Korean dramas have long been a part of Nigerian entertainment, but it’s still surprising to see a Nollywood filmmaker take inspiration from them to create a Nigerian K-drama.
Do you remember those school break chats about K-dramas? If you were a Nigerian girl, you probably had a crush on Gu Jun Pyo from *Boys Before Flowers* or the main character from *City Hunter*. Honestly, can you even call yourself a fan if you didn’t? I like to think of myself as a Lettuce from the Caribbean—though I’m not sure if lettuce grows there, but you get the idea.
Nigerians are no strangers to emotional storytelling, with Nollywood films often pulling at the heartstrings, especially with classic rags-to-riches tales. It’s no wonder we’re drawn to Korean dramas, especially those featuring the poor underdog and the wealthy CEO bully.
Korean cinema and TV offer Nigerian audiences a window into their cultural values and social customs. With K-dramas gaining global popularity, their influence in Nigeria has grown quickly.
But a K-drama produced in Nollywood? That’s something I didn’t expect. I get why young people are excited enough to learn the language and start fan clubs, but a full-on Nollywood K-drama? That’s pretty impressive.
A few weeks ago, I saw videos of girls in secondary school uniforms speaking what sounded like a foreign language. At first, I thought it was a comedy skit, but upon closer inspection, I realized these Nigerian girls were speaking Korean! It turns out, it wasn’t a skit—it’s a film by Kemz Mama (Kemi Ikuseedun), also known as Mummy Wa from *Mr. Macaroni*. Her movie, *My Sunshine*, explores high school life with themes of love and friendship, much like K-dramas, but with a Nigerian twist.
You might be wondering, “Who’s in the cast?” The film features familiar faces like Mr. Macaroni, Chinedu Ikedieze, and Olayode Juliana. Directed by the experienced JJC Skills, it’s now available on YouTube.
It’s definitely something new and refreshing—perfect for unwinding after a long day. Still, I’m not entirely convinced it’ll become a big trend in Nollywood just yet. It feels a little unfamiliar for Nigerians, but who knows? Maybe a generous investor will want to take Nigerian K-dramas to the next level. We’ll just have to wait and see.
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