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Since its inception
in 2004, the Super Story television drama series has been a
viewer-favourite, won awards and other recognitions and is currently
under syndication in several African countries. The series are
non-concurrent with each of them based on a different story that is
concluded at the end of the season. The stories, which are didactic in
nature, portray societal ills and deal with issues pertaining to the
family. They also serve as a window onto the African society from a
Nigerian viewpoint.

Amongst the most
outstanding of the series is Nnenna, which aired in the 2008 season
and, unlike the rest of the Super Story drama series, was especially
popular with children. The story was based on a ghost girl, Nnenna, who
had come back from the dead to haunt those who had unjustly killed her
along with her mother and father.

Twenty-two-year old
Yinka Olukunga, in her debut role, starred as Nnenna with seasoned
actors Alex Usifo-Omiagbo and Shan George playing her father and mother
respectively.

“Before I got the
role I was a model. I have appeared in advertising for Visafone, Dudu
Osun and Lux amongst others. I heard about the auditions for the role,
went for it and I got it,” says the bubbly actress with a casual shrug
of her shoulders.

Although a novice
to acting at the time of portraying Nnenna, Olukunga’s sublime
performance belied her lack of experience. Indeed the accolades she got
from viewers that enjoyed the series and particularly the affection
accorded her by children who now view her as a role model, was so
overwhelming that the series producers, Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP),
decided to do something to show their appreciation.

The Nnenna and
Friends Show, a live variety show/children’s party debuted on
Valentine’s Day 2009 starring Olukunga still in character as Nnenna and
appearing alongside her were other popular characters from the WAP
stable, like Papa Ajasco and Co. and the Soul Sisters.

Interacting with kids

“It is fashioned as
an event where kids get to interact and have fun with Nnenna and some
of their other favourite characters,” explained Eno Kennedy, brand
manager for ‘Nnenna and Friends’.

After the first
event, the show was subsequently scheduled to hold five times in a
year: on Valentine’s Day, Easter, Children’s Day, October 1 – and an
end of the year show towards the Christmas holiday and twice on the
same day. Apart from Nnenna and her friends from WAP, the events have
also featured top-notch music artistes and comedians such as MI, Kefee,
Sound Sultan, Princess and a host of others.

“We have seen an
average of three thousand kids at these events and that’s for each
show.” Olukunga ends the statement with an impish grin that is so
charming in its child-like quality that one can immediately see why
kids identify with her.

But she soon reverts to her brand ambassador mode to explain the main focus of the show.

“Apart from
entertaining the kids, the shows also serve as a talent-hunt,” she
says. “There are dance and music competitions and also plays where the
kids get to take part and display their skills.”

“This is actually
the main focus of the brand Nnenna and Friends,” Kennedy chips in. “We
want to encourage kids to discover and explore their creative talents.
Hence, we have [devised] the show as a sort of launch pad for young
creative people.”

The Nnenna and
Friends Show is currently helping to promote a group of talented kids
called the BIS kids. The BIS kids perform at the Nnenna and Friends
Show and have also featured in other non-WAP events.

Fan club

Still, Nnenna and
Friends are hoping to do more by putting some structure to the
talent-hunt through the yet-to-be-launched Nnenna and Friends Fan Club.

“The Fan Club is an
avenue through which Nnenna and WAP hope to invest in the Nigerian
child by encouraging budding talents in the creative arts hence its tag
line, “Celebrating Tomorrow’s Leaders,” explains Kennedy who goes on to
give a brief outline of its planned activities.

“The Club would
host two-week summer camps where children would undergo training from
professionals in the fields of music, dance and acting. Participants
get to go home with certificates and a chance to feature in WAP TV
shows.

“However, the
exceptional ones would be awarded with scholarships for further
training at reputable schools of dramatic arts both within and outside
the country. There would also be organised tours within and outside the
country and an award show were outstanding kids in the entertainment
industry would be recognised.

“In order to
achieve all this, we are willing to partner with corporate bodies and
individual sponsors interested in investing in the dreams of a child,”
she added.

Nnenna and Friends is currently the only non-product brand uniquely
targeted at children and so far, with its charming front-woman has seen
a rapid increase in following and in such a short period.