A55 Podcast

Discovering one's true calling in life doesn't always come easily. Awe Ogon learned that the hard way. She studied law to please her father but realized after a few years of practice that she was not as passionate about law as she was about creating art, so she quit law and left her home country, Nigeria. Now, the author of 3 books and a collection of poems, Awe talks to us about how she found her voice as a writer. Plus, an iconic New Zealand landmark has been granted legal recognition as a person.

Additional audio excerpt: Credit - WION TV

Before Nollywood came calling, Collins Okoh worked for Nigeria's Ministry of Health while nursing a dream of becoming a novelist. But that all changed when Nollywood actor, producer, and director Funke Akindele Bello invited him to collaborate on her 2020 film, Omo Ghetto: The Saga. Since then, Collins and Funke have churned out some of the highest grossing movies in Nollywood history including A Tribe Called Judah. All these movies have all surpassed the 1-billion-naira mark. Collins joins us to share his insights and his formula for writing box office hits. Plus, a Maryland resident trying to renew her driver's license discovers that she has been registered as dead though she is very much alive.

Additional audio excerpt: Credit: FAANTV (Youtube), Galaxy NewsTV, NBC 10WJAR

Ghana has a storied tradition of storytelling and a wealth of writers, yet the commercial theater scene experienced a lull between the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2008, playwright, James Ebo Whyte, affectionately called Uncle Ebo, reignited the passion for theater with his play, "Unhappy Wives, Confused Husbands," drawing crowds back to the playhouse. Since then, commercial theater appears to have been revitalized. So, what caused the decline of commercial theater in Ghana? Uncle Ebo shares his insights on the topic, the revival, and sustenance of a vibrant theater culture in Ghana. And a New Zealand Scrabble pro has won the Spanish world title remarkably without speaking Spanish!