Encomium
‘Shooting was fun’ – MARIA OKANRENDE (Foye)
Tell us about Foye, the character you play on Shuga.
Foye is similar to Maria in some ways. She is a radio presenter at her university and has dreams of making it big! She is also a DJ and makes her long awaited club debut in the series- which for her is a big career step. Her mum is a bit strict but she finds ways around it. She also loves to have fun. However, she meets very serious issues along the way, and therefore, finds out a lot about herself and sexual relationships.
What does the Shuga Project mean to you?
The Shuga project means a lot to me. It’s amazing! It’s a programme that explicitly deals with so many themes and issues that affect youth and beyond. I feel that MTV and it’s Staying Alive Foundation have taken huge steps to educate and entertain us in relation to HIV, virginity, pregnancy, domestic violence and much more.
What’s your take on today’s youth perception of sexual health, Shuga’s message?
After working on Shuga, I realised that there were a number of facts surrounding HIV and general sexual health that myself and others were not too familiar with. Although the filming process was fun, we have all learnt so much and I believe Shuga’s messages about sexual relationships will be pushed to the forefront of the viewer’s mind.
How has the experience working on Shuga been so far?
It has definitely been one of a kind! Shooting was fun, challenging and crazy! It was truly a wonderful experience. I’ve learnt so much about how different individuals view certain issues, I’ve learnt a lot about myself too. I’ve also experienced long nights and early mornings. Oh my, there really are 24 hours in a day! Ha ha!
What lessons are to be learnt from Foye, the character you play in Shuga?
I think Foye found it hard initially to deal with the ‘real world’. I feel that she was wrapped up in a protective bubble that consisted of home and student life. She sort of believed that she’d become a great DJ and live happily ever after. However, the gritty truth is that we must all deal with the consequences of our own and even others’ actions. As Foye matures throughout the series, you will realise that although we encounter new challenges in life, we can all still live happy, healthy lives. Just make sure you get tested regularly!
Why do you think Shuga is so special and why is it important to have something like this for young people to watch?
The fact that MTV Base Shuga highlights so many topics and issues that young people have to face, is both bold and extremely smart. Young people need this. Not just in Nigeria, but all over the world. We may fear having certain conversations or confronting various feelings- however, Shuga spells it all out for us, yet it’s entertaining at the same time. You won’t feel like you’re learning about HIV, sexual relationships, domestic violence via a classroom.
Do you have any personal experience of the themes around which Shuga revolves and how has it helped in your interpretation of your character?
If not myself, then definitely people I’ve come into contact with, and friends I grew up with at school. I knew a girl who got into physical fights with her boyfriend when we were at university. It was very scary, especially when all you can think about is trying to get your friend out of the situation before a tragedy occurs. This situation is quite similar to that of Malaika, Nii and Sophie’s in Shuga. This helped me identify with the characters and the script.
Young adults are impressionable and at this stage in their lives, they have questions and are seeking answers. What is it about your character and the series as a whole which you believe speaks to their dreams, reality and future in terms of the believability of the stories that these characters tell and helps to answer or at least attempts to answer some of those questions?
We are all rather impressionable, but yes, young adults can be even more-so. MTV Base Shuga is an excellent programme for youth. It’s a classroom- a school teaching you about contracting HIV, HIV testing, sex, virginity, domestic violence, friendships and much more. Shuga takes real life situations and refuses to turn it into a fairy tale. There isn’t always a happy ending and we all learn from that.
Let’s go beyond the entertainment value of the series. When you look at it from an informative, educational and awareness perspective, what new lessons do you think the series will bring to the fore in terms of its ability to have an impact?
From the very first episode, everyone will be shocked. It doesn’t hide anything. My character Foye is quite a naive young lady who just waltzes into situations and finds that things will not always go her way, so she has to make dramatic realisations/adjustments. We learn about contracting sexually transmitted diseases, the ways in which HIV can be contracted, various places you can get tested, having a relationship that involves both a negative and positive HIV status and much more. If you have neglected these topics and were unaware of certain facts- Shuga is here to both teach and show you all these.
What’s the discourse/conversation you hope it generates among the young adult demographic during its run in Nigeria?
I hope people watch Shuga and feel brave. With its TV premiere on World AIDs Day, December 1, I hope viewers see that even if no-one around us will be the first to confront the fact that a friend is being beaten by her boyfriend or that they’d like to go for their first HIV test, you can still do what’s right. You can lead by example.
