For decades, family bonding in Nigerian households has been deeply rooted in television time. After a long day, children would eagerly await permission to enter the living room, where the TV would become the center of attention. TV culture in Nigeria has evolved from a source of news and learning opportunities to a way to […]
4 months ago
For decades, family bonding in Nigerian households has been deeply rooted in television time. After a long day, children would eagerly await permission to enter the living room, where the TV would become the center of attention. TV culture in Nigeria has evolved from a source of news and learning opportunities to a way to bond and connect while being entertained. And as it continued to grow, it has provided audiences with a wider range of options to enjoy with their loved ones.
With the recent conclusion of the beloved series The Johnsons, we’re celebrating five fan-favourite Nigerian comedy series that have brought families together and left a lasting impact on our hearts.
Papa Ajasco
Created by Wale Adenuga in 1997, Papa Ajasco and Company (formerly The Ajasco Family) is a Nigerian family television sitcom. Adenuga released the Papa Ajasco movie in 1983, one of the Golden Age Nollywood productions. He stated in an interview that the titular character was derived from the lead role in the comic, Ikebe Super. Adenuga began producing and airing the television series as The Ajasco Family on AIT in 1996 before it was renamed Papa Ajasco.
The story revolves around the Ajasco family and their comedic interpretations of major societal issues. The main characters include womanizing patriarch Papa Ajasco, his long-suffering wife Mama Ajasco, their mischievous son Bobo Ajasco, local playboy Boy Alinco, promiscuous gold-digger Miss Pepeye, and illiterate ne’er-do-wells Pa James and Pa Jimoh. At its prime, Papa Ajasco was widely considered to be Nigeria’s most-watched comedy series, viewed weekly in twelve African countries.
In 2010, it debuted in Ghana through Ghana Television and was reputed to be the “best comedy on television” in the country. It also won the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award in Accra.
A reboot of the show, called Papa Ajasco Reloaded first aired in 2021 and has three seasons now, with a younger generation of devoted fans.
The Johnsons
The Johnsons is a Nigerian TV series produced by Rogers Ofime which aired on Africa Magic. It focused on an average Nigerian family in Lagos, Nigeria and the challenges they faced. With ten seasons and 1830 episodes, it is one of the longest Nigerian sitcoms.
The series followed Lucky Johnson, the strict patriarch, Emu Johnson (played by the late Ada Ameh) the uneducated but no less entertaining matriarch, and their four children; Jennifer, Tari, Efe and Blessing Johnson. Side characters included their seemingly incompetent gateman, Mohammad, Spiff and Abulo, not-very-bright family friends, and finally, Pablo and Deputy who were rarely ever up to any good with their constant ‘get rich quick’ schemes.
Later seasons of the show included more side characters, with main characters like Blessing and Jennifer getting recast.
In 2023, The Johnsons won the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Original Comedy Series. The show ended in 2024, with veteran actor Charles Inojie (cast as Lucky Johnson) taking to his Instagram page to thank all the fans and cast members for a journey well run.
Do Good
Do-good, which is a spin-off of a popular Nigerian drama series of the 1990s, features the exploits of the titular character Do-good, played by BasorgeTariah Jnr., who returns from a sojourn abroad to woo his sweetheart Emem, played by Nollywood leading lady, Kate Henshaw.
Besides being a stellar comedy series, Do-good also tells a story of love and ambition and focuses on the struggles of the ordinary man. It is a funny depiction of real-life situations and definitely promises to be a hit with all lovers of comedy and good television. The sitcom, which also featured appearances from other popular comic actors including Tony Akposheri and Yibo Koko, was aired on the Africa Magic Urban channel (DStv channel 153).
Hustle
Hustle is an Africa Magic Nigeria television drama, and comedy series starring Seun Ajayi, Sola Sobowale, Seyi Law, Stephanie Coker, Dorcas Shola-Fapson, Maurice Sam, Elvis Poko, Deborah Anugwa, John Joshua, Afeez Oyetoro, and Tobi Bakre.
Hustle tells the tale of Dayo (played by Seun Ajayi), a gullible but optimistic young man who moves to Lagos with dreams of making it big. Dayo quickly learns that it is never as it seems as he comes to terms with hilariously catastrophic neighbors, an antagonistic landlady, and a shady yet loyal roommate who goes by the name ‘Acid’. All these characters nonetheless share an unwavering hope for tomorrow, and they are buoyed by the “Lagos spirit”, the spirit of the hustle.
The series had 3 seasons, was nominated for the 2018 & 2019 City People Movie Awards Best TV Series of the Year (English), and ended in October 2018.
My Siblings & I
My Siblings and I is a 2018 Nigerian comedy series, produced by Funke Akindele and co-directed by JJC Skillz and Olasunkanmi Adebayo, the Series is based on the life of the Aberuagba family depicted as an extended family made up of the parents, Solomon who is a retired army brigadier general and his wife Rosemary who is a teacher in the series. It is now in its 4th season from the first season which premiered on the 6th of August 2018 and is still ongoing.
The series shows the ridiculous, absurd and funny behaviors displayed by the family, their friends and even the domestic workers. They quite often have little misunderstandings spiral into bigger issues, but no matter what happens in the Aberuagba family, they always stand by each other in genuine love.
The series was nominated for the City People Entertainment Awards in 2019.
