Though Korean drama is nothing new in Nigeria, who would have thought that one day a director would be inspired to create a Nollywood Kdrama film out of love?
Is there a memory of us talking about our favorite K-dramas when we got back from extended breaks in school? Did you not fall in love with Gu Jun Pyo, also known as “Oppa,” from the movies Boys Before Flowers and City Hunter? If not, are you a Nigerian girl? Is it even a girl, damn you? Of course, I consider myself to be a Caribbean island lettuce. Thoughts? Well, maybe lettuce is produced there, but whatever.
Nigerians are accustomed to emotive acting and characters because, particularly with our common grass-to-gravel tales, our films arouse powerful emotions in viewers. It makes sense that they are drawn to Korean dramas because of their fixation on the bully wealthy CEO and lowlife clichés.
Nigerian viewers can learn about Korean culture, customs, and values through Korean film and television. However, the “K-drama wave’s” impact in Nigeria appears to have changed very swiftly as it spread over the globe. Who knew that Nigerians would produce a Nollywood K-dramas one day? That was one I wasn’t expecting. I mean, I can see the frenzy that made young people pick up the language and even form a little K-drama fan club where they would discuss and critique films, but a Nollywood movie?
That’s next level right now, But then again, Korean dramas are really just Nollywood epics with hangukmal, lighter skin, and greater budgets. A Nollywood and K-dramas working together would be amazing, but this one? I’m a little surprised.
A few weeks back, we saw videos of females speaking a foreign language while wearing uniforms for secondary school online when we woke up. We leaned in closer to try to understand what was being said, but we were unable. Upon closer inspection, we can observe schoolgirls from Nigeria speaking Korean. I mistakenly believed it to be a skit, but it’s actually a film by Kemz Mama (Kemi Ikuseedun), better known as Mummy Wa of the Mr. Macaroni duo. In My Sunshine, an unforgettable high school journey is described.
Although it is set in Nigeria, My Sunshine is a narrative about a high school experience full of love and friendship—themes that will appeal to fans of Korean dramas.
“How did she cast for this?” you could ask. The film stars Olayode Juliana, Chinedu Ikedieze, and Mr. Macaroni among many more. It is presently streaming on YouTube and is directed by seasoned filmmaker JJC Skills.
Although I acknowledge that this is novel and exciting, and it’s a soothing watch after a demanding workday, I don’t think this is a trend that will catch on or be long-lasting. As Nigerians, it still seems foreign to us, but who knows? Maybe a generous donor will be willing to provide more funds for Nigerian K-dramas. It is unclear if it will happen sooner or later.
