Asides from the blockbuster movies which make it to the cinema, it’s safe to say that the Nollywood film industry is also responsible for the production of stellar and quality series. Thanks to platforms like YouTube, film producers are able to upload their series and grab a wider audience. In this weekend magazine feature, Daily Trust Saturday highlights some of the best Nigerian series to be produced in recent times.
The Men’s club
The Men’s Club, otherwise known as TMC by devoted viewers, is an intriguing programme that provides a window into the world of men. Aminu Garba, a prosperous businessman and the heir to the Garba throne; Lanre, a contractor who favours older women; Louis Okafor, a pampered mummy’s son and lover boy; and Tayo, an architect who is fixated on spoiled affluent girls, are all characters in the series. As they experience their tumultuous love lives, heartbreaks, and companies, they continue to hold onto their unique friendship bond. Ayoola Ayolola, Baaj Adebule, Efa Iwara, and Daniel Etim Effiong are among the cast members.
Skinny girl in transit
One of the top Nigerian YouTube shows is Skinny Girl in Transit. This comedy series, which is made by Ndani TV, centres on the life of radio host Tiwa and her quest for love and weight loss. She gets into a fight with a stranger at the gym while trying to burn some fat, who later turns out to be her new boss. The show depicts a normal Nigerian home with a devout mother who pushes her daughter to get married. Additionally, it promotes body positivity. This is a must-see film starring Abimbola Craig, Sharon Ooja, Ngozi Nwosu, Ayoola Ayolola, Timini Egbuson, and Bisola Aiyeola.
Little black book
Based on a popular author’s written series, it follows the narrative of Tade, an industrious business developer seeking to get her life back on track after a disastrous attempt at her previous employment. Leo, her boss and a well-known successful hotelier, may be going through a rough patch as a result of his ex, who is doing everything in her power to bring him down. The two navigate their tumultuous relationship and differing levels of business success. Ikechukwu Onunaku, a rapper turned actor, plays Leo, and Teniola Aladese is Tade.
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MMM (Money. Men. Marriage)
The show explores the lives of five young ladies as seen through the eyes of a newcomer to Lagos’s chaos and unpredictability. You get to witness them figure out love, life, friendships, and finances. The series cast includes Toni Tones, A’rese, Rachel Anthony Ikekhuame, Adebukola Oladipupo, Chinasa Anukam, Ikechukwu Onunaku, Karibi Fubara, Elozonam, Obi Maduegbuna, Sika Osei, Ibrahim Suleiman, and Christopher Nnodim Iheuwa. “MMM” is directed by Ema Edosio Deelen, Ifeoma Chukwuogo, produced by Isioma Osaje and written by Tamara Aihie.
Papa Benji
The plot of Papa Benji revolves around the Egwuonwu family, their pepper soup shop, and their son Benjamin. Peter Egwuonwu had one of the top Pepper Soup joints in the 1960s, and no one knew his recipes except Benjamin, his son. Benjamin wanted to work in banking and invest in his father’s pepper soup company, but his aspirations were dashed when his parents were killed in an accident, his uncle closed down the company, and he was unable to finish high school.
When he was older, he worked as the head of security for a bank. To celebrate his 45th birthday, he made pepper soup for his co-workers using his father’s recipes. Everyone was blown away and asked for more, including the bank manager. Later, the bank gave him a loan to launch his Pepper Soup company.
The official Soundtrack CD for the web series Yabasi was released by Basketmouth on November 19, 2020. On October 1, 2020, he also uploaded a 6-minute trailer for the first episode to his YouTube page. The first episode of the programme aired on 12 December 2020 instead of the originally scheduled date of 30 October 2020.
The shows cast include; Buchi, Basketmouth, Jemima Osunde, Sound Sultan, Nedu, Brodah Shaggi and many others.
Best Friends in the world
This web series discusses the real-life difficulties that secondary school students encounter. Being a novice in the field, the director, Jemima Damina, collaborated with her sisters, Jesimiel Damina and Jeiel Damina, to create a related high school web series. This web series is not just ordinary fiction; it is based on a real-life experience that almost everyone had at some point in secondary school. This series presents a reality that we rarely see on our screens—that of Nigerian kids, parents, and teachers.
Banana Republic
“Banana Republic,” is an online series from comedian Bovi Ugboma. ‘The Inauguration’ is the title of the first episode. The series begins with the online inauguration of the main character, Frank (Bovi), as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But it appears that the new position has made him lose his mind.
This episode of “Banana Republic” has fast-rising comic performers including Priscillia Ikechukwu, Princess Obuseh, Richard Ayegboyin, Jide Kol, Itohan Jennifer, Sharon Osasu and Raquel Odion and is set in a model executive office.
