SHANTY TOWN

SHANTY TOWN: CHIDI MOKEME’S SCAR ACT KEEPS US ENTERTAINED DESPITE A BLAND STORYLINE

Shanty Town is the newly released 6-episode Nigerian series on Netflix and it has been trending since its release. Unarguably the biggest Netflix Nollywood release for 2023 so far, the limited series boasts of an array of Nollywood’s finest actors and acting debut for some other celebrities.

Shanty Town is a story of the ghetto life, prostitution, politics, crime, sexual violence, drugs and a few other vices; yet not leaving out subtle moral lessons. It follows the story of a group of prostitutes who want to break free from the control of an infamous kingpin, but soon realize that doing so will be extremely difficult because of political corruption and blood ties. The drama further deepens when this kingpin is caught in a web between two powerful political figures, and in the process to satisfy the powers that be, secrets are revealed, and the thirst for revenge by offended parties rises and we are taken on a journey of vengeance and justice-seeking.

Nse Ekpe-Etim

Executively produced by Ini Edo and directed by Dimeji Ajibola, notable cast in the series are Richard Mofe Damijo, Chidi Mokeme, Nse Ekpe Etim, Nancy Isime, Zubby Michael, Ini Edo, Sola Sobowale, Shaffy Bello and a debut for Peter “P Square” Okoye while Mercy Eke(Big Brother Naija)  makes a second appearance on the Nollywood scene after 2020’s Fate of Alakada.

RMD

Having a star-studded cast and being the first Nollywood release of 2023, there were lots of expectations, and in a way there were certain let downs, and first would just have to be the plot. The plot was just a cliche,  but this time a sub-standard one at that, it did seem like a lower version of Kemi Adetiba’s ‘King of Boys’. There was nothing fascinating than the acting of certain actors.

Chidi Mokeme

With a vague and lazy storyline, it can be said the movie was too long, and  there were no gradual progressions. To be candid, the storyline actually lost substance from episode 3, even by the time it ended, it felt rushed and had loose threads, random action sequences, and absurd supernatural elements that have nothing to do with the agenda presented.

It was quite obvious the writer was trying to make a proper sequence, however, there were certain loopholes, an example was after Inem finds out about the hidden atrocities behind the sudden vanish of those who gain freedom from Shanty Town, the sudden change by Ene towards Scar shouldn’t have been done that way, it’s not like she wasn’t aware they were vanishing, afterall she was his partner in crime, his henchman and also partner in trying to get Inem out of the way, how did she change all of a sudden without suffering some sort of personal grief with Scar?

Nancy Isime

Well, noteworthy was the film’s brilliant reflection of Lagos’ underworld. ‘Shanty Town’ vastly explores and points out some of the hidden atrocities committed by some of these so-called philanthropists — most of which are relatable.

The use of Nigeria’s diverse languages in the film is quite commendable. It is quite different from usual but it was quite amusing to watch a film where Ibibio, Yoruba, and Igbo languages featured prominently.

Zubby Michael

Then a message to the Director, Dimeji Ajibola, please those fight scenes are definitely not believable, that was not a good attempt to imitate Hollywood. No comparisons, but the last time we some authentic kickboxing scenes in Nollywood was in “Omo ghetto:the saga”, and it’s so baffling no one has been able to repeat such class. It would have been way better if the fight scenes were acted the way fight is done in this part of the world, at least that might have been easier to film.

The costumer gives Governor Dame such lovely costumes, but Chief Fernandez’s wardrobe should be questioned, most of the wears given to him didn’t really depict the class his act was to portray. He is a respectable member of the society, a chief, his costume ought to reflect it, and those beads on him are too cheap and in a very obvious way.

Sola Sobowale

Well, we can almost all agree that the stand out feature of Shanty Town just has to be the acting, the actors left us thrilled, though we cannot easily ignore that both RMD and Chidi Mokeme struggled with the Yoruba Language especially the former, could those scenes they spoke Yoruba have been more thoroughly done? Perhaps that would have been the last perfect piece of the puzzle for some exquisite acting.

Shaffy Belllo

Lastly, it’s clear there’s going to be a season 2 due to the way the movie ends; but please can Dimeji Ajibola cut on the frequency Zubby Michael has to say “body dey pepper me”, it was becoming stale and redundant at some point.

It was overall an okay watch, we were left entertained with some captivating acting desipte an almost invisible storyline.

Star Performer- Chidi Mokeme

Chidi Mokeme has got everyone talking after his stellar performance in this, he definitely has made a Scar for himself  in Nollywood after this, we never saw this part of Chidi Mokeme. We were left entertained, thanks Chidi.

Can-do-better Performer- Peter “P Square” Okoye

Please let’s just cut him some slack, it’s his movie debut, there’s always room for improvement.