the curated: january edition
the best of what to read, watch, listen to & more
Welcome to the first edition of the curated, our monthly collection where I’ll share the very best of what to read, watch, listen to, and more!
This January I decided to skip the resolutions and go straight into embodying my highest self, thanks to some amazing advice from Ehime Ora on her Patreon.
A big part of embodying your highest self is ensuring everything you consume adds to the vision. With this in mind, I decided to spend my January reading over doomscrolling, focusing on my writing craft, curating vibey playlists, and watching thought-provoking movies. And all that was worth it because now I get to bring you the creme of the crop. Enjoy!
-Nneka xx
table of contents
what to read
Spirits Come from Water by Ehime Ora
Available on Author’s Website
There aren’t many books on ancestral veneration and West African spirituality, which makes it hard for beginners to know where to start. Luckily, God gave us Ehime Ora. Spirits Come from Water is the perfect book for anyone looking to deepen their spiritual relationship with their ancestors and learn more about African spirituality. Reading this book has been such a profoundly healing experience that I can’t recommend it enough! Plus, it includes handy prayers, practices, and rituals that would enrich any spiritualist’s life—from beginners to experts.
Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe
Available at Thrift Books.
Chinua Achebe. That’s really all you need to know this book is worth the read. Aside from being a legendary writer, Chinua Achebe was also an incredible thinker, whose work confronted the impact of colonialism in Nigeria. Arrow of God follows Ezeulu, an Igbo chief priest in 1920s Nigeria, as he grapples with the onset of Christianity and colonization in his community. Achebe’s writing style and vivid descriptions render this book a deep meditation on the Igbo way of life.
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Available at Thrift Books.
Chain-Gang All-Stars is a riveting read with an important message. In a dystopian world, where prisoners can compete in gladiator-style death matches, where does humanity draw the line? Unfortunately, the world Adjei-Brenyah describes is not much different from the world we exist in today. Black bodies are subjected to mass incarceration and injustices at the hands of the US penal system, an issue that is often overlooked and not addressed enough. This book is a heavy read, but a necessary education.
Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments by Saidiya Hartman
Available at Thrift Books.
Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments is a much-needed and well-documented history of the lives of queer Black women in twentieth-century New York and Philadelphia. Saidiya Hartman did a lot of deep research to bring this to life, but her delicious prose deserves its flowers too! This book is a reminder, that queerness has always been here, and those that exist on the periphery of societal standards tend to be the strongest advocates for human rights.
p.s: If you want more book recommendations I’ll be posting a full reading list once a month, so make sure you’re subscribed! You can also follow along with my reads on Goodreads!
what to watch
movies
Dahomey (2024)
Directed by Mati Diop
Available on Mubi
Beautiful and mystical, Dahomey follows the journey of 26 Dahomey artifacts from a museum in France back to their original home in the Benin Republic. Parts of the documentary are experienced from the perspective of the artifacts, who speak to their longing for a home that no longer exists. An alluring portrayal of Dahomey culture, this documentary is an important step in the fight for African artifacts to be returned to African soil.
Mami Wata (2023)
Directed by C.J ‘Fiery’ Obasi
Available on Mubi
CJ ‘Fiery’ Obasi is one of the directors spearheading the emergence of art films in Nollywood (the Nigerian movie industry), and he has made great strides with this movie. Filmed in a dreamy black-and-white monochrome with gorgeous costume direction, Mami Wata follows an oceanside village in Nigeria called Iyi who turn away from their patron deity, Mami Wata, after a string of misfortunes.
Juju Stories (2021)
Directed by Michael Omonua, Abba Makama and C.J ‘Fiery’ Obasi
Available on Prime Video
Juju Stories is a three-part anthology that follows three popular juju stories rooted in Nigerian urban legend and culture. An ambitious project featuring multiple directors (including CJ Obasi from Mami Wata), this film anthology is thoroughly enjoyable in all aspects. While it’s hard to pick a favorite, I’d have to choose the second film, YAM, as the most impressive.
youtube videos
Sango - More than a deity
Sometimes, the YouTube algorithm brings me recipes and vlogs, and other times, it brings me highly researched and well-produced mini-docs like Sango: More than a deity. This documentary explores the Yoruba deity Ṣàngó and his influence on modern Nigerian theater. Parallels are drawn between how Ṣàngó is perceived as a deity in religious settings and a cultural figure in the theater— and whether there is conflict between both.
Zadie Smith Interview: On Shame, Rage and Writing
“I feel the rage, but my rage matching their rage is pointless. I think it’s more interesting to think about what it is about white people that find the idea of any collectivity that excludes them so upsetting.”
This interview was six years ago during Trump’s first presidency, but the sentiment is especially relevant in our current climate. I found Zadie Smith’s words helpful in contextualizing and grounding my rage. Plus, her insights on shame offer a new perspective to the writing process.
what to wear
Brand Highlight: Meji Meji
When I envision my highest self, she’s wearing Meji Meji. Meji Meji is a Lagos brand that champions itself on showcasing Black culture. Their clothing gives me such nostalgia for Lagos in the 2000s! I’m currently eyeing their Midnight Snack tee and Owo Ni Koko tank, but you can’t go wrong with anything in their collection.
The London Maxi Handbag by Kai Collective
Kai Collective released their first-ever bag: the London Maxi Handbag, and I’m obsessed. I love how huge this bag is because I’ve always wanted a bag that can carry all my books and still serve looks.
Faded Under Eye Mask by Topicals
Who said skincare can’t be a look? Certainly not Topicals! This is the one thing I’ll cop to being influenced on, but can you blame me? Topicals unwavering commitment to celebrating blackness makes me feel so seen. So, if you see me popping out with my Topicals under-eye mask, just know it’s a part of my look, okay?
what to listen to
Album Highlight: Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii
Everyone and their mom has listened to this, and for good reason. Alligator Bites Never Heal is the most impressive rap album of recent times. My top two songs are CATFISH and BOILED PEANUTS, with NISSAN ALTIMA as a veeery close third. If you haven’t listened to this album yet, I recommend watching Doechii’s Tiny Desk Concert, it’s the perfect introduction!
EP Highlight: KOKOROKO by Kokoroko
For my afrobeat and jazz fans, I present you Kokokoro, an afro-jazz fusion band that creates the most exquisite melodies. If you aren’t familiar with the band, this EP is a great introduction. I put it on whenever I want that heady, floating-in-the-sky feeling. It’s great for those lazy Sunday mornings, or sunsets on quiet days.
No Budget by Niambi
You might know Niambi as one-half of the duo OSHUN. While OSHUN is no longer making music together (🥲), Niambi is not taking her foot off the gas with No Budget. This is the song I listen to when I want to feel unfuckwithable. This is the song I listen to when I want to feel like a bad bitch. This is the song I listen to in the shower, in transit, before I go to bed, and when I wake up. This is my life anthem, hallelujah.
Oshun’s Sweet Waters by Chief Alaje
If you like the jazzy vibes of Kokoroko, you’ll enjoy this song by Chief Alaje, called Oshun’s Sweet Water. It’s jazzy and upbeat, and the African drums on this track make me want to groove! I love listening to this on my living room speakers when I’m having a mini dance party for one, or when I’m doing artsy things like painting (or writing this post 😉).
Pursuit of Solace by Nasir
I really love classical music. It’s amazing when I need to focus, or when I need a soundtrack to romanticize my life. But, friends, classical music is not just the songs from centuries ago. We have some amazing composers, like Nasir on Pursuit of Solace, who are making modern melodies that I hope will be looked at with much appreciation in years to come. If you’re a classical music lover like me, I guarantee this song is right up your alley.
p.s: We recently curated our community ‘joy’ playlist that you can listen to HERE. To stay in the loop, make sure you join our chat :)
what to interact with
activities
Get in losers, we’re going scrapbooking! I've owned many scrapbooks, but if I had to start my scrapbooking journey from scratch, I’d start with this video. Cam Does It shares some amazing tips for the budding scrapbooker, including supplies she uses, her approach to scrapbooking, and why documenting our memories is important.
Yin yoga is a great regulation tool, and Move with Shaunneka has some amazing yin practices for anyone looking for a calmer movement flow. I like this morning full-body stretch when I need an easeful transition into my day.
creators
Realization by Pea
Pea is the queen of energetic strategy, and her manifestation tips have changed my life. I appreciate her no BS approach to manifestation, and the clear way she describes energetics. For the spiritually curious, she’s a great resource to rely on.
P0liticalbaby
Maro AKA Politicalbaby is one of my favourite thinkers online right now. And clearly, I’m not alone, because she’s already amassed a 12K+ following on TikTok. From theories on Choke Me Daddy Politics and the Detty December Industrial Complex, she cleverly analyzes pop culture and real-life issues from an intellectual sociological lens. I have to stan!
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that’s all folks!
Thanks so much for reading. If you’ve tried out any of the books/movies/products/etc on the list, please let me know in the comments!
follow us on ig @daughteroftheesoil 💃🏿 connect with nneka: 📲 all my socials 📸 ig - @nnekaoflove 📹 yt - @nnekaoflove 🎶 my spotify 📚 my goodreads 💌 email me love letters: nnekauwefoh@gmail.com
Any time I start to wonder about African spirituality I’m met with an internal conflict between wanting to know more but not wanting to wrong my Christian faith. I’m going to look into some of these suggestions-thank you!
This is a fantastic curation! Can we get a monthly one?