Why culture matters.

Bollywood’s Struggle for Relevance in the Streaming Age

The Rise of South Indian Cinema and the RRR Phenomenon. For nearly a century, Bollywood has been the heartbeat of India’s entertainment industry—a cultural powerhouse that shaped music, fashion, and storytelling for over a billion people. But today, something has shifted. Despite producing over 1,500 films a year—more than Hollywood—Bollywood is struggling to hold onto […]

Culture is Not One Thing: The Many Faces of Influence

Introduction: The Myth of a Single Culture Culture is often thrown around as a buzzword—something brands, creators, and media outlets reference as a singular, monolithic force. But here’s the truth: Culture is not one thing. What we call “culture” is actually a collection of overlapping, sometimes conflicting, ecosystems. There’s mainstream culture, the polished version that […]

Reverse-Engineering Virality: What Makes African Music Blow Up?

The Formula Behind a Hit? African music is no longer an underground movement. It has become a dominant force in global pop culture, influencing mainstream charts, breaking streaming records, and commanding sold-out stadium tours across continents. From Afrobeats to Amapiano, Gengetone to Bongo Flava, Afro-Rap to Alté, African sounds are shaping the future of music. […]

The New Rules of Influence: From Popularity to Impact

The Clout Economy is Crumbling Over the past decade, influence was predominantly measured by metrics such as followers, likes, and engagement rates. Brands invested heavily in influencers who could command attention, regardless of their expertise or authenticity. However, this landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. Today, amassing millions of followers no longer guarantees power or […]

The Afterlife of Content: How Digital Culture is Resurrecting Dead Ideas

The Loop of Cultural Resurrection In a world obsessed with the next big thing, it’s ironic how much of what dominates culture today is actually a revival of the past. Fashion trends, music samples, forgotten memes, and even entire TV shows are resurrected, repackaged, and sold as new. The digital age, instead of pushing us […]

Digital Witchcraft: How the Internet Turned Virality into a Ritual

The internet could be regarded as a spellbook. Virality has become modern sorcery, a digital ritual where engagement is the incantation, algorithms the unseen forces, and influence the ultimate prize. But in this age of digital magic, who are the real spellcasters? And what are the hidden costs of summoning virality? Intro: The Spell of […]