BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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Cruel Santino, one of Nigeria’s leading alté musicians, recently expanded his creative portfolio with the launch of his manga series titled Subaru Boys: Flowers of the First Orcad. This release marks Santino’s foray into storytelling and visual art, showcasing his versatility beyond music.
The manga, an extension of the Subaru Boys universe first introduced in his 2022 album Subaru Boys: Final Heaven, dives deeper into a futuristic, Afrocentric world filled with intricate characters and surreal narratives. Known for blending genres and artistic forms, Santino incorporates the alté ethos into his manga, offering fans a visually rich and immersive experience. The story intertwines themes of identity, rebellion, and Afrofuturism, reflecting the same cultural rebellion that defines his music.
The book launch reportedly involved an exclusive event attended by fans and creatives from Nigeria’s burgeoning alternative scene. Santino shared his inspiration for the project, explaining that the manga represents his vision of expanding the alté subculture into new mediums. This project not only highlights Santino’s creative evolution but also positions him as a cultural trailblazer, introducing anime and manga influenced by Nigerian storytelling to a global audience.
Santino has expressed his excitement about using this project to bridge the gap between Nigerian culture and global art forms, with hopes to eventually produce an anime adaptation. Fans and critics alike have praised his ability to craft multidimensional worlds, cementing his status as a pioneering figure in alternative Nigerian music and art.
