at the Valentine's gift you're about to purchase and ask yourself, does this say, "I see my partner?" | | | | | | This Week's Playlist | Valentine's edition: Maybe cos it's Valentine's Day and love is in the air, we are in our feelings this weekend. So if you are looking for a playlist to slow dance to with your lover, we've got the right vibe for you. Send this to your lover or lovers (polycules are allowed here), telling them how you are feeling because sometimes words may fail us, but music never does ♡. | Don't forget to save, we update frequently. | | 💕 SPECIAL VALENTINE EDITION |
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| 6 Nigerians on What They're Gifting This Valentine's | We asked young Nigerians what they're gifting their partners this Valentine's Day. The answers range from deeply romantic to hilariously practical. Scroll on 🔽 | | Nne, 27 | "I considered really practical gifts, and all the boxes I saw were rubbish. So I curated a box: a personalised bracelet, a watch strap for his smartwatch, it goes with the bracelet, an Install shirt, and a note, because he loves my notes and handwriting. I also considered getting him shoes, but omo, shoes are expensive." |
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| | Ezekiel, 35 | "My wife and I do a seven-day treat every year. We just started, so I can't give all the details. She reads the newsletter, but two days ago, she received Purple Lady, her favourite perfume. Right now, I'm trying to get my hands on seven orchids; the number seven is symbolic to us. On the last day, she'll get a new Samsung S26. She's starting her brand after years of pestering her to, so I'm gifting her the phone to encourage her, to show her I believe in her, as I always have and always will." |
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| | Lolade, 27 | "I'm designing a mail for him. His birthday is later in the month, so I'm focusing on that. I'm also getting him a handmade shoe he really wants. He's been going on about cake, so I'm getting that too." |
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| | Geneveive, 23 | "My partner really likes to cook, but sometimes work gets in the way and time is lost. So, for Valentine's Day, I'm getting him an air fryer. I think it will make his cooking process faster." |
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| | Ese, 29 | "The man I married likes gifts he can actually use, so I'm paying for one or two of his yearly subscriptions. I think practical gifts are the way to go. I've done leather goods before and even fixed a Casio watch he owned. One time, I fixed his mini wardrobe hall because he was complaining a lot and doing nothing about it. I'm also planning to replace some of his leather goods—they have his name embossed on them." |
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| | Ben, 23 | "I'm getting him a microbiology textbook. He's an artist, but he has always said that if he weren't into art, he would have loved to be a microbiologist. I find that fascinating, so I'm heading to the bookstore to find a nice biology textbook." |
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| | 💌What are YOU gifting? | Reply to this email with your Valentine's gift reveal and stand a chance to be featured in our next issue! Also, if you'd like to be interviewed, send us an email too. |
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| | Happy weekend! | Love from your favorite editor, Shalom. |
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| | Today's email was brought to you by Shalom Tewobola and Praise Okeoghene Vandeh. | Editing by: Shalom Tewobola | Designs by: Daniel Banjoko |
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