Since its release, the Dimeji Ajibola-directed Netflix original Nigerian series, Shanty Town, has captured the attention of many movie lovers and social media users on various social media platforms. Shanty Town is, unquestionably, worth talking about, from the cast to special guest appearances, theatrics, and character interpretation.
Twitter users cannot seem to get enough of Shanty Towns‘ intriguing scenes, with several tweets regarding the show popping on Twitter almost on an hourly basis. That Shanty Town trended for several days and occasionally pops up in the trends table even today only highlights the series’ influence on its viewers. The directorial aim was to examine Lagos’s impoverished way of life from the viewpoint of the city’s streets, gang culture, sex industry, and political corruption.
The episodes are undoubtedly unique and not simply another typical Nigerian Netflix special. It unapologetically brandishes the everyday lifestyle seen in the slums of Africa’s most populous nation.
Table of Content hide 1Plot 2Cast 3Crew 3.1Director 3.2Production 3.3Writers 4Shanty Town’s Release Date 5Reception 6ConclusionPlot
The first season opens with a three-person fugitive family, including a mother and her two adult daughters, attempting to avoid the terrible afflictions of the ghetto. This is demonstrated by a flashback, which ultimately took an awful turn when one of the woman’s kids was shot while trying to flee. The story then shifts to the present, where a merciless figure by the name of Scar (Chidi Mokeme) manages several shady transactions in the small, run-down ghetto known as Shantytown. Scar is a notorious gangster who controls a network of drug dealers and sex workers, who must struggle to gain their freedom from his pimping claws by any means possible.
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Jackie (Mercy Eke), one of his sex workers, appears to have raised enough cash to escape the brutal treatment she was receiving from her pimp Scar. She is thus in a joyful mood, as shown by the party scene. Then Jackie advises Shalewa (Nancy Isime), a co-worker, who is still subject to Scar’s rule and promises her financial support so that she might liberate herself from the terrifying thug. Inem (Ini Edo), another character, is released from jail in the meantime. She originally worked as a sex worker in Shanty Town, but she quit after being implicated in a drug crime, we are told.
In the second episode, Scar’s girls (sex workers) continue to use a variety of strategies to get away from his reach. Inem returns to her former neighbourhood, Shanty Town, in this episode, Jackie is murdered by scar, and Shalewa meets an influential stranger (Femi Fernandez) in a bar who she plans to exploit as a method of escaping Scar and Shanty Town.
The narrative continues with Scar being given a political assignment by a drug lord and gubernatorial candidate, Chief Fernandez (Richard Mofe Damijo). However, the mission is cut short when Scar is abducted by Mr Fernandez’s rival, Dame Dabota (Shaffy Bello), who is running against him. Using Shalewa’s affiliation with his son Femi, who is oblivious to their plans, Scar’s new mission is to destroy Mr Fernandez.
As the narrative progresses in the third episode, Scar finds himself caught between two influential political factions, and his connections to political organizations are becoming more perilous. All of his current actions and decisions may hurt the escape plans of some of his girls.
Inem eventually lands a job at a nightclub, where she attracts the attention of a perilous admirer in the succeeding episodes. Scar proposes in an effort to release Shalewa from his rule. Femi Fernandez is seen attempting to take their relationship to the next level by asking Shalewa out on a date. The scenario becomes even more chaotic as an undercover team works to find some of the missing girls from Shanty Town.
Cast
The extraordinary lineup of A-list actors is one of the reasons that has kept people talking about Shanty Town. It almost appeared like every single role was done by an established Nollywood actor from various generations, which added to the production’s uniqueness.
The cast includes the following:
- Richard Mofe-Damijo
- Ini Edo
- Chidi Mokeme
- Nse Ekpe-Etim
- Shola Shobowale
- Shaffy Bello
- Ali Nuhu
- Uche Jombo
- Zubby Michael
- Nancy Isime
- Yaw Naija
- Omowunmi Dada
- Mercy Eke
- Regina Daniels
- Judith Audu
- Peter Okoye
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Crew
In regards to the production of the Netflix special series, below are the names of the production members:
Director
Dimeji Ajibola – Director (six Episodes)
Production
- Charles Okonkwo – Executive Producer (six Episodes)
- Chichi Nworah – Executive Producer (six Episodes)
Writers
- Ayomikun Paseda
- Donald Tombia
- Shirleyann Ede
- Xavier Ighorodje
Shanty Town’s Release Date
Shanty Town premiered on January 20, 2023. It was met with mixed reviews but ultimately had a great number of viewings on the heels of its release.
Reception
Following the release of the six-part series, there have been tons of reviews trailing Shanty Town. While some think it is a masterpiece, others think it is just a mid-class production with unnecessary violence.
Due to the goriness smeared all over its episodes, Shanty Town is described as “ultraviolent and relentlessly grim” by Vivian Nneka Nwajiaku of Afrocritik. The majority of harsh criticisms, however, were cushioned with praises for actor Chidi Mokeme, who played the role of “Scar”. From tabloid reviews to individual online takes, Mokeme’s return to the set and delivery appear to be the most talked about aspects of Shanty Town.
Another talked about scene of the series is the infamous nude scene (played by a body double) involving Nancy Isime and Richard Mofe Damijo. The scene had some Nigerians riled up, while others were excited in seeing such in a Nollywood production.
Regarding the storyline, some viewers believe it is subpar and a mash-up of everything that delivers nothing. The Shanty Town storyline is described as “lame” by Cable lifestyle but the publication states that the series was redeemed as a result of Chidi Mokeme’s delivery.
Conclusion
Shanty Town illustrates the tough Lagos lifestyle of the underbelly environs, which poses several hazards to people’s lives, forcing them to try to escape the ills of that life. It examines the views mentioned earlier through the eyes of a group of sex workers, who are pimped by vicious drug and gang leaders, from whom they make every effort to escape but find it difficult owing to political corruption and blood ties around their leader. This thwarts their escape plans, trapping them in the dangerous Shanty Town.
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