MTV looks for fresh Nigerian actors

We reported some weeks ago that MTV will be shooting the third season of the drama, Shuga in Nigeria. Instead of picking from the large pool of talented actors, they are searching for fresh faces to feature in the drama.

Already,  Shuga producers are looking to cast fresh new talent to fill a range of key male and female roles in the award winning drama series. That however does not mean that there are no popular faces penned down to be a part of it.   Ikubese Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu and Kenyan actor, singer and radio presenter Nick Mutuma are part of it. 

(read more after the cut)

 “We are looking for real, raw talent that is going to help bring Shuga drama series alive for Nigerian audiences,” said Georgia Arnold, Executive Director, MTV Staying Alive Foundation. “With principle photography for Shuga just a few weeks away, and the TV show premiering across Africa in December 2013 this could be a huge career boost for aspiring Nigerian actors and actresses,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of MTV Base, Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, commented, "MTV Base is delighted to offer this empowering opportunity for Nigerian actors and actresses to be involved in this high quality drama series that will resonate and make an impact with youth audiences around the globe.”

The first two series of Shuga were filmed in Kenya between 2009 and 2011. Starring a young cast of upcoming Kenyan actors and actresses, Shuga told a bitter-sweet tale of love, loss, sex, heartbreak and relationships, set in the clubs, bars, campuses and hangouts of contemporary Nairobi.

Fusing public health messaging with gripping storylines, Shuga is part of a powerful 360-degree mass media prevention education campaign designed to raise awareness about HIV prevention, teen pregnancy and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria. Recent research among youth aged 18 to 24 has highlighted widespread ignorance about or indifference to contraception, poor access to contraceptives, a significantly high incidence of mother-to-child HIV transmission, gender-based violence in the region, lack of knowledge about sexual transmission of HIV and the individual HIV status.  This year’s campaign seeks to promote HIV reduction behaviours among this target population through encouraging HIV counselling and testing, to motivate a reduction in the number of sexual partners as well as promoting awareness about services for women who have experienced gender-based violence. The auditions will be hosting in Lagos today.