Happy Independence Day, everyone!
There’s a lot we want and hope for, but I also know there’s a lot we’re grateful for. Personally, one of the things I’m thankful for is Nigerian television and this month, I decided to take a trip down memory lane.
We’ve indeed come a long way but before we had Africa Magic, RedTV, Iroko, Netflix and co, producing crisp and exciting shows, all we had was NTA. Here’s my pick of shows that captured the imagination and hearts of Nigerian television viewers in the 90s.
Ripples
Directed by Zeb Ejiro, Ripples was one of Nigeria’s longest-running shows; it ran for 5 years uninterrupted on the NTA network before it was rested in 1993. Most didn’t know why it was cut off back then but the creator, Zeb Ejiro, said it was borne out of a need to put out something new. One of the memorable characters in the soap was Talab Abbas played by Alex Usifo Umiagbo. It featured the best brains in the industry, including Babara Soky, Clarion Chukwura, Lola Alao and many others. Zeb Ejiro however said in 2012 that a reboot is in the works. We’re waiting.
Fortunes
The now eminently famous Nollywood star- Ramsey Noah was introduced to the Nigerian audience way back then in Fortunes, also directed by Zeb Ejiro and kicked off in 1993. I think this was the reason Ripples was shut down. Ramsey played the role of one of the sons of a wealthy businessman, played by Lai Ashadele; Pat Attah played the role of the other son. Former-beauty queen turned actress Regina Askia was also in the soap, as well as the lovely Liz Benson.
Checkmate
Checkmate was one bloody good soap opera that ran for quite a long time on NTA too. It was directed by the late Amaka Igwe and the story centred on the Haatropes, their family business and their friends. Sometimes you’ll wonder if we’ll ever have such an awesome array of actors and actresses in a soap opera again. The star-studded cast included; Ego Boyo, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Bimbo Manuel, Mildred Iweka (now Okopi ), Norbert Young, Tunde Eub, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Kunle Bamtefa (Chief Fuji), the late Toun Oni and others. The awesome Fuji House Of Commotion series (more on this later) was an offshoot of this series.
Palace
A captivating drama series, Palace featured a cast of characters who would become major players in Nollywood (some already were) including Jide Kosoko, Foluke Daramola, and Antar Laniyan. Palace was produced by Tunji Bamishigbin and was one of the few soap operas airing on a private television station in Nigeria at the time – AIT. The talented Funlola Aofiyebi was also introduced to the Nigerian audience as Kofoworola Baker in the series.
Owuro Lojo
Based on a story written by Bunmi Oyinsan, Owuro Lojo centred on a young girl (Joke Silva) having an inappropriate relationship with her older cousin’s (Peju Ogunmola) boyfriend and gets pregnant. He denies the paternity and the drama ensues from then on. Other than the acting and riveting storyline, one other thing that stood out about Owuro Lojo was the detail: the props and the costumes suggested that it was set between the 70s and early 80s but it was actually set in the late 80s or early 90s.
Family Circle
This show emerged in the late 90s and the producer – I think it was Tajudeen Adepetu – immediately caught the attention of television viewers with its strength of content. It wasn’t a surprise that it grabbed media awards for excellence in quality of production and popularity. Featuring Norbert Young, Ronnie Dikko, and two exciting kid actors at the time, Bolaji and Aisha Allison, Family Circle excited the viewing audience who kept dates with the show to see the interesting events, antics, quips and wisdom which highlighted important elements that made for a happy home.
I Need To Know
I just can’t forget this series, not when I still see Funke Akindele acting and going strong in Nollywood. Sure, it was part of a campaign for HIV/AIDS and it’s the story of some secondary school teenagers grappling with issues surrounding their sexuality. Funke Akindele played the role of Bisi, a teenager in the series, which was conceptualised by a creative team led by UNFPA’s IEC department, written by Biola During-Olatunde, and produced/directed by Lloyd Weaver. It was one of the rare quality series at the time. Good stuff.
Candlelight
Another Zeb Ejiro-produced soap opera, this was also a programme everyone seemed to look forward to seeing on TV in the late 90s. One striking sub-plot viewers liked forward to was the regular exchange between Ekaete, a maid played by Kate Henshaw and another servant, Dogood, played by Basorge Tariah Jnr. The main plot and the other sub-plots were just as interesting and it proved to be a springboard for some of the big players we have in Nollywood today.
Papa Ajasco and Company
A hilarious comedy series that became very popular with viewers, Papa Ajasco centres primarily on the Ajasco Family: the womanising Papa Ajasco, suspicious Mama Ajasco, illiterate Pa Jimoh, playboy Boy Alinco, promiscuous gold-digger Miss Pepeiye, among others. Created by Wale Adenuga, the television series Papa Ajasco (formerly The Ajasco Family) was aired on Nigerian television as a spinoff from the popular 80s comic magazine, Ikebe Super.
Paradise Park
Produced by the iconic Femi Lasode, this series was set in a typical motor park in Lagos and featured Kunle Bamtefa and Julius Agwu. The comical series was a humorous depiction of the happenings and situations surrounding the lives of transport workers and people who work in motor parks.
