#MTVShugaNaija: Lessons from our new characters

Adebola Aduwo summarises each of the lessons we learned from MTV Shuga Naija’s new cast members.

MTV Shuga Naija delivered another amazing cast and with actors who never failed to deliver their roles effortlessly. The just-concluded sixth season had a number of new characters and each of them brought their A game. As such, we thought it would be a great idea to discuss some of these new characters and the lessons embedded in their roles. Let’s do this!

Faa:

Through the eyes of this lady, we saw the dark days of womanhood. Having a look at the sad reality that a lot of women face touched me in more ways than one. Faa showed us how women are pushed to make ugly decisions in their state of helplessness and the many ways men take advantage of this vulnerability. Faa doubled as a mother and a sister, trying her hardest to make ends meet as she was saddled with family responsibilities. The things Faa experienced made us scream and left us in tears at different points in the season. From sexual assault to victim blaming, it was made clear to us that the world is generally unfair to women. On the other hand, her decision not to suffer in silence was a bold one! It is so easy to question people’s life choices when you haven’t felt their struggles. Faa’s situation definitely taught us not to judge people’s decisions and lifestyle.

Khalil:

Khalil was such an ambitious young man. He had really big dreams but he made one mistake – he waited on Tobi to give him that big push. I strongly believe that Khalil would have done a lot better on his own. Sometimes we can waste a lot of time while waiting for a non-existent miracle. Work hard and build yourself a career. Nobody owes you any help.

Diana:

Clueless yet confident. This is how someone described Diana. I have never seen someone who has their facts so wrong in my life. And do you want to know the painful truth? There are young people all around the world who are just like Diana. As much as I didn’t like that she bullied her friends and put them in danger, I couldn’t help but notice the absence of a parental figure in her life. Also, she wasn’t keen on being in the know and getting educated. Maybe she could have channelled that boldness to better use if there was an elderly figure to set her straight.

Cynthia and Frances:

Growing up we were taught that “curiousity killed the cat” but in Cynthia’s case, her curiosity brought her closer to the correct information when it came to her sexual health. And she needed all of her wisdom after her friend Frances was raped at the party Diana took them to. Luckily, Cynthia was able to find an adult they could both trust, and throughout the entire season, she was nothing but a great companion when her friend was in need. Frances’ sad story was another reminder that rape is never the victim’s fault.

Uju and Cyril:

Uju’s role was quite commendable. You hardly find anyone talking to their family members about boyfriends, sex and contraceptive methods. She even went as far as taking Leila to a sexual health clinic which gave her access to proper information. Amazing, right? Except when her efforts were sabotaged by her husband, Cyril, who doesn’t believe in any of these things. In his bid to protect Leila, he deprived her of her rights and put her in danger. If you truly love a person, you’ll give them their space and allow them make their decisions, as it should be.

Ebisinde, Wasiu and Shina:

It’s quite difficult being the man of the house and feeling handicapped when you realize you cannot provide even the smallest things for your family. Ebisinde isn’t a man, though. He’s a regular high school student who should have just focused on his education. He was under a lot of pressure. Peer pressure, especially. His friends, Wasiu and Shina, didn’t steer him in the direction. Instead, they put dangerous ideas in his head. You should know that your choice of friends plays a major role in your life’s journey.

Hadiza:

For Hadiza and education, it was love at first sight. She fought relentlessly for what she loved the most. I was impressed by how she handled her family issues when her marriage looked to threaten her education. Finding a way to have the best of both lives is what I call wisdom. Hadiza did an amazing job of letting the world know that a woman’s place is not in the kitchen but anywhere she desires to be.

Corper Yasmin:

From teaching her pupils proper sex education (finally!) to informing them about gender discrimination, Yasmin was an exemplary character. She was the much-needed breath of fresh air this season. She was a great teacher, making herself available for the girls at all times. I love how she created a safe space for everyone to speak out. Don’t we all wish we had approachable teacher/elders like Yasmin?

These characters passed across different strong messages to the ShugaFam. Amidst the entertainment were numerous important lessons. I hope you learnt something too. Join the conversation and share some of the things you learnt this season in the comments or on social media using the hashtag #MTVShugaNaija.

You can relive the #MTVShugaNaija journey by clicking here.