New Masquerade
The New Masquerade is a Nigerian sitcom that aired on the Nigerian Television Network on Monday nights from 8:30pm - 9:30pm during the 1980s until the mid-1990s. It is one of Nigeria's longest running sitcoms.[1] The TV show started out as radio program known as The Masquerade transmitted on the East Central State Broadcasting Corporation, Enugu.[2]
Synopsis
The show started out a segment called Masquerade aired on In the Lighter Mood, radio program of the East Central Broadcasting Corporation.[1] It was created after the civil war as a means to bring laughter to the homes of citizens after the devastation caused by the Nigerian Civil War.[3] The creator was John Iroha who also played Giringori on the TV show.[4]
The protagonist of the show is Chief Zebrudaya, a World War II veteran who has visited various foreign countries and he is perceived by other characters to have attained some level of sophistication and enlightenment. Many of the shows' plot take place in Zebrudaya's sitting room. Zebrudaya has a wife, Ovularia, a daughter, Philo and two Houseboys, Cladius and Giringori.Though a comedy, the show also incorporate melodramatic plots about teaching morals and the consequences of some of society's problems if they are not corrected.[3]
Cast and characters
- Chika Okpala as Zebrudaya - also known by his alias 4:30 is a domineering husband; he has a range of experience as an ex-serviceman and resident in foreign countries. He uses a mixture of Queens English, Igbo language and Pidgin English as a means of communication
- Lizzy Evoeme as Ovularia - Zebrudaya's wife, a submissive lady who takes care of the house and also engage in petty trading.
- Cladius Eke as Jegede Sokoya - Zeburudaya's friend whose arrogance and quest for easy money acts as a source of conflict between him and the more honest Zeburudaya. He calls himself a doctor and the youngest millionaire in the land. He likes to demonstrate his ability to speak in Queens English by using bombast or pretentious style of speaking.
- John Iroha as Giringori. Houseboy, speaks in pidgin English.
- Christy Essien-Igbokwe as Apena - Sokoya's wife.
- David Ofor as Cladius - Giringory's partner as houseboy to Zebrudaya
References
- 1 2 Oko-Aja, Richard (2014). "Chief Zebrudaya as an Archetype of Molièresque Persona: A Satire of Nigerian Postcoloniality". Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences. 5.
- ↑ Ogbonna, Amadi (February 29, 2012). "Poverty, ill-health killed Giringori Akabogu". Vanguard. Lagos.
- 1 2 Timothy-Asobele, S. J. (2003). Nigerian top TV comedians and soap opera. Lagos: Upper Standard Publications.
- ↑ Njoku, Benjamin. "Nigeria: How Destiny Brought Giringori and I Together - Zebrudaya". Vanguard. Lagos.