Producer: Chris Ihidero and Emma Uduma
Director: Tolulope Ajayi, Ishaya Bako and Tope Oshin
Cast: Timini Egbuson, Jemima Osunde, Sharon Ezeamaka, Olumide Oworu, Adebukola Oladipupo, Yakubu Mohammed, Ozzy Agu, Rahama Sadau, Funlola Aofiyebi, Nobert Young, Amal Umar, Helena Johnson, Ladani Sulaiman, and Shawn Faqua
Year: 2018
MTV Shuga has gone from Kenya- Nigeria- South Africa and it is back to Nigeria for its sixth season.
The 6th season pays attention to bullying, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, sex and gives an education on contraceptives. This season is set against the backdrop of a bustling Lagos metropolis, where we see a blend of the northern and southern communities. It introduces dynamic new characters and while past episodes of Shuga, shot in Nigeria have brought less drama compared to those shot in Kenya and South Africa, the new season might be the best yet.
Timini Egbuson who has in the past had a secondary role to play on the show is the central character for the 6th episode. He returns as Tobi and Tobi is changed. His career in the media industry is on top gear, life is flourishing and there are women to chose from, including Leila (Jemima Osunde). Leila is grown but a little naïve. We see her skip school lessons to visit Tobi.
There is also a focus on marriage in the new season, Yasmin (Rahama Sadau) and Mahmud (Yakubu Mohammed) are a married couple. They are young and from the North, this forms an important lesson on what the writers do with their characters. Both decide to wait some years after marriage before having kids, and in the first two episodes, we have a view on their dynamic relationship.
Yasmin and Mahmud break the stereotypical depiction of Northern couples by having a well nurtured relationship. Yasmin is bold enough to talk about sex to her students and through her, writers bring to fore the necessity of having such conversation with teenagers.
The new season has a lot of education to give. While some of the past seasons have targeted women, the new season gives a fair share of attention to both its male and female audiences. Shuga 6 is here to educate young people on the necessary conversations that society shy away from.
Tolulope Ajayi directed the first episode, while Tope Oshin directed the second episode.
