‘Sons of the Caliphate’ on the screen

The much talked about and long awaited TV series, ‘Sons of The Caliphate’ a political drama set in the North of Nigeria about three rich, entitled and ambitious young men, all caught up in the lust for power, addiction, love and desire, as well as the obligations of family loyalty and the craving for revenge in the deadly tussle for the governorship seat of the Northern Caliphate State has finally hit the screen.

Produced by Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife TV, the13-part drama series, was officially premiered on Wednesday, October 12, at the Filmhouse Imax in Lekki, Lagos. It parades A-List cast actors including Patrick Doyle, Mofe Duncan, Sani Muazu and, Rahama Sadau, who was recently in the news following her banned by MOPPAN for featuring in Jos, Plateau State-born singer, Classiq’s new music video.

‘Sons of the Caliphate’ introduces viewers to the worlds of Kalifah, Nuhu, Diko and the beautiful Binta as they navigate the treacherous waters of corruption, assassinations, betrayals and love. What will happen when politics and personal interests pit these new faces of the Northern elite against each other?

Personal conflicts and interest intertwine and cascade through the dark alleys of corruption, betrayals, assassinations, corporate crimes and palace affairs in this drama about the rich, cultural and flamboyant aristocratic Northern Nigerian lifestyle.

Speaking at the premiere, the writer and producer of the series, Dimbo Atiya, founder of Familiar Grounds Media, said that the production was the highlight of their career (himself and the wife, Karachi, who co-wrote the drama series), and it was kind of a high one for them.

He said, “When it got commissioned by EbonylifeTV, we realized that there were some sort of lack in the mainstream media about the stories that come from northern Nigeria, contemporary stories, particularly the stereotype in Nollywood movies, where the Hausa man is usually presented as a gatemen with one small girl by his side, presumed to his wife, and speaks a funny, dangerous accent.”

Atiya explained that as a result of the stereotype, a lot of people do not understand the complexity of the northern Nigerian, and they do not know that people from the region live their lives in a very sophisticated way. He added that most producers in Nigeria have taken the audience for granted with their story line and characterization.

“For some time and I don’t think there has been any series like the ‘Sons of Caliphate’, reason we had to give it our best in terms of location, characterization, lighting effect and what have you in movies/drama production to represent the story we are trying to project out,” he added.
The series premiered on Thursday, October 13, at 9pm WAT/10pm CAT.