MTV Shuga has been a fan favourite and one of the most innovative health-based and youth-focused shows in Africa for many years. The producers of the series are taking their commitment to the health and well-being of youths across Africa to another level with a new digital series. It is titled MTV Shuga: Alone Together. The aim is to flatten the COVID-19 curve and tackle the societal challenges from the pandemic.
The series will bring together MTV Shuga casts from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Cote d’ Ivoire. Each actor will self-record their roles from the safety of their homes. This will fit into how the story is being told – through video calls between the MTV Shuga characters.
Here are some of your favourites from the show coming together for this new mini-series inspired by COVID-19:
Timini Egbuson: Most of us were introduced to this actor on MTV Shuga: Love, Sex, Money in 2013 as Tobi. Since then, he has grown his career and become one of the most sought-after actors in Nigeria. He recently won the ‘Best Actor in a Drama’ category at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. He has appeared in four seasons of Shuga and is back in the new digital series as Tobi.
Jemima Osunde: She made her acting debut in MTV Shuga 4 as Leila and reappeared in the sixth season. Since her debut on Shuga, Jemima has gone on to build an amazing career, appearing in numerous blockbusters and holding the lead role in New Money. She is set to return to the mini-series after being absent from the last season of Shuga Naija.
Tomiwa Tegbe: He has appeared as the strong-headed, trouble-loving ‘Wasiu’ on the last two seasons of Shuga Naija. He started his career acting on Ebony Life’s On The Real and has appeared in other movies such as Kasannova and My siblings and I. He returns to the miniseries, possibly to show us how he is managing HIV during this pandemic.
Nick Mutunma: His character, ‘Leo’ has been one of the most consistent on the show, appearing in different seasons set in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Since his breakout role on MTV Shuga Kenya in 2009, he has directed two movies, including You Again and appeared as the lead character in popular online series, This is It.
Mohau Mokoatle-Cele: She is a South African actress best known as ‘Bongi’ from three seasons of MTV Shuga, including Shuga Naija and Down South. She made her breakout role on the fourth season of Shuga in 2015. She is back as a young woman living with HIV in the mini-series, Alone Together.
Lerato Walaza: She is best known for her role as ‘Zamo’ on MTV Shuga: Down South. After appearing on two seasons of the show, she is back for the mini-series. We expect to see through her, the life of a struggling single mother dealing with the pandemic.
Mamarumo Marokane: She is one of the newest MTV Shuga faces. She appeared on the second season of Down South as ‘Dineo’, a tomboy studying Sports Science. She teams up with other Shuga casts to spread the message of good hygiene in these times on Alone Together.
S’thandiwe Kgoroge: We are sure you remember her as Aunt/ Nurse Nomalanga from the first and second seasons of MTV Shuga: Down South. We hope to learn about how the pandemic affects medical practitioners through her character in Alone Together.
Ange-Eric Nguessan: Just like Dineo, his character, ‘Daniel’ is a new face on the show. He is an Ivorian actor who appeared on the second season of Down South. He is the last cast member on the new digital series.
You can watch the new series on YouTube from Monday, April 20, 2020, at 8 pm.
Follow the conversations on social media via the following handles: @MTVShuga @MTVShugaDownSouth @MTVShugaNaija @MTVShugaBabi, with the hashtags: #MTVShugaAloneTogether #AloneTogether, and on the website: www.mtvshuga.com/alonetogether.
