WURA The Thrill, Intrigues, Suspense, Drama Deepen

Following a successful first season of Showmax Original telenovela, ‘Wura’, the telenovela, is back and promises more intrigue, drama, suspense and scandalous moments. The highly anticipated second season will premiere tomorrow, Monday, December 4, 2023, only on Showmax, with four new episodes every week from Monday to Thursday .

‘Wura is the Nigerian adaptation of the hit South African 1Magic telenovela, ‘The River’, which got an International Emmy nomination for Best Telenovela. ‘Wura’ follows the lives of characters bonded and divided by the discovery of gold in Iperindo, a small community in Osun State, where the story is set.

The ensemble cast of ‘Wura’ features a mix of Nollywood veterans and rising stars, with Scarlet Gomez as Wura Amoo-Adeleke. Yomi Fash-Lanso takes on the role of Anthony Amoo-Adeleke, and Carol King adds depth to the series as Grace Adeleke. The show also stars Ray Adeka, Iremide Adeoye, Ego Iheanacho, Martha Ehinome, and Lanre Adediwura.

‘Wura’ Season Two promises to be an even greater rollercoaster of emotions and reiterates Showmax’s efforts in bringing Nigerian stories to the screen and expanding its library of original content.

In ‘Wura’ You Can Tell She’s A Good Mother And Still A Successful Businesswoman

Nollywood actress, Scarlet Gomez plays Wura Adeleke. The singer and model is a business administration graduate from the University of Lagos.

You played the lead character in this telenovela, what prepared you for this role?
Nothing did, to be honest. It wasn’t like I was prepared. As an actor, you always pray for that one big break, where you can get to show your talent and show what you’re capable of. I think God just answered my prayers and pushed ‘Wura’ down my way. It wasn’t easy, the audition process and all of that, but in the end it worked out and I’m grateful to God for that.

Do you think you have similarities with this character?
Well the only similarity that I know, I think is her doggedness; basically, her ambition to life. I’m quite ambitious as well.

Your role in ‘Wura’, being a fierce lady and determined to protect what belongs to her even if it means shedding blood, how easy was it for you to play this out especially as you have never done this before?
It wasn’t easy at all, because the character that I play is far from who I am in real life. I had moments where even I hated the character I was playing. Like I would read the script and go, “How can anybody in their right senses do this?” But eventually, being on set with the rest of the cast for eleven months, and just having to be in that headspace permanently really helped me and I had awesome directors cast and production people to work with. So it kind of helped me ease in to it.

For those watching, what lessons do you think they can take personally from your character?
I’m going to mention ambition again. They can take that away from it, and also the fact that there’s this notion that says that if as a woman you want to become successful and chase your dreams, the home front has to suffer for that. But, in ‘Wura’ you can tell that she’s a good mother and still a successful businesswoman. It just goes to show people that you can do both and none has to suffer for the other.

Also, that it’s possible for women to be in the forefront and their place is not just in the kitchen tending to keep their kids, contrary to what a lot of people say. Also, that if you can think it you achieve it. ‘Wura doesn’t take no for an answer. And now, I don’t mean go about it the way she went about it. Don’t go killing people. But yeah, if you really want it and you put your mind to it, there’s no stopping you.

Your performance earned you an AMVCA nomination for Best Actress. How did that make you feel? And how has this impacted your career?
For the longest, I had always wished and dreamed to be nominated, and for some reason, it just felt like it wasn’t happening. I was wondering if they weren’t seeing, or if I needed to position my self in a place where they could find me. But I feel like everything happens at its own appointed time. And it was just time. And I am so grateful for the opportunity to be nominated alongside the people I was nominated. Most of them I grew up watching, so in my mind, I’m like, you can’t tell me nothing, I have arrived. It felt like I was getting my flowers, and I was over the moon. I cried in fact.

What should viewers look forward to in Season 2?
Wickedness 2.0. Wickedness pro max; a lot of people keep saying, ‘Wura’ is very wicked. She was an angel in Season 1. Season 2, oh my God, I fear for myself, like I hope I don’t get attacked in person one day. Entertainment through and through, there’s never a dull moment in Season 2. How you know that something like this is going to be fun, we the actors and the production crew, are always so excited to get on set and shoot that scene. You’re going to be at the edge of your seat. I promise you that. You’ll probably want to enter your TV, or smash your TV. We’ll have you all through.

‘Wura’, As A Series, Is Something To Treasure

Yomi Fash-Lanso played Adeleke. He earned a degree in business administration from the University of Lagos and features mostly in Yoruba language films with over 100 films to his credit.

What made this role different for you?
The role of Commissioner Adeleke; it’s different in a way, because of the characterisation, his dual personality. He’s a family man, who loves his wife to the brain. He loves his children too with everything he owns. He’s a dutiful police officer who will go any length in apprehending a criminal. He never harbours criminality or any vices. It’s very unique to me. That dual personality keys into my style. I love it.

From your experience, what stands ‘Wura’, the series out?
The way we portray the story and carry it out in Nigeria to suit our purpose, culture, tradition, and way of life makes it more outstanding. We hired the best hands, in terms of the set, the location and everything. Everything we used in that series is perfect. From the director, the producers, the crew, the actors, everything was just too notch. That’s why we have this kind of reception.

How much of personality were you able to bring in to interpret this role?
I love the dual personality of the character. A little bit of his traits, characters and mannerisms, I have it. I’m a very cool person. We carry the angel and the devil within us. We carry both viruses. There’s no devil anywhere. You are the devil; you can be the angel too. It depends on what people want to see in you. How you are treated ignites that part of you.

I can be a violent man if you treat me that way, if you want to see that part of me, because, you cannot slap me and tell me to turn the other cheek. I am an African man I will hit you hard. That is one thing about Police Commissioner Adeleke that I love. I love the other side of him that seeks justice. I don’t condone cheating in any form. I can’t stand and watch you get cheated. I will go to any length for that, to ensure that you gain what is due to you.

What should we look forward to in Season 2?
Let me not let the cat out of the bag. Season 2 promises to be filled with more suspense, violence, drama, intrigues, and jokes. It’s an all out thing. People will sit glued to their screens, anticipating the next episodes.

A Lot Of Lessons To Be Learnt From ‘Wura’

Nwakaegoego Iheanacho Ogbaro portrays the character Iyabo Kuti. Popularly known as Ego, she is a singer.

You are popularly known for being a musician. How is this transition into being an actor, and how has the experience been so far?
It has been great. It wasn’t something that I consciously planned. It was an opportunity that came by and I decided, why not? I just found out that I really enjoyed it, and then I decided to try my hand on it like other projects in the acting world. It’s been great and amazing so far.

How would you describe Iyabo Kuti from your perspective?
She is a no nonsense woman. She doesn’t take nonsense from anybody. She’s very protective. She’s a woman of faith. She’s a loyal friend. She loves her family. She defends her family. She is strong. But at the same time, she has her fears and insecurities, but she just doesn’t allow them to show, because she believes she has to be strong for every other person. She’s a great woman.

You’ve experienced ‘Wura’ as an actor, and as a viewer. What do you think people should take away from this show?
A lot of lessons to be learnt from this show about not judging a book by its cover; you meet people and you don’t really know them, or what they’re going through or what they’re capable of. So, you shouldn’t judge them. You should try and study them more. Just about love of family, loyalty, and greed contentment. There’s a lesson to be taken from it.

How much of vices do you think that parents should cover their children from? And how do you think parents can balance between protecting their children and doing what’s right?
I mean, it’s like saying, you lied, but that lie doesn’t really affect us, or anybody. Its just a simple lie. And then, when it comes to a serious lie, you know. That’s just it; there are some things that you cannot overlook even as a parent, I see people on social media say they got a house for their mum at 17, 18, 19 and 20. I know my mum. She would begin to question what’s happening. They need to ask these questions. I’m not saying monitor your child 24/7. You can’t even do it. But be alert and aware. Look at your child’s behaviour. You know your child, you gave birth to your child. You should know certain things have changed about them; you should try to ask questions, to talk. Make it comfortable for them to come to you to talk about stuff. Just be alert. I feel like they should ask questions and you don’t just accept everything. If you need to turn them in, turn them in.

‘Wura’ Has Really Propelled My Career

Martha Ehinome played the character Tumi. She is a trained-actor from the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan, where she majored in acting and speech.

Did you expect the reception Tumi got after show?
Not so much to be honest. I think it’s just off the fact that the show was really successful. The extent to which it was successful genuinely shocked everyone because it spread like wildfire. Like an actor on set said, Tumi is one of the very likeable ones on the show. With the fame that the show came with, the fact that Tumi is so likeable has just transferred basically. So no, it’s a lot to be honest. Many times, I’m still surprised at how much love I get.

How would you describe your growth since the show premiered?
I think it has really propelled my career to a great extent. I’ve been in the scene for short a while. And I can say that this project is the one that has given me the most audience. I think it has put a lot of eyes on me. And that’s one of the ways, which actors want to be – to be seen. I think it has given me that leverage and visibility. To a very great extent it has really propelled my career.

How synonymous are you as a person to Tumi?
Tumi has this tomboyish side to her. I think Martha has that too, so it wasn’t so hard to tap into that. She is a lover girl. She wouldn’t look like she’s one, but she gives her whole heart to things. So that’s why a relationship will completely break her. I think in those senses we’re similar.

What should we look forward to in Season two from Tumi?
We should look forward to how she navigates really tough situations, because a lot of tough situations are what she will come across. So we should just look forward to how she navigates those and the journey that everything takes her on.

Jeje Is A Character With So Much Dynamism

Ray Adeka played Jeje. Rays interest in the arts began at a young age and he polished his talent by studying film and acting.

How synonymous to this character do you think you are in real life?
Style. There’s persistence, I guess. It might not go to that extent of where he will get to, but I think we have that in common.

Playing the villain in this telenovela, which is quite strategic to the series, how did you embrace and fit into the role?
Of course, an actor prepares all the time. I read; searched for the clues in the script, found something that I could connect with that kind of summarises the character. I found that in a particular episode while I was reading. I kind of built on that.

How do you think viewers perceive this role?
Hot and cold; some love him, some don’t. The ones who love him love him a lot. The ones who don’t, don’t. But again, I feel Jeje is a character with so much dynamism. He has different acts and faces in the story. Those who don’t like Jeje, I know will like Jeje eventually. And there are some who like him, who might not like him eventually.