The New Masquerade was a Nigerian sitcom that aired on the Nigerian Television Network on Tuesday nights from 8:30pm – 9:00pm during the mid-1970s until the mid-1990s. It was created and written by James Iroha who also acted in the sitcom.[1] It is one of Nigeria's longest running sitcoms.[2] The TV show started out as radio program known as The Masquerade transmitted on the East Central State Broadcasting Corporation, Enugu.[3]
| New Masquerade | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Nigerian sitcom |
| Created by | James Iroha |
| Written by | James Iroha |
| Starring | Chika Okpala Lizzy Evoeme Christy Essien-Igbokwe James Iroha Romanus Amuta Claude Eke Tony Akposheri David Offor |
| Country of origin | Nigeria |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Enugu, Nigeria |
Synopsis
editThe show started out a segment called Masquerade aired on In the Lighter Mood, radio program of the East Central Broadcasting Corporation.[2] It was created after the civil war as a means to bring laughter to the homes of citizens after the devastation caused by the Nigerian Civil War.[4] The creator was James Iroha who also played Giringori on the TV show.[5]
The protagonist of the show is Chief Zebrudaya, a World War II veteran who has visited various foreign countries and he is perceived by other characters to have attained some level of sophistication and enlightenment. Many of the shows' plot take place in Zebrudaya's sitting room. Zebrudaya has a wife, Ovuleria, a daughter, Philo and two houseboys, Clarus and Giringori. Though a comedy, the show also incorporate melodramatic plots about teaching morals and the consequences of some of society's problems if they are not corrected.[4]
James Iroha and Chika Okpala who played Zebrudaya met in 1972, while they were rehearsing a play “Souls and Daughters”, which was staged at an ESBS amphi-theatre, located in Enugu. He invited Okpala to join the cast and become the star of the show while himself play as his houseboy Gringory Akabuogu.[6]
Cast and characters
edit- Chika Okpala as Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo Alias 4.30 - is a domineering husband; he has a range of experience as an ex-serviceman and resident in foreign countries. He uses a mixture of Queens English, Igbo language and Pidgin English as a means of communication
- Lizzy Evoeme as Ovuleria - Zebrudaya's submissive wife who takes care of the house and engages in petty trading
- Claude Eke as Jegede Sokoya - Zeburudaya's friend whose arrogance and the quest for easy money is a source of conflict between him and the more honest Zeburudaya. He calls himself a doctor and the youngest millionaire in the universe. He likes to demonstrate his ability to speak in Queens English by using a bombast or pretentious style of speaking, albeit with a thick Yoruba accent.
- James Iroha as Giringory Akabogu - Houseboy, speaks in Pidgin English with characteristic Calabar accent.
- Christy Essien-Igbokwe as Apena - Sokoya's wife.
- David Offor as Clarus Mgbeojikwe - Giringory's fellow houseboy
- Tony Akposheri as Zakky - Jegede's ally in scheming get-rich-quick schemes
- Romanus Amuta as Natty - A greed man who engages in gossips and dirty tricks
Reception and Critical Response
editThe New Masquerade holds a special place in the history of Nigerian television and stands out for not only being entertaining but also educative. It also became a tool for ethnic and cultural integration since three Yoruba character- Jegede, Apena and Ramata in the sitcom are played by actors of Igbo descent.[7]
The sitcom was highly popular in the 80s and early 90s and only started losing its popularity by the advent of Mexican soap operas which the television authorities imported because it was cheaper than producing shows locally[8]
The programme also made the theme song Eddie Quansa, from the album of Peacock International Band to become quite popular[9]
References
edit- ^ Haynes, Jonathan (2016). Nollywood: The Creation of Nigerian Film Genres. The University of Chicago Press. p. 80. ISBN 9780226387819.
- ^ a b Oko-Aja, Richard (2014). "Chief Zebrudaya as an Archetype of Molièresque Persona: A Satire of Nigerian Postcoloniality". Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences. 5.
- ^ Ogbonna, Amadi (February 29, 2012). "Poverty, ill-health killed Giringori Akabogu". Vanguard. Lagos.
- ^ a b Timothy-Asobele, S. J. (2003). Nigerian top TV comedians and soap opera. Lagos: Upper Standard Publications.
- ^ Njoku, Benjamin. "Nigeria: How Destiny Brought Giringori and I Together - Zebrudaya". Vanguard. Lagos.
- ^ Njoku, Benjamin (March 3, 2012). "How destiny brought Giringori and I together – Zebrudaya". Vanguard News.
- ^ Ikunu, Azeez Kareem. "Exploring the cultural legacy of the New Masquerade". Guardian Life.
- ^ "How Mexican soaps ruined NTA programmes–TONY AKP0SHERI". The Nation Newspaper. April 27, 2014.
- ^ Abiodun, Christabel (February 1, 2013). "Throwback Friday-The New Masquerade". Premuim Times.