Role
Founder & Product Lead | Independent Project
Oriire
- Editorial home. A spotlight feature and editor's picks, grounded in research.
- Read and explore. Long-form essays, inline Codex tooltips, bookmarks, and a way to improve any entry.
- The podcast. Conversations on mythology, folklore and cultural memory.
- Challenges. Interactive riddles and quizzes.
- Members and contributors. Profiles, a dashboard, and tools to add and edit Codex entries.
- Membership. Bookmarks, membership tiers and a way to support the work.
Overview
Oriire is a digital archive and membership platform documenting mythology, folklore and cultural memory from Nigeria and across Africa. It combines long-form articles, a structured Codex of cultural figures, interactive challenges, and a membership model that drives engagement and community participation.
Why was it built?
- Lack of structured, credible content on African history & mythology.
- No central platform for curated African cultural knowledge.
- Need for a sustainable growth and engagement model beyond static content.
How I built it
Originally launched on Webflow, the platform outgrew its CMS as product complexity grew. Led a full migration to a custom-built React/TypeScript application on Cloudflare Pages, with Supabase handling authentication, database, and storage. The current stack includes a contributor submission pipeline, editorial dashboard, content paywall, membership model, structured Codex, and automated email workflows, all built and maintained end-to-end.
What I did
- Designed and implemented the content strategy based on audience research.
- Led full migration from Webflow to a custom-built React/TypeScript platform.
- Architected the backend with Supabase (auth, database, storage) and Cloudflare R2 for scalable media delivery.
- Built contributor onboarding, editorial workflow, and content moderation systems.
- Launched an award-winning podcast with historical storytelling.
- Managed editorial strategy, partnerships, and platform growth.
- Created & designed the brand.
- Implemented SEO best practices to drive ~75% organic traffic share.
Results
- Grew reach to 1,000,000+ monthly impressions and 62,000+ active users (28-day window).
- Built a base of paying members within 3 months of launch.
- Recognized as a leading online resource for African heritage.
- 244+ articles, 18 Codex entries, and 43 podcast episodes across 6 years.
- 84 contributors onboarded across an audience in 80 countries.
- Achieved ~75% organic traffic share through SEO-led strategy.
- Podcast won industry awards for storytelling & education.
More about Oriire
This case study focuses on the product and platform development of Oriire. I've written elsewhere about the wider cultural and organisational thinking behind the project.
- The Case for African Mythology
The cultural rationale behind Oriire and the importance of preserving African mythology and folklore.
- Why Oriire Is Becoming Community Supported
The thinking behind Oriire's funding model and long-term sustainability.
- Building Oriire
A broader account of how the platform has evolved over time.