Encomium
‘The crew was so supportive!’ -LEONORA OKINE (Malaika)
What is Shuga all about and what does it mean to you on a personal level?
MTV Base Shuga is a multimedia campaign aimed at changing the behaviour of young people and empowering them so they can improve their sexual and reproductive health.
Shuga’s focus on using young influential people to inform other young people to protect our generation and beyond is what makes the show very important to me.
Having been previously seen on popular series, Tinsel, what new side of you should we expect to see as Malaika, in this series?
Malaika is an ex-beauty queen who has always fantasised about getting married to the best guy there is, and her dream comes true. She does everything to please everyone else and tries not to upset anyone or get on anyone’s wrong side. She just wants to be good and happy. Expect to see a completely different person in Malaika.
How much emotionally invested are you in this role?
Malaika represents a lot of young women in most parts of the world and so I consider the opportunity to tell her story, their story, as a privileged responsibility. It is my responsibility to show the world, our society, our families, our men, what such women go through. Hopefully, some positive change will take place. This role is close to my heart, it’s personal.
Has playing Malaika made you see things differently, especially on the knotty issue of HIV/AIDS amongst youths?
Oh yes, it has! We had to go through counselling and some of the things we learnt were shocking! The good thing is that the Nigerian government is doing everything possible to make the spread of HIV a thing of the past. Mother-child transfer can be prevented and the clinics are making women aware if this. NACA which is also a partner in this project has made themselves available to answer all manner of questions about how to get help and how to live a successful life even if you’re already infected. HIV isn’t a death sentence.
What drew you to the Shuga project?
I watched Shuga 1 and 2. Shuga is the one show that I believe is brutally honest about how young people feel and the decisions they make based on their feelings on family love and expectations, friendship, love, 
sex, alcohol, money. I thoroughly enjoyed its vivid and uncompromising focus on love, emotions and sexual behavior amongst young Kenyans. It is a show that exposes sensitive issues in the most captivating way! Using young people to show young people the consequences of their actions is much more interesting than sitting at a conference and listening to a much older person you can’t relate to, telling how you feel and why. MTV Base SHUGA concentrates on the young people and that alone is attractive. The true story lines, the great picture and sound, and the attractive cast don’t hurt. I’m glad it is now paying attention to Nigerians and people living in Nigeria.
What was it like working with your cast members, director on this project?
The cast members were incredible. Even those of us who didn’t work closely together have formed very strong bonds. The crew was so supportive! They did all they could to make us comfortable. The director, Biyi Bandele, was phenomenal! He was very easy to work with and he treated us with such incredible respect! I have such high regards for Biyi. Filming SHUGA has been a life changing experience. I’ve learnt a lot!
What was your most challenging experience on set of Shuga?
That should be the stunts. Mainly hitting someone with my car. I thoroughly enjoyed having to legally hit someone (Hahahaha). No, seriously though, the stunts director tells you to relax but believe me, knowing you could hurt someone is never easy. The stunts were intense but I definitely enjoyed them!
What are your expectations as per this series of Shuga?
It will be a very successful show. The TV premiere is on World AIDs day, December 1 and I know viewers will embrace it and demand that it even be more brutal on sensitive issues in our society. We’re in the information age after all; why not inform and do so accurately and honestly using the tools that work now? Shuga will be more successful with each season.
