Lekki Wives (Women Lekki), whose name is borrowed from Desperate Housewives, describes the obsession with social mobility in a country where the wealth from oil is far from having improved the lives of its 170 million inhabitants.
The series, which is perhaps what fascinates viewers watch "all the evil that people are willing to do for money," says Blessing Egbe.
"We pushed the envelope a bit. Were not trying to be nice," she told AFP.
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| Lekki Wives |
With the largest population and the continent's largest oil industry, Nigeria has experienced economic growth of 7% over the last decade, one of the highest rates in the world.
An innovative series
Yet poverty has worsened since 2004, acknowledged the government last year. The middle class has expanded, but the money is mostly concentrated in the hands of plutocrats at the top of society.
Intrigues Lekki Wives are "99%" inspired by true stories of people looking to join the elite, explains Egbe. The characters talk about their desires and emotional monologues in front of the camera.
Must pass a security gate to enter the residential complex Lekki, a district in full swing and the most coveted of Lagos.
Banks, hotels, shopping malls, huge churches along the road paved carefully. The buildings are new or under construction.
The houses resemble the American suburbs. Rents are astronomical: U.S. $ 24,000 per year for a studio (18,000 euros), it is often necessary to pay at once.
Mother of 3 children, Blessing Egbe, 37, knows the area where she moved there 8 years. These are people "who are desperate to be seen and go to wealthy," she said.
But it is sometimes a sham.
"You see a beautiful house, but inside, the rooms are empty or without electricity. Either the room is elegant and the rest of the house, there is nothing," she says.
"An address to Lekki is perhaps not quite a visa for America," but it is a lot of acceptable consolation jokes blogger Chigo Compere. A known history in Lagos reports the case of a man who can not afford housing in this affluent suburb, sleeping in his Range Rover parked in the streets of Lekki, the changing place every day to avoid being spotted by people.
The series is innovative because designers of films and television programs in Nigeria tend to avoid the realities of society, says the actress Kiki series Omeilli 29 years.
"Everyone knows what happens, but nobody wants this screen," says one who embodies Lovette, which maintains a set of expensive life with her lovers and extramarital affairs.
A scenario that crosses the boundaries of acceptable
The series is so popular that the actress is approached by fans on the streets like never before. "People recognize me because of my previous films, but never like this."
Blessing is amazed by the success of his series launched in April on the internet, then on DVD before the DSTV satellite chain starts to circulate each week.
"I thought it would appeal to the wealthy, but eventually that interests everyone."
This was discovered seller DVD market Obalende Lagos Theelar Uchenna: it remained out of stock for three months.
Yet the scenario crosses the boundaries of acceptable in a conservative society, divided equally between Christians and Muslims, and which the Muslim north is subject to Sharia law.
In one episode, a character is looking for a partner for sado-masochistic relationship.
Yet the series has so far not attracted protests from civil and religious authorities. But the second season intends to push the limits even further.
I hope I will not be driven (screens) after Season 2, "she said.
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