When Joey Akan wrote his debut article for OkayAfrica in 2018, the premise of the piece was simple: to cover J. Cole’s first concert in Lagos. Akan’s story, however, turned out to be something far more personal than you’d typically see in a show review. The Nigerian journalist shared details of the immediate aftermath of an attempt to take his own life, and how the American rap star’s music had become an anchor for him. Akan’s portrayal of the concert experience was both intimate and effusive. Established at the time…
