Shanty Town | Zikoko!

Have you ever watched a Nollywood film or show and thought: “Why is this character so familiar?” You’re not alone.

From men who can’t handle the consequences of their blood money rituals to marine spirits who trap and steal men’s destinies after sex, these Nollywood characters are practically the same, but in different fonts. Fun fact: some are played by the same actors.

Ini Edo in Shanty Town and Sharon Ooja in Oloture

Description: The “employee of the year” candidate who’s willing to risk their life by going undercover to expose a dangerous underground crime syndicate. She can flawlessly switch from queen’s English to South-South pidgin without breaking a sweat. She may or may not know how to fight; you’ll just have to find out.

Dakore Egbuson in Isoken and Damilola Adegbite in Before 30

Description: The posh Lagos babe who’s highly successful, but no one cares because she doesn’t have a man yet. Her fashion game is on point, and she probably went to Queen’s College, but her mother only sees her as a miserable spinster.

Nadia Buari in Beyonce vs Rihanna and Genevieve Nnaji in Games Women Play

Description: The delusional girl who thinks the world revolves around her but ends up losing her man in a bet to a babe she thought was beneath her.

RMD in Shanty Town and Banky W in Sugar Rush

Description: The scary mob boss who can catch a bullet with his bare hands. He bathes in a pool of blood, but since I don’t have evidence, I’ll add “allegedly” so they don’t come for me.

Kate Henshaw in Blood Sisters and Patience Ozokwor in everything before she gave her life to Christ

Description: The mother-in-law women pray against at Shiloh. She’ll either frustrate you out of the marriage with insults or make you barren. It all depends on her mood.

Denola Grey in The Bling Lagosians and Zainab Balogun in The Wedding Party

Description: The party planner with the thick British accent whose razzness only comes out to play when they’re desperate. They’ve packaged themselves to the point that it’s hard to tell if even their name is real or made up.

Scar in Shanty Town and Makanaki in King of Boys

Description: The tatted-up bad guy we find sexy and terrifying at the same time. You want him to choke you sexually, but you’re scared he might take it too far. He’s also ready to betray anyone to get what he wants. No hard feelings.

RECOMMENDED: 20 Crazy Questions Everyone Who’s Seen “Shanty Town” is Asking

Bimbo Ademoye in Breaded Life and Bimbo Ademoye in Back Up Wife

Description: The funny village girl who can’t really speak English but ends up winning over the male lead with her charm and unassuming personality.

Regina Askia in Highway to the Grave and Ndidi Obi in Nneka the Pretty Serpent (Original)

Description: The marine spirit turned high-class babe who traps and torments men with her pumpum. Please, don’t play with her because she’s always down to put someone’s destiny inside a groundnut bottle.

Ini Dima-Okojie in Namaste Wahala and Ini Dima-Okojie in North East

Description: The girl who doesn’t see race, religion or ethnicity; all she sees is love. Her family will yell and shout, but this babe will always pick her man over anything and anyone. If love nwantiti was a person.

Iretiola Doyle in Fifty and Eucharia Anunobi in every sugar mummy role

Description: The sugar mummy who’ll spoil you silly. But don’t get it twisted; she’ll mess you up the moment she sees you spending her money on small girls. Try her at your own risk because her sugar can turn to agbo-jedi at any time.

Enyinna Nwigwe in Living in Bondage and Tony Umez in Billionaire’s Club

Description: The innocent-looking guy who did blood money rituals but can’t seem to face the consequences of his actions. You can’t turn your family into asun and think they won’t haunt you from the great beyond. It’s just one of the hazards of this life you chose, sir.

Read Jemima’s story here

ALSO READ: 5 People You Can Use For Blood Money According To Nollywood

Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

January 31, 2023

Movies & TV, Pop

Movies, Nollywood, Shanty Town, TV
The only people who were surprised by Chidi Mokeme’s flawless rendition of Scar in Shanty Town are those who never watched Nollywood before Netflix Naija.

Here are some other great actors we’d like to see grace our screens next:

Emeka Ike

We can’t trust anyone who grew up without watching an Emeka Ike movie. Gen Zs, we feel sorry for you. I mean, you missed out on Endless Love, Not Man Enough, My Last Wedding? Let’s not even get started on the tear-jerking A Million Tears. From arrogant rich boy to university cultist, village pauper and hopeless romantic, Emeka Ike had range.

Saint Obi

Who else was today years old when they found out Saint Obi’s real name is Obinna Nwafor? Well, Saint or no Saint, he embodied every role he was given. The next time there’s a movie about a staunch detective or fearless rebel, we hope the directors reach out to him.

Stephanie Okereke Linus

Before Nancy Isime and Ini Dima- Okojie, we had Stephanie Okereke. She ruled romance and romcoms, but she also showed strength in drama films like Sitanda and Dry.

Nkiru Slyvanus

She didn’t just give her blood, sweat and tearsss for her roles in movies like A Cry for Help, Secret Pain, and the iconic Egg of Life, she taught us that it’s okay to cry. And honestly, we refuse to allow her tears end in the past.

RELATED: What She Said: I Still Cry Every Time I Have to Eat

Gentle Jack

There was nothing gentle about Gentle Jack in the roles he was given. You’d find our Nigerian Rambo in any action movie involving fights, gang activities and evil forest business. If Dwayne Johnson can still get all the roles in 2023, we don’t see why Nollywood directors aren’t calling GJ back-to-back.

Stella Damasus

Nollywood’s sweetheart, Stella’s on-screen chemistry with RMD and Ramsey Nouah alone was worth swooning over. If that’s the only thing we get to see one more time, we will take it for a chance to have her back on our screens.

Tony Umez

Dorling, hear us out. Sure, Tony was always given roles that made him act like a mumu for love, but his delivery was flawless. If not, he’d not have had such a lasting effect. With a better storyline and director, we’re positive he’d shine.

RELATED: How To Be A Nollywood Lover Boy

Hank Anuku

Our favourite thing about Hank Anuku was his voice. His deep baritone sent chills down your spines. He pulled off the villain roles so easily, it was hard to separate the character from the person.

Shan George

Shan George was the IJGB, American-accented, rich kid we all wanted to be. A bad bitch in her own right in movies like High Street Girls and Master Stroke, we give new Nollywood 24 hours to cast her.

Van Vicker

Before you argue that he’s a Ghanaian actor, let’s be for real, Nollywood basically carried his career. Nigerian girls had his pictures in their rooms, and young boys wanted to be him. We need to witness the beauty that is his acting one more time.

Bonus point: Desmond Elliot

Do we care for Desmond Elliot? No. But maybe he could bring his clowning away from the government office to where it’d actually be appreciated.

You just have to: Choose an OG Nollywood Actor, and We’ll Guess Your Love Language

Meyimi O.

January 25, 2023

Pop

Nollywood, nollywood actor, Shanty Town
If you haven’t watched Shanty Town, I’d like to congratulate you for withstanding the peer pressure and advise you to stop reading now.

The new Netflix series, which follows characters trying to navigate Lagos’s criminal underworld, stars Ini Edo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Chidi Mokeme, Richard Mofe Damijo and Nancy Isime. Since the show has taken over social media, I watched it and documented all the random questions that popped up in my head during its six episode run.

Let’s go!

Why haven’t I heard Ibibio in a Nollywood film before?

Watching Ini Edo’s Inem and Nse Ikpe-Etim’s Enewan banter in Ibibio was my favourite part of Shanty Town. I’ve heard Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo in Nollywood before, but not Ibibio. I want more.

Does chewing gum automatically turn you into an experienced sex worker?

The way Ini Edo’s Inem switched the minute that chewing gum entered her mouth was hilarious and shocking at the same time. Mama was ACTING.

Sorry, but why isn’t Chidi Mokeme in everything?

I hope Chidi Mokeme’s back is doing okay after carrying all six episodes of Shanty Town like it was nothing. There’s a high chance I’ll cross to the other side of the express if I run into him. But not since Eniola Salami from King of Boys have I seen a Nollywood villain this terrifying yet likeable.

Does Scar’s calculator actually work?

There’s no way in hell Scar could calculate so fast on that calculator that looked like it was about to give up the ghost.

Nancy Isime, girl, what is this wig?

From Mercy Eke’s pink Nicki Minaj wig (and those fan lashes) to Ini Edo’s C.R.S teacher bob, all the wigs on Shanty Town stressed me. But none came close to Nancy Isime’s independence day wig. Sis, what is this 1960s afro?

Important question: Who I go fuck for ₦15 million?

This is the question that truly keeps me up at night. Nancy Isime, we’re looking for the same person. Call me when you find them.

Why does RMD look a lot like that popular Nigerian presidential candidate?

RMD’s Chief Fernandez seems to be modelled after a popular former governor turned presidential candidate. I can’t say more than that. If you know, you know.

What is an African Zombie, and where can I get one?

As someone who prides himself in alcohol consumption, I’m a bit concerned I haven’t heard of or tasted an African Zombie before. Please, email the Zikoko team if you know where I can find one. Treat as urgent.

Is Scar a polyglot?

I’m totally jealous of Scar’s ability to speak Yoruba and Igbo fluently. It’s rare to find a man who can switch from Yoruba demonry to Igbo wickedness with such finesse.

Will Shaffy Bello step on me if I ask nicely?

Shaffy Bello as a quirky villain dressed like a character straight out of Rupaul’s Drag Race wasn’t something I thought I’d see in 2023, but I’m here for it. I also need a movie where Shaffy Bello just screams “Scar” over and over again.

RECOMMENDED: From “Girls Cot” to “KOB”, Here’s Where You’ve Seen the Cast of “Shanty Town” Before

Why is a jazz woman taking cough medicine?

If there’s one scene that cracked me up, it’s when Sola Sobowale’s Mummy T started coughing and decided to take some cough medicine to solve her problem. I’m sorry, but how can I trust your jazz when you’re going to the pharmacist at the junction like me?

Does “touch and follow” really work?

I’m asking for a friend who’s meeting Femi Otedola soon. I mean, if “touch and follow” worked on Femi Fernandez, then maybe, just maybe, it could work on Femi Otedola.

Why does Femi Fernandez have a thick Anambra accent if he’s old-money Yoruba?

First of all, Femi Fernandez is the most made-up name in the history of made-up names. But outside of his fake name, I was also worried about his Intro Tech teacher jackets (not suits) and thick Anambra accent. The math isn’t mathing.

Why was Uche Jombo’s detective just nodding like an agama lizard?

Someone needs to check on this guy’s neck. I’m worried about him after all the nodding he did in this scene.

Did Jackie send that voice note from the spirit world?

I believe you have to be alive to press send when you record a voice note? But if we could hear discussions after Jackie’s death on the voice note she sent, then I’d like to know what network she’s using in the spirit world, because I doubt it’s Glo.

How many scars does Scar have?

I had to ask this question after the scene where one of Chief Fernandez’ henchmen cut off his finger. Has Scar ever counted his scars? Or is my fave villain running on iodine, bandages and vibes?

Is Chief Fernandez related to Banky W’s Anikulapo from Sugar Rush?

Chief Fernandez and Anikulapo are both rich bulletproof mob bosses, so I’m curious to know if they’re cousins or something. Or is everyone bulletproof these days, and I’m the only one left?

Why is the fight scene at the end so damn long?

Nollywood, I get it, you guys have learnt fight choreography now, but you need to know when to stop. The fight scene at the end was long for no reason. For a film that left so many questions unanswered, they sure spent a lot of time fighting in slow motion.

How did three random policemen arrest a bulletproof mob king like Chief Fernandez?

After all his gra gra, I’m expected to believe Chief Fernandez was arrested just like that? This man is bulletproof and powerful, so the fact that they arrested and tried him, yet nothing happened is weird. His powers or goons couldn’t get him out of police custody after he was arrested? Please make it make sense.

What was that ending?

Shanty Town was enjoyable, but it felt rushed and incomplete. Most of the characters were either underutilised or left with no clear motivation for their actions. It’s almost like they did things just to move the plot forward. Why did Nse’s Enewan frame Jagun to protect someone she wanted dead from the start? Why did RMD’s Chief Fernandez ask to see Ini Edo’s character and then not bother to bring her up after cutting Scar’s finger? Why did the police need an invite to the fundraiser if they were going to just barge in any way?

I heard it was supposed to be a movie before it was broken down into six episodes. But if it couldn’t wrap up the story in six episodes, I wonder how it was hoping to do that as a film.

ALSO READ: How Realistic Are Your Favourite Nollywood High School Shows? Let’s Rank Them

Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

January 23, 2023

Movies & TV, Pop

Ini Edo, Nollywood, Old Nollywood, RMD, Shanty Town