Gidi Up is a Nigerian television and web drama series starring OC Ukeje, Somkele Iyamah, Adeyemi Okanlawon and Titi Sonuga in lead roles. The series is created by Jadesola Osiberu and executively produced by Lola Odedina. It is produced by Ndani TV and sponsored by GTBank. Episodes are first aired online through Ndani.tv web channel and the first episode was aired on 20 February 2013.
The series follows the lives of four young adults (Obi, Tokunbo, Eki and Yvonne) who are pursuing success and independence in the city of Lagos, revealing the challenges they are faced with at every step of the way in their quest to achieve their dreams. The title of the series is culled from the popular term “Las Gidi”, a nickname for Lagos city.
The first season of the series was an eight-part web miniseries, with a length of approximately eight minutes per episode and used to be broadcast only online.The second season was however converted into a full 30-minute episodial television and webseries, with the first season combined together, re-edited and aired on television as the pilot episode for season 2. (culled wiki)
I got hooked on Season 2 and the season finale Episode 12 was published today. This will not be a review, or an expose on my favorite or least favorite characters because I will not like to preempt your thoughts about it. I must say it however gives you a good perspective of contemporary modern life of the young and upwardly mobile professionals in today’s Africa plus it’s great entertainment. The script/film is quite impressive and the acting is on point. I have compiled the videos below for your easy viewing. Enjoy!
And if you want to watch a compact Season one, here goes
Coming Soon, this Fall, is a web series that caught my interest. Why? First of, the beauty and power of the visuals that dropped in my news-feed led to my curiosity which was nicely fed :-).( I can’t over-emphasize the power of visual branding).
“A picture is worth a thousand words” refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image. The expression “Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.” appears in a 1911 newspaper article quoting newspaper editor Arthur Brisbane discussing journalism and publicity – Source Wiki
The ladies, so elegantly presented, oozing of African aesthetics and glam are the characters from the series. ‘An African City’ is about five beautiful, successful African females who return to their home continent and confide about love and life in ‘An African City’!
Written by Nicole Amarteifio (Creator, Writer, Co-Director & Executive Producer)
Character: Nana Yaa, a Ghanaian, was raised in New York state, just outside New York City. She returned to Ghana after earning her first degree at Georgetown, followed by her graduate degree in journalism from Columbia University. Actress: MaameYaa Boafo is a New York based actress. She received her MFA in Acting from Rutgers University and has since worked with The American Globe Theatre as Ophelia in Hamlet, George Street Playhouse’s Company member and Project Y Theatre to name a few. Now crossing over to Film and TV, she has been in commercials airing in the States as well as Angola and just wrapped up a Sci-Fi film before shooting “An African City”. MaameYaa will next be seen in a few of Akosua Adoma Owusu’s films. Dress: Chemphe Bea Photo credit: BOB PIXEL PHOTOGRAPHY Location: The African Regent —Character: Sade, a Ghanaian-Nigerian raised in Texas, works as a marketing manager for a prominent Nigerian Bank based in Accra. She is a graduate of Harvard Business School and spent most of her young professional life between New York and Boston. Actress: Nana Mensah is a Ghanaian-American New York-based actress. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and in her burgeoning career has played onstage with the likes of Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Kline, LaChanze, Mandy Patinkin, Anthony Mackie and Jonathan Groff. TV/Film/Web: The Walker (starring Carrie Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, and Rightor Doyle), The Madam (pilot for cable TV written by comedienne Rachel Axelrod), Gracie (Academy Award-winner Davis Guggenheim, dir.). Selected Theater Credits Include: The Bacchae featuring Anthony Mackie and Jonathan Groff (NYSF/Joanne Akalaitis, dir.), Mother Courage and Her Children starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline (NYSF/George C. Wolfe, dir.), Inked Baby starring Tony Award winner LaChanze (Playwrights Horizons/Kate Whoriskey, dir.), The Tempest starring Mandy Patinkin (CSC/Brian Kulick, dir.), A Question of Impeachment featuring Alec Baldwin, Denis O’Hare and Annabella Sciorra (Culture Project). Training: The Actors Center, Public Theater Shakespeare Lab.Character: Zainab, a Ghanaian born in Sierra Leone, grew up in Atlanta. Her entrepreneurial spirit brought her back to Ghana and she has a constant eye for business opportunities. Her primary business is exporting Shea Butter from Ghana to Europe and the United States. Actress: Maame Adjei is currently a budding television producer, with productions that focus on Ghana’s tourism industry. She is also a member of the production team for the annual Miss Universe Ghana Pageant. With small roles in Speak as well as Coz ov Moni, Maame makes her major acting debut in ‘An African City.’ Maame has a B.A from Temple University and a masters from St. Josephs University both in Philadelphia, PA. Wardrobe: Christie Brown Photo credit: BOB PIXEL PHOTOGRAPHY Location: The African RegentCharacter: Ngozi, a Nigerian and the youngest of the five ladies, was raised in Maryland. After earning her graduate degree in international affairs, she was offered a job at a development agency in Accra. Ngozi is the religious one of the group. Actress: Esosa E is an award winning Actress, Writer, “Directress” named a “Young African Visionary” by Obaseema Magazine and included in Applause Africa’s list of “30 Most Intriguing Africans in NY.” As an actress some recent projects include the television pilots “An African City,” and “Brooklyn Shakara,” along with roles in independent films such as “A Lover’s Call,” “Mother of George, ” “Mysterious Prison,” and Nollywood film “Unguarded.” Her work as an actress has appeared on VOX Africa, BET, BET-J, and MTV and screened in numerous festivals and art circles worldwide including: Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Milano Festival, the MOMA, and the Whitney Biennial. As a filmmaker she has written and directed several short films to date including “50 Bucks in Argentina,” which was an official selection in the 2011 Cannes Film Short Corner, MTV-U Film of the Week, and also won Best Short at the Nigerian Entertainment Film. Festival. In 2012, her short film “March On” won Best Documentary in the Vote it Forward Film Festival. Her most recent film “#Vengeance Is Mine” is available to watch online on demand via Dobox.tv, and on mobile devices via the Afrinolly app. Currently she is fundraising for her first feature film, “One Night in Brooklyn.” For more information visit: http://www.esosae.com Dress: Christie Brown Photo credit: BOB PIXEL PHOTOGRAPHY — in Accra, Ghana.Character: Makena was born in Kenya, but spent most of her life in London. She is from a biracial family, with a Ghanaian mother and a British father. In England, she graduated from Oxford Law and went on to have a successful career at a corporate law firm. However, after a divorce, she decided to return to the continent jobless. Actress: Multi-talented artist Marie Humbert cultivated a love for the arts at an early age. Presently, Marie plays the role of Vivian in ADAM’S APPLES. She was also one of the ten finalists in ‘The Spirited Actor: Africa’s Next Hollywood Star’, with celebrity acting coach Tracy Moore. Marie began her acting career in theatre, captivating roles in SALLINGER by Bernard Marie Koltès and BITTER SAUCE by Eric Bogosian. Marie is bilingual (French/English) and enjoys modern ballet. Marie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. Dress: Christie Brown Photo credit: BOB PIXEL PHOTOGRAPHY Location: The African Regent
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