ISSUE 004: STRANGE WORLD, AYO

ON THE COVER: Ayo Ededbiri photographed by Justin French.

On a hot summer's day in Los Angeles, the Emmy-award-winning actress embodies the energy of a Nollywood superstar. By the time Justin announces, "It's a wrap," Ayo has fully become our favorite Nollywood it girl. "My grandmother is going to be very happy," she proclaims.

Weeks later, over Zoom, in a car with the streets of London rumbling underneath her feet, Ayo chats with writer and fellow wunderkind Yaa Gyasi about staying off of social media, hanging out with the elderly, and a "freaky" George Saunders.

Also featured in this issue:

Amy Sall, Angelina Mamoun-Bergenwall, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Chieska Fortune Smith, Connie Fleming, Dawn Staley, Diamond Stingily, Heather McGhee, Honey Dijon, Janicza Bravo, Malin Fezehai, Marley Dias, Recho Omondi, Robin Givhan, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Warsan Shire, Zeba Blay, and Ziwe.

Centered in 2024, Issue 004, Strange World issue explores the strangeness of now against the strangeness of always, focusing its lens on Black women.

In moments in time that feel as untethered, as strange and unsettled as we all feel now, we often reach back for comfort. But what if “strange” and all the feelings that are born of strangeness push us into the future? Who is more familiar with a world that seems at odds with itself than a Black woman? Issue 004 posits that perhaps by looking toward Black women, we might find a blueprint for our way forward through this weird, weird world. 

The Strange World issue explores the new and the unknown—the strange people, the strange moments, and the strange ideas we all seem to be wrestling.