Dr. Carmen McCain is a leading scholar of West African literatures and cultures, currently lecturing in the School of Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics at SOAS, University of London. Her expertise spans Hausa-language literature and film, Nigerian literature, film, and popular culture.  Dr. McCain’s academic journey has taken her to the Department of African Languages and Literature at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she got her Ph.D. She previously taught at Westmont College in California, and Kwara State University in Nigeria. Her research interests are deeply rooted in the vibrant cultural landscape of northern Nigeria, where she has conducted extensive fieldwork since 2005.  A former columnist for the Nigerian newspaper, Weekly Trust, Dr. McCain has published widely in both scholarly journals and popular publications, sharing her insights on arts and culture through her blog, carmenmccain.com. Her engagement with Nollywood, particularly Kannywood films, has also led to the publication of scholarly articles and other scholarly collaborations. In June 2024, Dr. McCain and Kolawole Olaiya of Nollywood in Review met at the conference organized in honor of Professor Onookome Okome in Abuja, and the Lagos Studies Association Conference in Lagos, where they conversed on recent developments on Nigerian films.