Showmax set to launch new telenovela

Showmax, an online streaming platform, is set to launch a new original telenovela entitled “Wura”.

Dr Busola Tejumola, Head of Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

Tejumola said like the Nigerian adaptation of the hit South African 1Magic telenovela, The River, Wura was billed to be Showmax’s first and longest-running Nigerian telenovela, with over 200 episodes.

“Wura explores the untold story of gold mining in Nigeria and is a demonstration of Showmax’s continued investment in authentic local stories.

“Each scene is carefully crafted to thoroughly entertain as well as educate our viewers.

“This is going to be our longest-running Nigerian telenovela with over 200 episodes, and as you can imagine, a lot of hard work and long hours have gone into making it,” she said.

Tejumola said that Showmax was proud of the outcome of Wura and would not wait to share it with the world.

According to her, Wura will debut on Showmax on Jan. 26, with four episodes weekly.

Tejumila said that Wura was set against the backdrop of gold mining in Iperindo community of Osun.

She said that Wura told the story of Wura-Amoo Adeleke, a perfect wife, loving mother of two but the ruthless Chief Executive Officer of the fictional Frontline Gold Mine.

According to her, in the eyes of her family, Wura is faultless and a saint, but in running her business empire, she is an iron lady who does not care whose ox is gored on her path to get what she wants.

She said that the drama starred Nollywood veterans and upcomers, including Scarlet Gomez as Wura Amoo-Adeleke; popular Yoruba actor, Yomi Fash-Lanso, as Anthony Amoo-Adeleke; and Carol King as Grace Adeleke.

Others are Ray Adeka as Jejeloye “Jeje” Amoo, Iremide Adeoye as Lolu Adeleke, Ego Iheanacho as Iyabo Kuti, Martha Ehinome as Tumininu “Tumi” Kuti, and Lanre Adediwura as Olumide Kuti.

Tejumola said that, with Wura, Showmax continued to expand its library of local content and investment in Nigeria’s film industry.

She said that, in 2022, the video streaming service added five new Nigerian originals, including the television reality series, The Real Housewives of Lagos – a 10-part docu-series on the history of afrobeats.

Also, multiple award-winning filmmaker and Executive Producer of Wura, Rogers Ofime, said in the statement, “Our research into the world of Wura has given us a new belief in Nollywood.

“We poured our hearts and souls into the show; every word, every scene and every reaction was a thought-provoking journey, a journey we would like you to be a part of and be entertained by.

“We have no doubt that our viewers will enjoy Wura as much as we loved making it for their viewing pleasure.”

According to him, Iperindo, where the drama was set is one of the clusters of gold deposits around Ilesha town.

He said that in spite the promise that the presence of the precious metal should hold for Iperindo and surrounding communities, the residents were still plagued by poverty and exposed to environmental disasters as a result of illegal mining activities.

”Wura, though fictional, will throw some light on this.”