If you’ve spent time enough on the internet that you’ve seen the word “chudai” or maybe you’ve used it yourself, the odds are that you don’t watch as much TV as the rest of the world anymore. Even though you follow up with everything, following TV guide schedules has stopped being your thing, because you know you can stream it later. How you decide to stream it is not our concern today.
Our concern today is what you watched during the golden age of Nigerian TV shows in the 90s and early aught. So we went about asking millennials what their favourite Nigerian TV shows from childhood were and this is what they told us.
Ngozi, 30
My favourite Nigerian TV show growing up was Edge of Paradise. It was a family program and I was obsessed. I loved it because I could relate to it. I could relate mostly to Ada, one of the characters. Ada, Dozie and definitely their aunt, their mum’s best friend were my favourites. I know you said one but I also loved Extended Family and Face to Face. Now I don’t even have a TV. I used my TV money to buy food and it still feels like a smart decision.
Joseph, 34
Growing up, I watched a lot of cartoons and news with my parents and siblings. We didn’t have cable TV so I took what STV, SuperScreen, NTA 2, Channel 5 and DBN gave me. We watched the news but more fun came in the form of game shows, Milo Last Kid Standing and Speak Out types. Then we loved Who Wants to Be A Millionaire with Frank Edoho, Gulder Ultimate Search and MTN Project Fame.
Finally, the shows. Papa Ajasco, Super Story, This Life, and Dance of Shame —Egejuru (Urine Palmwine) were top for me. Those were the good old times. I think I did a lot of TV because this is just the tip of what I watched. It’s difficult to say I loved one programme more than another in a handful of wonderful shows. We were spoiled for choice, really. But I remember I looked forward to Who Wants to Be A Millionaire more than any other show.
Frank Edoho was an excellent host and the scenarios were infinite given the fact that there was always a new, great question to learn from when they entered the ₦250,000 prize money realm.
Omoleye, 29
Papa Ajasco was my favourite show because it was a family show, was relatable and quite enjoyable. But these days I watch mostly football because I love it and there are many football matches to catch up on. I tune in when there is a major event, like a political debate because I want to see first-hand the nonsense the debaters have to say and possibly fact-check them. I watch an event, like a concert or the Olympics, when it is live too.
Afeez, 32
My favourite show was Sports Extra easily, hosted by Mitchell Obi on Africa Independent Television (AIT) in the early 1990s and 2000s. That show broadened my knowledge of the local and international sports scene, from football to athletics and boxing. I could have become a sports journalist for that reason, haha.
But I’ve stopped watching TV because it’s difficult to keep up with. Due to tight schedules, I barely have time to watch content on that medium. The coming of streaming platforms even makes it harder, so I would rather just spend time on those platforms via my phone/laptop than switch on my TV set when I have time for leisure activities.
Emmanuel, 31
I didn’t watch a lot of TV growing up because I was in and out of the country, but Super Story I always made time for. I might have watched every single episode with my grandma. I loved it because it just felt so personal and spicy. I am a very spicy person myself. Toyin Tomato was my crush. Hated what she did to Suara.
Onyinye, 30
Gulder Ultimate Search was my best show especially when it was Bob Manuel anchoring. Chidi Mokeme wasn’t bad either. Till today I don’t understand what Toke Makinwa was doing anchoring it. I also loved telenovelas like When You Are Mine. Forever a Diego and Paloma shipper. Fuji House of Commotion was also good. It was hilarious and relatable for those who grew up in a large house. I think it is what The Johnsons try to replicate now.
Anabel, 30
Anything from the Wale Adenuga production house really. They were some of the only Nigerian TV shows I was allowed to watch without supervision. Now I watch TV just on streaming platforms because I like to be in control of what I watch rather than settle for whatever cable channels decide.
