Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
FAMOUS SIBLINGS When Talent Runs in the Family
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
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THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
EDITOR’S NOTE
CONTENT
Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron
15 WELLNESS
T
he bond between siblings is quite fascinating, particularly when it extends into the world of achievement. Across Nigeria and Africa, siblings have made their mark in music, film, politics and business, sharing beginnings but often carving out very different paths. Their stories reveal how family, upbringing, encouragement and even rivalry can shape ambition. From the Okoyes to the Apatas, the Sarakis to the Egbusons, these sibling connections offer compelling stories of shared roots and individual identity. While some have collaborated or drawn inspiration from one another, others have had to navigate comparisons, public expectations and the challenge of stepping out of a familiar family shadow. Being related may create a connection, but it does not determine one's journey. In this cover story, we celebrate notable Nigerian siblings whose contributions have shaped their respective fields. Beyond their achievements, we explore the relationships, experiences and personal ambitions behind their stories, and what it means to build an individual legacy while sharing a family name. Scroll to pages 8 to 10 for this story. A calmer life is not about avoiding responsibilities, but learning to respond without treating every inconvenience as an emergency. From unexpected demands to disrupted plans, everyday pressures can quickly become overwhelming. Our wellness page in this issue explores how to prioritise, manage stress and approach life with greater perspective. Scroll to page 15 to enjoy the article. A memorable date night does not always require a restaurant reservation. Sometimes, cooking together at home offers the perfect recipe for connection, laughter and shared experiences. From preparing favourite meals to trying something new, our food page offers simple food-date ideas to enjoy together. Until next week, enjoy your read.
16 TRAVEL Favourite 04-06 8Designers at Lagos Fashion Week 2026
17 DOWNTOWN ZODIAC
Creating a Calm Life Stop Making Everything an Emergency
Why Nigerians Are Choosing Staycations Over Vacations
Scorpio The Intense, Loyal and Unapologetically Private One
FASHION
8-10 COVER
Famous Siblings When Talent Runs in the Family
Untold Truths 12 Who Are You When #UNSHAKABLE
TRUTHS
13
LUXURY SILK
14
BEAUTY
Nobody Knows You?
Terrible Caring for Your Hair Before, During and After Wearing a Protective Style
18
BON APPÉTIT
19
DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL
20
REVIEW
Easy Meals Couples Can Make Together
The Affair
You Can See Everything
WHAT YOU SAID Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm
- Contributing Writer Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.
Onah
Issue No. 299 • November 1, 2026
FATI MA G I M SAY
Making Movie History with Black Market
@mrmacaroni1
@onahluciaa +2348033239132
AUSTYN OGANNAH
Sally Chiwuzie @unshakable.is.a.state.of.mind - Contributing Writer Sally Chiwuzie is a non-practising barrister who owns the brand #Unshakable. She is the author of Silent Symphonies, a fictional love story, and the creator of the podcast Chronicles of #Unshakable Truths.
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Executive Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Writers:Dorcas Akintoye, Johnson Chukwueke & Evi-Ben Ezaga Design & Layout: Hogan Effiom Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun, Victoria Dairo & Olamide Abolarin Consulting Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown 254 Remi Fani-Kayode Avenue, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888
Ada Obiajunwa @aaddaahh - Contributing Writer Ada Obiajunwa writes from Lagos about the big truths tucked inside ordinary moments — friendship, self-discovery, and the quiet revolutions of everyday life. She believes in the power of presence, good banter, and decoding the unsaid. Through her fragrance studio, WhiffWonders, she also crafts scents that weave memory and emotion into experiences that feel like home.
@fatimahgimsay Thank you
@almazbitul Congratulations
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Issue No. ISSUE NO.300 261••November FEBRUARY8,08, 2026 2026
THEWILL DOWNTOWN THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com • www.thewilldowntown.com
FASHION
8 PAGE 4
FAVOURITE L DESIGNERS AT LAGOS FASHION WEEK 2026
BY DORCAS AKINTOYE agos Fashion Week 2026 took place from October 28 to November 1 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The five-day event brought together some of Africa's leading fashion talents, with collections that celebrated creativity, craftsmanship and individual style. Here are eight designers whose presentations caught our attention.
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
FASHION
AJANÉÉ
HERTUNBA Hertunba brought its signature style to the run way with a collection featur ing drop-waist silhouettes, statement fringes and detailed beadwork. Th e designs explored shades of blue, brown and bla ck, with traditional textures and modern shapes co ming together to create intere sting looks.
MALIKO
Maliko took a relaxed approach to ever yday style with a collection built around loose-fitting silhouettes, simple designs and understated colours. The pieces focused on comfort and easy dressing, showing that ever yday fashion can be both stylish and effortless.
Ajanée presented Masquerading (C loth as Spirit), a collectio n that explored the crea tive reuse of existing materials. Old sports jerseys and other garments were reworked in to dresses and unconventio nal pieces. It was an interesting approach to sustainable fash ion, showing how disc arded clothing can be tra nsformed into something ne w.
DWL DWL made its Lagos Fa shion Week runway debut wi th Heritage Redefined. Th e collection brought a fre sh perspective to modern workwear through struc tured tailoring, rich colours, fringe details and statement dra ping. Actress Osas Ighodaro also made an appearance in the presentation, closing the show.
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Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
FASHION
DÉSIRÉE IYAMA
OSHOBOR Oshobor brought a pla yful and dramatic feel to the runway with a collection that made extensive use of fringe. From colourfu l designs to textured pie ces, the presentation explo red interesting details.
UGO MONYE Ugo Monye brought drama to the runway with architecturalinspired designs and voluminous menswear silhouettes. The presentation also delivered one of the event's biggest surprises when Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu walked the runway.
Celebrating 10 ye ars in the fashion industr y, Désirée Iyama presented This Is Why, a collection inspired by the journey be hind the brand. The designs featured feminine silhoue ttes, flowing fabrics, tulle, orga nza and ruffles, with beau tiful details that brought the co llection together.
BOYEDOE
Ghanaian fashion brand BOYEDOE explored the relationship between traditional craftsmansh ip and contemporary style. Its collection featured earth y tones, denim, teal and the brand's signature kente fabric, combined with structur ed tailoring and distressed details. The result was an interesting mix of herita ge and modern fashion.
From the creative presentations to the industry conversations and networking opportunities, Lagos Fashion Week 2026 was a celebration of the people, ideas and craftsmanship driving African fashion forward. It also served as a reminder that African fashion is not just about what we wear, but the stories, skills and cultural influences behind every creation.
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THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
PROUD SILVER SPONSOR
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
West Africa’s Leading International Art Fair Returns
April Kamunde, I Don't Want a Seat at the Table of the Oppressor. I Want a Blanket and Pillow Down By the Ocean. I Want to Rest (2025). Image Courtesy of Afriart Gallery. Used with permission.
5—8 NOV.2026
Federal Palace Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria
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Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
COVER
FAMILY LEGACY When Talent Runs in the Family
BY NATO CHIMA
T
alent is often celebrated as an individual achievement, but sometimes the story begins much earlier, around the family table. Across Nigeria and Africa, siblings have built careers in music, film, politics and business, sometimes sharing the same stage and sometimes taking entirely different routes to recognition. Their stories offer more than the familiar idea that talent runs in the family. They reveal how upbringing, shared experiences, encouragement, competition and family expectations can shape ambition, while each sibling still has to establish an identity of their own. Consider the range: twin brothers who became one of Africa’s most successful music exports; a brother and sister who occupied influential positions in Nigerian politics; actors whose paths into Nollywood were shaped by a shared artistic household; and sisters whose distinct sounds have made them individual forces in Afrobeats. In some cases, the family connection opened a door or offered a source of guidance. In others, it created comparisons, public scrutiny and the challenge of stepping out of a relative’s shadow. Being related does not guarantee shared interests, equal opportunities or identical outcomes. Siblings may inherit the same values and memories, yet interpret them differently. Their careers can overlap, complement one another or move in opposite directions. What connects them is the experience of building an identity while carrying a family name that audiences already recognise. For this cover story, we look at notable Nigerian sibling pairs whose achievements have left a mark on their respective fields. From the Okoyes to the Apatas, the Sarakis to the Egbusons, these are stories of shared roots, individual ambition and the complicated bond between family and success.
Don Jazzy and D’Prince Michael Collins Ajereh, known as Don Jazzy, and his younger brother Charles Enebeli, popularly called D’Prince, made their mark on Nigerian music. Don Jazzy became one of Afrobeats’ influential producers and executives, first through Mo’Hits Records and later as founder of Mavin Records, helping shape the careers and sound of several artistes. D’Prince entered the industry through Mo’Hits, recording songs that earned him attention before establishing Jonzing World, the label behind acts including Rema and Ruger. Their careers show two dimensions of the music business: one brother built a reputation as a hit-making producer and label leader, while the other developed as a recording artiste and talent developer. Their shared family connection sits alongside distinct contributions to the Nigerian industry.
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P-Square: Peter and Paul Okoye Peter and Paul Okoye transformed a childhood love of music into P-Square, one of Africa’s most successful pop duos. The twins began performing together in the 1990s, developing a high-energy blend of R&B, pop, dance and Afrobeats influences, supported by elaborate choreography and music videos. Their breakthrough produced hit records, international tours and a devoted audience that stretched far beyond Nigeria. Their elder brother, Jude Okoye, also played a significant role as manager during the group’s rise. P-Square’s story is inseparable from the power and complexity of family collaboration: the brothers’ split in 2017, reunion in 2021 and subsequent renewed separation showed how creative partnership and family ties can be tested by business disagreements. Their legacy, however, remains significant.
Bukola Saraki and Gbemisola Saraki The Saraki siblings grew up in a family whose name was deeply connected to Kwara politics, but both built political careers of their own. Bukola Saraki, a medical doctor by training, served as governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011 before becoming President of the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2019. His younger sister, Gbemisola Saraki, entered the House of Representatives in 1999, represented Kwara Central in the Senate from 2003 to 2011 and later served as a federal minister. Their paths also intersected in a public political contest when Gbemisola sought to succeed her brother as governor. Their story captures the complicated relationship between family legacy, political ambition and individual identity in one of Nigeria’s best-known political dynasties.
Dakore EgbusonAkande and Timini Egbuson Dakore and Timini Egbuson are familiar names in the Nigerian film industry, but their journeys into acting have unfolded across generations of Nollywood. Dakore established herself first, earning recognition for performances in films and television productions including Fifty and Castle & Castle. Her younger brother, Timini, has built his following through projects such as Shuga, Tinsel and Elevator Baby. He has spoken about growing up around his sister’s work, following her to film sets and learning by watching her perform. Dakore has described a family environment where music, dance and the arts were encouraged. Their story is a reminder that siblings can share an artistic upbringing without following identical career paths, and that inspiration at home can help shape a career in the spotlight.
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
COVER Adegbite Falade & Adeleye Falade
Identical twins Adegbite “Gbite” Falade and Adeleye “Leye” Falade have reached the top of Nigeria’s energy industry through parallel but distinct careers. Both studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Ibadan and began their professional journeys at Shell in 1996. Gbite went on to hold senior roles at Oando and Oilserv before becoming Managing Director and CEO of Aradel Holdings in 2021. He was also appointed chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group in November 2025. Leye built an international career across Shell and the LNG sector, leading Brunei LNG before taking over as Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria LNG in April 2026. Their story is a rare example of twin engineering graduates leading two major energy institutions.
Uko and Essien Udom Few sibling stories in Nigeria’s legal profession capture partnership quite like that of Uko Udom, SAN, and his brother, Essien Udom, SAN. After being called to the Nigerian Bar, the brothers founded Udom & Udom in 1984, choosing to build their legal careers side by side. More than four decades later, that decision has grown into one of the defining chapters of their professional lives. Both became Senior Advocates of Nigeria, while their firm developed a broad practice spanning commercial law, litigation, oil and gas, aviation, energy and arbitration. Uko has also taken his expertise into public service as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Akwa Ibom State. Their story goes beyond individual achievement: it is about two brothers whose shared ambition, trust and professional partnership turned a family bond into a lasting legal institution.
Niniola and Teni Apata Niniola and Teni Apata have become two of Nigeria’s female music stars, each building a sound and personality that stands apart. Niniola first gained attention after appearing on Project Fame West Africa and later became known for her Afro-house style, with songs such as Maradona strengthening her profile across the continent. Her younger sister Teni broke through with a more playful Afropop approach, combining songwriting, humour and memorable hooks in hits including Case and Uyo Meyo. Their father, a musicloving former army officer, encouraged music in the family, and both sisters have spoken about the influence of growing up in a musically active household. Their success illustrates how siblings can share a creative environment yet develop artistic identities and audiences.
Uche Pedro and Ink Eze Uche Pedro and her younger sister, Ink Eze, have built influential careers in African digital media, each creating platforms that connect culture with commerce. Uche is the founder of BellaNaija, which grew from a lifestyle blog into a major media brand covering entertainment, fashion, weddings and social issues. Ink, whose full name is Nkechi Eze, founded AsoEbiBella, a community-driven platform celebrating African fashion and the creativity surrounding special occasions. She also helped develop BellaNaija’s weddings and lifestyle coverage before focusing on her own venture. Their work reflects a shared understanding of the internet as more than a place to publish content: it can build communities, shape cultural conversations and create opportunities for African businesses and creatives.
André Ayew and Jordan Ayew André and Jordan Ayew have carried one of Ghanaian football’s most recognisable family names into a new generation. Sons of legendary midfielder Abedi ‘Pelé’ Ayew, both brothers became important figures for the Black Stars and shared the pitch for Ghana at major tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. André, the elder, emerged first, winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Ghana in 2009 and later captaining the senior team. Jordan developed into a powerful forward, earning recognition for his work rate, versatility and goals at club and international level. Their relationship has combined sibling support with the pressure of following a celebrated football dynasty, while each has built an identity of his own. Their bond remains strong.
Kunle Afolayan and Gabriel Afolayan Kunle and Gabriel Afolayan come from one of Nollywood’s best-known creative families. Their father, filmmaker and actor Adeyemi ‘Ade Love’ Afolayan, helped establish a theatrical and cinematic tradition that several of his children would continue. Kunle became a leading director and producer, known for films such as The Figurine, October 1 and Aníkúlápó, while also building Golden Effects Pictures into a prominent production company. Gabriel pursued acting, earning acclaim for performances across film and television and winning the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor. Though their careers have taken different creative routes, both brothers have helped keep the Afolayan name prominent in Nigerian storytelling, on screen and behind the camera. Both continue their family’s creative legacy.
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Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
COVER Habeeb Fasinro and Mustapha Fasinro
Habeeb and Mustapha Fasinro have pursued different business interests while maintaining a shared presence in Lagos’ public and social life. Habeeb built a profile in politics and entertainment, representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and establishing Smooth FM as part of his media interests. His brother Mustapha made his mark in the energy sector through Linetrale, a company involved in the trading and distribution of petroleum products. The brothers also share a passion for polo, with Mustapha associated with the Linetrale Delaney Polo Team and Habeeb supporting high-profile tournaments. Their paths show how siblings can develop distinct professional identities while remaining connected through family, shared interests and contributions to the city around them. They also share polo.
Kcee and E-Money
Kcee and his younger brother, Emeka “E-Money” Okonkwo, share a bond that has shaped both their personal and professional journeys. Growing up around their father’s record stores, the brothers played records, DJed at parties and developed a shared love of music. When Kcee pursued a professional music career, E-Money initially managed him before establishing Five Star Music, where Kcee became a leading artiste and vice president. Their support has flowed both ways. Kcee has spoken about helping his younger brother financially when he first became successful, including sponsoring his wedding, while E-Money later helped him return to music. Their story is one of loyalty, mutual support and shared ambition.
Kalu Uche and Ikechukwu Uche Kalu and Ikechukwu Uche are among the Nigerian brothers whose careers helped make the country’s football story a family affair. Both forwards represented the Super Eagles and built substantial careers in Europe, particularly in Spain. Kalu, the elder brother, played for clubs including Almería and Wisła Kraków, while Ikechukwu became known for his sharp movement and goals during spells with Getafe, Real Zaragoza and Villarreal. Their international careers overlapped, giving Nigerian fans two members of the same family to follow in the national colours. Ikechukwu has credited Kalu with offering advice and guidance as he developed professionally. Together, they represent a generation of Nigerian footballers who made their mark across several leagues. Their careers inspired young Nigerian footballers too.
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Fade Ogunro and Sesan Ogunro
Fade and Sesan Ogunro have built careers in different parts of the creative industry, yet their story is closely intertwined. Sesan established himself as an acclaimed music-video director, working with artists including D’Banj, Wizkid, Davido and Tiwa Savage, while expanding into commercials and larger productions. Fade began in media and television production before becoming a tech entrepreneur and talent executive. After co-founding Film Factory with Sesan, she built Bookings Africa and, more recently, The Fade Agency, a LondonLagos talent and brand-management firm representing Black women and negotiating partnerships. Their sibling dynamic is rooted in complementary strengths: Sesan creates behind the camera, while Fade builds businesses, brands and opportunities around creative talent. Together, they represent creative partnership evolving into distinct legacies.
Ayo Makun and Yomi Casual
Ayo Makun, known as AY, and his younger brother Omoniyi “Yomi Casual” Makun have built careers in different creative worlds, but their journeys are closely connected. When Yomi moved to Lagos to pursue fashion, he began working from AY’s home with limited equipment and space. His brother offered more than encouragement: AY gave him an early platform on the AY Show, showcasing his designs to celebrities and a wider audience. Yomi has credited that exposure with accelerating his career, while working to establish an identity beyond being known as AY’s younger brother. Their support extends beyond business, with AY offering advice and standing in as a father figure during Yomi’s traditional introduction. Their bond combines mentorship, family loyalty and independence.
The stories of these siblings show that family can be a powerful starting point, but it is rarely the whole explanation for success. Yet recognition is built through individual choices, hard work, talent and the ability to keep evolving in demanding public careers. For some, working alongside a sibling creates a partnership that audiences come to love. P-Square turned brotherhood into a musical phenomenon, while the Apata sisters have demonstrated that two artists from the same family can develop distinctive sounds and identities. For others, the connection is less about collaboration and more about influence, as seen in Timini Egbuson’s account of how watching Dakore helped draw him towards acting. The Sarakis, meanwhile, illustrate how siblings can share a political inheritance while pursuing separate ambitions and sometimes competing for influence. These relationships are not always simple. Fame can magnify disagreements, invite comparisons and place private family matters under public scrutiny. But it can also create opportunities for mutual support, shared learning and a sense of pride in one another’s achievements. Ultimately, the most interesting thing about famous siblings is not simply that they come from the same family. It is how differently they use the foundations they share. Their journeys remind us that family may shape the first chapter, but each person remains responsible for writing the rest. Whether they build together or stand on separate paths, their stories make one thing clear: a family name may introduce you to the world, but your own work gives that name meaning.
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
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Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
SALLY CHIWUZIE
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
#UNSHAKABLE TRUTHS
UNTOLD TRUTHS @unshakable.is.a.state.of.mind
Who Are You When Nobody Knows You?
T
here is something deliciously liberating about arriving somewhere nobody knows your name, where there is no history to explain and nobody expecting you to be the sensible one. For a moment, you could be anybody. Who would you choose?
What if the version of you that receives the most applause is simply the one that inconveniences others the least? How often do we mistake being needed for being fully understood? This need not diminish the sincerity of the love we receive; perhaps it reveals how little of ourselves we allow others to meet.
I have been working on a novel called Lunch in Paris, partly inspired by a real-life adventure in which a group of women travelled to Paris. Looking back, it was something of a social experiment, although I suspect none of us appreciated that at the time.
Of course, anonymity is not automatically a passport to enlightenment. Some discover courage when nobody is watching; others discover how much their good behaviour depended on having an audience. Freedom can reveal generosity and tenderness, but also impulses worth examining. Sometimes the stranger we meet within ourselves is not someone we like.
In my fictional version, something peculiar happens. Perhaps it is the Parisian air, the champagne or the freedom of unfamiliar surroundings, but the women begin behaving in ways that would astonish those who know them. The sensible one discovers a spontaneous streak, the reserved one enjoys being noticed, while the usual life of the party finds pleasure in sitting quietly, watching the world go by. The perpetual caregiver discovers how lovely it feels to be looked after, and the habitual follower starts making decisions without seeking approval. For a day, these women entertain unfamiliar personalities. But are those versions genuinely new, or have they been waiting for an invitation? It made me wonder how much of what we call personality is habit, shaped by years of expectations from family, friends and colleagues. We become the dependable friend, the strong woman, the peacemaker or the one who never complains, and once people grow comfortable with that version of us, changing the script can feel like a breach of contract. Imagine the family peacemaker announcing she is retiring from the role, or the woman who has never said no
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Remove the familiar surroundings and the people who have decided who we are, and what remains? Our authentic selves, our suppressed desires or another performance for strangers?
discovering the usefulness of the word. There would be raised eyebrows and possibly an intervention. The irony is that we encourage people to be themselves, provided that themselves remains someone we recognise. Perhaps we impose the same restrictions on ourselves, defending behaviours we have outgrown because they feel familiar and mistaking consistency for authenticity. What if the person everyone loves is not the person you would choose to be if nobody knew you?
I doubt authenticity requires us to behave identically everywhere. We can be playful in one room and serious in another, confident on Monday and uncertain by Wednesday, without either version being false. There is no dishonesty in having dimensions, and no virtue in remaining predictable. Yet there may be a quiet tragedy in spending an entire lifetime being only the version of ourselves that others find easiest to accommodate, especially when we no longer recognise that role as a choice. Perhaps the question is not who we become when nobody knows us, but who we might become if those who know us best allowed us to change. Better still, what if we allowed ourselves? Perhaps the #Unshakable Truth is that being true to yourself does not mean remaining loyal to every version of yourself you have ever been, because some identities are discoveries, while others are cages we have mistaken for home. I wonder how many of us are living in one without realising the door has been unlocked all along, and whether we really need a ticket to Paris to find out. 'See' you next week.
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
ADA " OBIAJUNWA @aaddaahh
"
T
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
TERRIBLE
LUXURY SILK
he lunch was at one. She left the house at ten past one.
woman in the next lane bought a packet without looking at him. “Was it an accident?” “I don’t think so, ma. Just volume.” “Just volume.”
It was twenty to two when she reached the restaurant. Ngozi had finished her water and was reading the menu for the second time.
“Yes, ma.” “Was it like that all day?” “Only at that hour, ma. By three it had cleared.” “Lunch hour.”
“Sorry,” she said, sitting down. “Traffic was terrible.” “Ah, Lagos. Don’t worry, I only just sat down.” “Lagos,” she agreed. Ngozi pushed the menu across the table. “What are you having?” “The fish.” “Me too.” Ngozi had a traffic story of her own. A cement lorry on the Lekki-Epe expressway. Three hours. A priest who eventually got out of his car and walked. “Where was he going?” “Who knows? Maybe he had a wedding,” Ngozi said. They laughed. They talked about the new finance director and whether he would last the year. About the air conditioning on the third floor, which had been broken since March. Nobody mentioned the time again. The fish was very good. The next morning, Sola was at the gate with the engine running. “Good morning, ma. Gbenga says Admiralty is clear. Ozumba is slow, but it is moving.” He said this every morning. The news came from other drivers, collected at filling stations and gatehouses. Gbenga drove for a family in Ikoyi and heard everything by seven. Sola passed it on without comment.
“Yes, ma.” She took out the folder of figures for the ten o’clock meeting and held it on her lap without opening it. “Would you say terrible?” “Ma?”
He had driven her for six years. In that time he had been wrong about a road twice and had mentioned both occasions. She got into the back seat. He drove out into the street. She asked about his daughter.
“Or heavy. Would you say heavy?” Sola considered this. “Heavy, ma. Terrible for some people.” “I said terrible.” “Then terrible, ma.” They turned onto the long road where the buildings began.
“She is writing Chemistry on Tuesday, ma.” “Is she ready?” “She says yes. Her mother says no.”
She put the folder back in her bag. They reached the office a little before nine.
“Who is right?” “Her mother is usually right, ma.”
Sola stopped behind a white Prado with its hazard lights on.
She looked out of the window.
She gathered her bag and her keys. “Ma.”
She waited until they had passed the filling station. “Sola.” “Ma?” “Yesterday. When we went to V.I.” “Yes, ma.” “How were the roads?” He thought about it. “Falomo was bad, ma. It is always bad at that hour.” “Where exactly?” “Approaching the bridge. We stood about fifteen minutes, then it opened.” A boy ran between the cars selling plantain chips. A
She looked up. “Gbenga was telling me about yesterday. A bus broke down on Ozumba.” “What time?” “Afternoon. Around one.” “Was it blocking?” “Half the road.” She nodded. Sola looked towards the entrance. She thanked him and went in.
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Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
BEAUTY
CARING FOR
YOUR HAIR
BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER A PROTECTIVE STYLE BY DORCAS AKINTOYE
P
rotective styles like braids, twists, locs, and cornrows can help reduce daily manipulation, but they do not mean your hair should be ignored. If your hair is not cared for before, during, and after the style, you may experience dryness, breakage, thinning edges, or an itchy scalp. Here are five simple ways to care for your hair throughout the protective styling process.
START WITH CLEAN AND MOISTURISED HAIR Before wearing any protective style, wash your hair and scalp to remove dirt, sweat and product build-up. A clean scalp gives you a better start and can help prevent itching while your hair is covered. After washing, use a moisturising conditioner to soften your strands and make them easier to handle. Make sure your hair is moisturised before styling, but avoid using too much heavy product, which can cause build-up.
AVOID TIGHT STYLING A protective style should protect your hair, not put unnecessary stress on it. While making your hair, tell your stylist if the braids, twists or cornrows feel too tight. Pulling around your hairline can cause pain, breakage, and thinning at the edges. You should also avoid styles that feel uncomfortable from the beginning. Your scalp should feel comfortable after styling.
KEEP YOUR SCALP CLEAN AND MOISTURISED While wearing your protective style, do not forget about your scalp. Sweat, dirt and products can build up, especially if you exercise often or spend a lot of time outdoors. Gently clean your scalp as needed, and use a light moisturiser or a scalp-friendly product if it feels dry. At night, use a satin or silk scarf or bonnet to reduce friction and protect your strands.
KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME TO REMOVE THE STYLE Keeping a protective style in for too long can work against your hair goals. Leaving it in for too long can make your hair harder to detangle and increase breakage when removing it. Pay attention to your scalp and hair condition. If the style becomes uncomfortable, dirty or difficult to manage, it may be time to take it out.
BE GENTLE WITH YOUR HAIR AFTER REMOVAL Your hair needs attention after coming out of a protective style. Do not rush to install another style immediately. First, gently separate your hair with your fingers to remove shed hair, then wash and condition it. Follow with a moisturising treatment to restore softness and reduce dryness. Give your scalp and strands time to rest before installing another style. This break lets you notice any breakage, thinning or other changes that need attention.
Protective styling works best when your hair is cared for throughout the process. With proper preparation, gentle styling, regular scalp care and careful removal, you can enjoy your favourite styles while keeping your natural hair healthy. Remember that protective styling is only helpful when it supports the health of your natural hair.
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Issue No.No. 300300 • November 8, 2026 Issue • November 8, 2026
WELLNESS
Creating a Calm Life
STOP MAKING EVERYTHING AN EMERGENCY
BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE
A
delayed reply, an unexpected bill, a last-minute work request or a change of plans can turn an ordinary day into a stressful one. Sometimes, the problem is genuinely urgent. Other times, we react as though everything must be fixed immediately. That constant pressure can leave us exhausted and irritable. Creating a calmer life doesn't mean ignoring responsibilities. It means learning to prioritise, respond thoughtfully and stop treating every inconvenience like a crisis.
PAUSE BEFORE YOU REACT
When something unexpected happens, resist responding immediately if there's no immediate danger or deadline. Take five slow breaths, step away briefly or wait ten minutes before replying to a frustrating message. If a colleague's comment upsets you, draft your response but reread it when you're calmer. This simple pause can prevent unnecessary arguments and rushed decisions. Remember, you can acknowledge a problem without reacting to it instantly.
CHOOSE THREE DAILY PRIORITIES Every morning, write down the three tasks that matter most that day. Complete them before getting distracted by less important requests, where possible. If new tasks appear, assess whether they genuinely need immediate attention. At work, you can ask, "I'm handling two deadlines right now. Which should I prioritise?" This helps you manage expectations instead of accepting everything and struggling to deliver. Keep your list in your phone or a notebook.
STOP BEING AVAILABLE EVERY MINUTE
Constant notifications can make ordinary requests feel urgent. Set specific times to check emails and messages, provided your responsibilities allow it. Silence non-essential notifications while working on important tasks, and avoid checking your phone every time it lights up. You can also establish a reasonable cut-off time for work messages outside office hours. These boundaries help you concentrate on one thing at a time rather than letting everyone else's demands dictate your day.
LEAVE ROOM FOR THE UNEXPECTED A schedule packed from morning until night leaves little room for delays. Add 10–15 minutes to journeys when practical, leave short breaks between appointments and avoid filling every evening with commitments. If you have several errands, allow time for traffic or queues. When plans change, adjust your schedule instead of rushing to preserve every original commitment. A realistic plan that accommodates surprises is more useful than a perfect timetable that collapses after one delay.
TRY A FIVE-MINUTE RESET When everything feels overwhelming, put your phone aside and take five minutes to reset. Write down what's worrying you, identify what you can control and choose one practical next step. If a bill is stressing you out, check the due date and plan how to pay it, rather than worrying about it repeatedly. If a task can wait until tomorrow, schedule it. When stress becomes persistent or disrupts daily life, consider speaking with a qualified professional.
A calmer life begins with small decisions repeated consistently. Being responsible doesn't mean treating every request as urgent or solving every problem immediately. You can take your commitments seriously without allowing them to consume your peace.
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Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
TRAVEL
Why Nigerians Are Choosing Staycations Over Vacations BY OLAMIDE ABOLARIN
T
here was a time when the ultimate sign of a good holiday was travelling abroad. But something has shifted. More Nigerians are trading international trips for well-planned breaks closer to home, and the reasons go far beyond convenience. The staycation is no longer a compromise. For many people, it has become the smarter, more intentional choice.
THE EXCHANGE RATE HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING
The naira's performance against foreign currencies has made international travel a completely different conversation from what it was a few years ago. A trip that once felt manageable now requires a budget that most people cannot justify without serious financial planning. Flights, hotels, food, and activities abroad now cost more in naira terms than ever before. For many Nigerians, the maths simply no longer adds up the way it used to, and staying home has started to make a lot more financial sense.
NIGERIA HAS MORE TO OFFER THAN YOU THINK One of the quiet revelations of the staycation movement is how much of Nigeria most Nigerians have never actually seen. The Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River offers cool weather and breathtaking highland scenery. Calabar is clean, organised, and genuinely beautiful. Jos has a landscape that surprises everyone who visits for the first time. Ibom Icon Hotel in Uyo delivers a resort experience that competes with anything in the region. The country has always had extraordinary destinations — people are simply finally paying attention to them.
STAYCATIONS ARE GETTING SERIOUSLY LUXURIOUS
The hospitality industry within Nigeria has improved significantly, and the options available today are genuinely impressive. Luxury resorts, spa retreats, and experience-driven getaways have raised the standard of what a domestic holiday can look like. You can now spend a weekend in Lagos, Abuja, or Port Harcourt at a well-designed property completely removed from the noise of everyday life.
The shift toward staycations in Nigeria is not just a financial decision; it is a cultural one. It reflects a growing willingness to find value in what is already here, to rest without guilt, and to redefine what a proper holiday actually looks like. Abroad will always have its appeal, but home, when approached with the same intentionality and excitement, has more than enough to offer.
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INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IS MORE STRESSFUL THAN IT LOOKS
Behind every polished travel photo is a process that most people do not show — the visa application, the embassy appointment, the waiting, the possibility of rejection, and the flight connections. For a Nigerian passport holder, international travel requires a level of planning, patience, and paperwork that can drain the excitement out of a trip before it even begins. A staycation removes all of that entirely and gives you the holiday without the administrative stress that comes before it.
REST DOES NOT REQUIRE A PASSPORT
At the heart of every holiday is a simple need to stop, breathe, and come back to yourself. That need does not require a long flight or a foreign currency. A well-planned staycation, whether it is a weekend at a resort outside Lagos or a few quiet days in a city you have never properly explored, can deliver exactly what the body and mind are asking for. The best holidays are not always the ones that take you the furthest. Sometimes they are simply the ones that give you the most rest.
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
DOWNTOWN ZODIAC
SCORPIO
The Intense, Loyal and Unapologetically Private One
OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21
ELEMENT: WATER RULING PLANET: MAR SYMBOL: THE SCORPION FLOWER: THE GERANIUM BIRTHSTONES: OPAL, TOPAZ
They Observe More Than They Reveal Scorpios are famous for keeping their cards close to their chest. They may not share their entire life story after one conversation, but they are often paying attention to yours. They notice changes in behaviour, remember small details, and prefer to understand people before letting them in. This privacy can make them seem mysterious, although it does not necessarily mean they are hiding something. They simply value trust and prefer to reveal themselves when they feel comfortable.
Their Loyalty Comes With Standards
Osas Ighodaro, October 26
When Scorpios care about someone, they tend to take that connection seriously. They show up for friends, defend loved ones and appreciate relationships built on honesty and mutual respect. However, they often expect the same commitment in return. Repeated dishonesty or broken promises can considerably damage their trust. Their challenge is learning that not every disagreement signals betrayal and that healthy relationships sometimes require forgiveness, communication and room for people to make mistakes.
They Feel Deeply but Don't Always Show It
A Scorpio might appear composed while processing a storm of emotions internally. Rather than discussing every feeling immediately, they may need time alone to understand what is happening. This depth can make them empathetic, passionate and determined when something matters to them. However, keeping everything inside can create unnecessary tension. Learning to communicate their feelings before resentment builds helps Scorpios protect their relationships without sacrificing their need for privacy. Scorpios combine emotional depth, fierce loyalty and a preference for privacy in ways that make them memorable companions. Their strength lies not in being mysterious or unbreakable, but in learning when to open up, trust others and release what no longer serves them.
BY NATO CHIMA
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orn between October 23 and November 21, Scorpios are often described as intense, mysterious and fiercely loyal. They are the people who may say very little in a room but notice almost everything happening around them. Whether in friendships, relationships or personal ambitions, they rarely do things halfway. Beneath their calm exterior lies a passionate personality that values honesty, emotional depth and meaningful connections. Here are three traits that make Scorpios particularly fascinating.
Obafemi Martins, October 28
Marcus Rashford, October 31
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Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
THEWILL DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN •• www.thewilldowntown.com www.thewilldowntown.com THEWILL
BON APPÉTIT
EASY MEALS COUPLES CAN MAKE TOGETHER
S
ometimes, the best date night happens at home, with music playing, ingredients scattered across the counter, and two people trying to agree on how much pepper is too much. Cooking together creates an opportunity to laugh, learn something new about each other, and enjoy a meal you made as a team. Here are easy food-date ideas that turn ordinary cooking into quality time.
BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE
BUILD YOUR OWN PIZZA NIGHT
Pizza is perfect for couples because everyone gets to be creative. Buy readymade pizza bases or flatbreads, then prepare tomato sauce, cheese, chicken, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peppers and any other favourite toppings. Spread the sauce, decorate your individual pizzas and bake according to the base's instructions. Make it interesting by designing a pizza for your partner while they create one for you.
MAKE HOMEMADE TACOS
Turn your kitchen into a mini Mexicaninspired restaurant with a simple taco night. Cook minced beef or shredded chicken with onions, garlic, paprika, and other preferred seasonings. Prepare toppings such as chopped tomatoes, lettuce, grated cheese, avocado, and yoghurt or sour cream. Warm your tortillas, arrange everything on the table, and assemble your tacos. You can even create a friendly competition to see who builds the tastiest combination. Keep extra napkins nearby because things can get deliciously messy.
TRY A PASTA CHALLENGE
Pasta is affordable, versatile, and surprisingly easy to prepare together. Boil your favourite pasta while preparing a sauce with tomatoes, garlic, onions and herbs. Add chicken, prawns or mushrooms depending on your preference and budget. Divide the cooking responsibilities: one person handles the pasta while the other prepares the sauce. For an extra challenge, make two different sauces and taste-test them. Serve with garlic bread or a simple salad, and you have a restaurant-style dinner without the restaurant bill.
CREATE A HOMEMADE BURGER BAR
Skip the takeaway and build your own burger experience. Prepare beef patties or seasoned chicken, then gather burger buns, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sauces, and pickles. Cook the fillings, toast the buns and let each person assemble a customised burger. Add homemade potato wedges by cutting potatoes into slices, seasoning them, and roasting until golden. Give your creations playful names and rate them on taste, appearance and creativity.
PREPARE A BREAKFAST-FORDINNER FEAST
Who says breakfast belongs only in the morning? Make pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, toast, and fresh fruit for an easy, comforting evening meal. One person can prepare the pancake batter while the other handles the eggs and fruit. Experiment with toppings such as bananas, honey, chocolate spread or peanut butter. For a Nigerian twist, include fried plantain, akara, or yam and egg sauce. Arrange everything on a shared table, put on a favourite playlist, and enjoy a relaxed meal without worrying about elaborate recipes.
A successful food date is less about culinary perfection and more about enjoying the experience together. Choose a meal that suits your budget, divide the tasks, and let yourselves experiment.
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THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL
s e l c i n o r h c ’s y s s ca THE AFFAIR
wonder what women saw in men who were already married. Well, look at me now. The funny thing was that I didn't know he was married the first time we slept together. We met at a friend's birthday dinner. He was charming, funny and very easy to talk to. He asked for my number, called the next day, and before I knew it, we were seeing each other. Our first night together was amazing. I liked him, and I thought the feeling was mutual. It wasn't until later that night, after we had just finished having sex, when his phone rang and I saw the name saved as My Wife, that everything changed. I remember staring at the screen for a few seconds. That night, when I asked why he had lied to me and what exactly he thought he was doing. He apologised, then started explaining to me. Something about his marriage not being what people thought, how things had been difficult for a long time, and how he wasn't happy. Honestly, I stopped listening halfway through. They were the usual excuses, and I didn't even remember most of them. I was supposed to leave his place and never cross paths with him again because I was really angry with him, but I couldn't.
I
moaned loudly as he thrust into me from behind. He knew exactly how to pleasure me. The way he pulled me closer, the way his hands moved over my body, the way he kissed me like he had been waiting all day to do it, made it difficult to remember that I was supposed to have some sense. I came hard with my insides squeezing him while he kept going. He didn't stop until he filled me up, breathing heavy on my back.
I wish I could say I stayed because I was in love with him, but I was breathless, my hair was a mess, and I could barely get myself together. He lay beside that would be a lie. I liked his company, but the sex was a different story. He was big, just the way I liked it. He knew me, smiling, while I tried to catch my breath. how to move, how to hit the right spots, how to make me I laughed quietly to myself. forget everything else. Who would have thought? I kept coming back after that. Every time he called, I Me? Sleeping with a married man? If someone had told me this two years ago, I would have probably insulted the person. I had always been the girl who said she would never share a man with another woman. In fact, I used to
went. Every time he shagged me, I stayed longer. I knew it was wrong. I knew he had a wife and children. But his dick felt too good to give up. He was exactly what I wanted in bed, and that was enough to keep me going back for more.
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Issue No. 300 • November 8, 2026
THEWILL THEWILL DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN •• www.thewilldowntown.com
BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Scan this with your camera or click to access the playlist (Youtube Music)
Scan this with your camera or click to access the playlist (Spotify)
MOVIE REVIEW:
You Can See Everything
Y
ou Can See Everything is a film about weaponised fragility. In his feature film debut, Nathan Fielder teams up with Lance Oppenheim to document Elizabeth Holmes’s final days before incarceration, focusing less on what led to the Theranos cofounder’s fraud convictions and more on when and why people choose to believe her. Much fanfare has already been made about the film’s depiction of Holmes as an expression of the failed promises made by both Silicon Valley and girlboss-style millennial feminism. Less has been said about how Holmes frustrates the rallying cry to “trust women, believe women.” This is the film’s poignant, albeit dark, success. Throughout the movie, Holmes maintains she’s never intentionally deceived people, that she’s always tried to live her life according to her own understanding of truth. Her fiancé, hotel heir Billy Evans, says people struggle to share in Holmes’s version of reality because she thinks and communicates so differently, and Fielder has some encounters that suggest this might be true. When he shows her Abbott and Costello’s Who’s on First? for example, she notices a miscommunication, but she can’t pinpoint what it is or why it’s amusing. (Personally, I struggled hard with believing she didn’t understand. Which in a way is the main conceit of the film. What’s real? Why is she so determined to take these lies to the grave?) During a visit, Holmes’ father insists she’s been unfairly
PAGE 20
maligned. In an attempt to get at why people would think Holmes is a liar, Fielder asks where it all went wrong. “When she was raped,” her father says. (This allegedly happened while at Stanford in 2003, and she revealed it for the first time in 2015 and then again in 2022—both times to deflect questions about Theranos.) Her father, a former Enron executive (!!!!), continues that people never want to remember the good things business leaders do, only the sordid and ugly things that get blamed on them. Holmes likes powerful, narcissistic men, and Evans fits that pattern. He loves Charlie Kirk and describes himself as capable of exacting revenge on anyone who challenges him. He has power of attorney over Holmes and operates her X account, where, until recently, he was posting as her without any public disclosure. He’s made an AI visage of her and seems unfazed by the thought of people using it for porn. Simultaneously, the couple is working on a business that sounds like Theranos 2.0. Holmes says the venture makes her feel alive. A throughline of Fielder’s work is exploring truth’s subjective nature. He’s got a magician’s curiosity about human behaviour, situational truths, and people’s willingness to believe. This makes him a great documentarian of Holmes, who’s a quietly active collaborator with Evans. In a telling moment, Fielder shares a story with her about David Blaine driving an ice pick through his hand and letting people believe it’s an illusion. It’s a powerful metaphor for the movie’s main observation: that Holmes knowingly makes painful choices because the ends justify the means. She also banks on people’s willingness to see her as vulnerable and manipulates both supportive and scrutinising reactions to her advantage. In the end, what the movie reveals most isn’t about Holmes so much as what audiences are capable of seeing her as: a devoted partner, mother, and survivor—and maybe the most powerful fraudster of her generation.
By far the most fascinating documentary (if you can even call it that) that I’ve seen in a very long time. If you can get an Oscar for something like this, Fielder and Oppenheim should be in the discussion. Holmes herself is endlessly fascinating as this film gives a glimpse into the sociopathic mind. Rating: 9.5/10
Alewya - Guttah
Nolais - anywhere, anytime
Janelle Monáe - Float (feat. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80)
KAYTRANADA - DO IT! (AGAIN!) (feat. TLC)
Alewya - Spirit_X
Lesléy - Sauvignon Blanc
some fans have bemoaned as making
Blackness has often WATCH OF THE WEEK Diop’s served as his strength – the racial it as drawn-out as the end of Stranger
LUPIN SEASON 4
S
omething strange has happened with Lupin. Two years after the French jewel heist thriller’s third season aired, its seriesone plotline played out in real life as a global news story-turned-viral sensation. The Louvre heist of 2025 happened by day – while Lupin’s main character Assane Diop (Omar Sy) stole jewels from the Louvre at night. The real-life robbers posed as construction workers – Diop posed as a caretaker. You couldn’t help but draw comparisons. So, it returns for the fourth series with a salience the makers could never have predicted – amid a renewed appreciation of the power of a cleverly crafted disguise to dupe even the world’s most revered cultural institutions. Things are higher-budget, higher-stakes, and more cinematic from the title card onwards. The show’s central question seems to be: what happens when a mastermind finds themselves a victim of their own intelligence? We meet master criminal Diop, four years after he surrenders to the police at the close of the third season, in a maximum-security prison. Diop is a week away from release, hoping to fulfil his fatherly promise to put the life of crime behind him and join his family in Senegal, when technology across Paris is hacked, and warnings of imminent heists signed with the name “Lupin” appear. Things are not looking good for Diop, who has modelled his life on fictional master criminal Arsène Lupin. He is swiftly straitjacketed and locked in a panopticon-style glass cell, allowing surveillance and mockery by prison guards and prisoners alike. We are only 12 minutes into episode one. I repeat, things are not looking good.
stereotypes still rife in supposedly Things. Much like that show, Lupin has “colourblind” France allow him to been scaled up from a five-episode series to eight. Sy, whose performance camouflage himself as a janitor or delivery person for his crimes. is magnetic as always, has graduated But when he becomes a suspect, to co-showrunner and wants to lean harder into the show’s “superhero”his racialisation is his downfall; blurry security footage shows that like qualities. These include tech and a robber was a Black man, which set pieces which undoubtedly add a is taken as unequivocal evidence sprinkling of Marvel. that Diop is guilty. Certain moments do feel overSo, Diop is hoisted by the petard dramatised – and it relies on that cliché of the old pro getting roped back in for of his own notoriety: despite one last hurrah. But will Lupin manage being imprisoned in a highto shapeshift from a French drama security facility, the police still believe he was somehow involved punching above its weight on the global in the jewel theft. He must have market to a big-budget thrill-ride? found a way to become invisible, Watching on Netflix’s default English to break out. He is implicated in setting (which is sacrilege, anyway) a crime that doesn’t seem to bear would certainly tip this Hollywood feel over the edge. Make sure you switch to his fingerprints, before it even French. happens. Lupin eschews exposition and offers up Houdini-style thrills right from the start. I find myself wanting to believe that Diop is not responsible for the robberies, but it is hard to know what to trust in this show. The twists have been relentless: last season concluded with Diop’s nemesis, Hubert Pellegrini, revealing himself as the secret mastermind behind much of the series’ conflict. This is all compelling enough to justify another series of the Netflix hit, which has been subject to delays that