Entertainment
Femi Ogunsanwo on role as showrunner for Africa Magic Original, ‘Omera’

Femi Ogunsanwo on role – Femi Ogunsanwo on role…
Femi Ogunsanwo on role – Ogunsanwo was a first-time…
Ogunsanwo was a first-time showrunner on the 2023 Africa Magic original series, Masquerades of Aniedo (MOA).
In a chat with Pulse Nigeria, Femi D. Ogunsanwo shared his filmmaking journey, growth and latest Africa Magic project, Omera.
As African streaming platforms continue to grow, Africa Magic has solidified itself as a powerful storyteller, producing content that captures the diverse realities, dreams, and dramas of African life. With each new original series, Africa Magic broadens its storytelling palette, diving deep into tales that are both authentically local and universally resonant. Their latest original series, Omera, is no exception. The show has garnered widespread attention for its gripping narrative, nuanced characters, and unflinching exploration of themes that often go untold in mainstream media.
Akin Lewis, Desmond Bryce, Star in Africa Magic’s New Series ‘Omera’ [Africa Magic]
To understand the creative choices that make Omera so compelling, showrunner and Executive Producer, Femi D Ogunsanwo speaks on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs involved in bringing this story to life. As a seasoned producer, Ogunsanwo has a plethora of films to his credit. Some of them include Knockout Blessing (2018), ZR- 7 aka The Red House Seven (2011) and Ojukokoro: Greed (2016).
READ ALSO: Michael ‘Ama Psalmist’ Akinrogude wins the 18th edition TFAA Prize for Film of the Year
Known for their ability to blend powerful storytelling with complex characters, Ogunsanwo gave us insights into the evolution of the series from an idea to a full-fledged production.
Let’s look at the art, ambition, and powerful storytelling that defines this Showmax original.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
As the producer and director for some of the best-performing Africa Magic original series, how would you describe your journey?
I believe all my years directing shows like Enahke, Jemeji, Ajoche, and the likes prepared me to be a showrunner. As a director on those projects, I got to work with two showrunners: James Omokwe, who was the showrunner and EP on Ajoche and Victor Sanchez Aghahowa who was the showrunner on Dimeji and Enahke. So,today my show running style has taken something from both of them and I’ve added my own style to it. I am Femi as a person and I have worked with these people multiple times and took the things I like the most about the jobs.
Your latest project, Omera; how would you describe the creative journey of the series?
Omera will turn out to be a better show than MOA. That’s because I’m big on learning and growing. I’m like ‘Oh, what did we learn this week, this month, what did we learn in the entire process of Masquerades of Aniedo? I do it weekly and monthly. If a guy in my previous work couldn’t do something, I ask myself, ‘Is there someone better within my budget?’ If the answer is, ‘yes’,I go look for that person. The journey creatively is one of growth. Almost all the actors in Omera, I have never worked with before. There was a certain level of unknowing there. Most of them I cast based on their auditions. On MOA, they were either cast based on working with them before or seen their work on a previous series. On this one, I was a bit more intentional. Masquerades was my first show, so I wanted trusted hands.”
What would you want the audience to take from the series, Omera?
That “this your bad behaviour, there’s no need to be afraid of me, I am not going to be the one to punish you, life would.” In the first episode, we see him slap his boss because he will leave Nigeria. He relocated to the village because Lagos was too hot for him. He thought he was moving to something bigger. At the end of episode one, we see his uncle’s words come to pass. Burning bridges isn’t a great thing. I hope people learn from that. There’s a big lesson in just one episode. I want my audience to enjoy the subliminal messages that are there.
What are some of your biggest challenges in producing a telenovela in Nigeria?
The show started airing while we were still shooting. We have sponsors. We seem very special to people out there because we are under pressure to deliver. We submit episodes, and once they air, they are flown off the shelf. Actors and crew members even after signing a six months contract with you, they’d hurry out and sometimes want to bring a replacement. My team and I say ‘no’ to replacements like that. Rather, we bring our own replacements and we let the actor or crew member who is leaving know about this. Sometimes they make excuses just to go to other sets and return. Sometimes we let them go.
Can they come back?
You can come back but if the person we’ve brought is doing a better job than you, we can’t take you back. We often bring experienced people anyway to avoid cases like this. On MOA, we had someone who began to complain of stomach upset three days prior and we gave him meds but he’d just pocket it and after a few days, he asked to go home. He said he went to see a doctor on an off day and whatnot. We believed it but I knew the set he went to. I promoted someone who had been working hard as a PA and brought someone to replace the PA. He came back and I told him, I knew and I had to let him go. Unlike film, we don’t have the luxury to pick up scenes, so we can’t afford to have actors or crew members leave.
What strategies do you use as a showrunner/director to keep viewers engaged and have them come back for more episodes?
We air five episodes every week, every episode draws the audience closer and every Friday episode draws them even closer.
How has the Nigerian television landscape changed since you started your career?
Visually, it looks better. The audience is more experienced, and wiser and has more options for what to watch. And so we have to up our game and prepare the actors for their performance to improve the quality of our work and it has indeed improved. When I was a director on Dimeji, there wasn’t much competition; no Netflix, no Prime. Now there’s competition everywhere and we are forced to up our game. We have evolved.
How do you see the future of Nigerian telenovelas evolving in the next few years?
Like in everything we do, there’s growth. Everybody is better, telling stories as best they can. We hope to tell relatable stories, like Omera, whose main character wanted to japa and couldn’t. There are younger people in the game now. At the beginning of my career, there was no one to talk to like this. But now things have changed and I foresee even bigger changes in the future.
How do you balance commercial success with artistic integrity in your work?
Remind yourself that if you do not do great work, you will not gain recognition. If you half-ass it, people will not watch your work. If I’m only concerned about making money, no one will watch my next work. I have two films coming out next year, one of them is ‘The Lagos Job.’
What advice would you give to aspiring showrunners and writers in the Nigerian film industry? Filmmakers too.
Collaborate with others. To aspiring writers and showrunners, Don’t spend too much time talking about what you want to do. Talking about it; you will just find yourself wasting time. If you want to be a writer, write scripts and try to get them made. A showrunner; work on films, TV and the like. If you want to shoot, shoot, don’t talk. Big International streaming platforms, commission experienced production houses in Nigeria not individual filmmakers. There is a difference in both. Collaborate horizontally and vertically. When collaborating use a lot of emails to communicate plans, make sure all you dot your i’s and cross your t’s. Have a contract drawn and make sure you are clear on the terms of collaboration before you proceed.
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Entertainment
Rybeena shows the making of a versatile star with 'Virtuoso' [Review]
![Rybeena shows the making of a versatile star with 'Virtuoso' [Review] 14 1741986569 6c8df560 2de7 489b 84f5 0d3e34eda5ff](https://turo247newz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1741986569_6c8df560-2de7-489b-84f5-0d3e34eda5ff.jpeg)
Rybeena‘s breakout song, ‘Id.Me,’ is the typical hustler’s anthem delivered with the poignancy of a young man desiring more in a society that gives very little.
In an interview with Apple Music Africa Now Radio, the singer confirmed that the song is the most emotional he ever penned, especially since it captures the inner city reality of youngsters venturing into fraud in the hopes of securing a big payday.
Fraud as undesirable as it may be, as long interjected with Nigerian music. In the modern era of Nigerian pop music, several songs have celebrated the big wins of advance fee frauds and its constantly evolving varieties.
It’s from these lenses of a hustler that Rybeena crafts his album ‘Virtuoso’ where he showcases the making of a versatile artist. Through Fuji and Highlife melodies, Afrobeats flow, and Dancehall fusion, he shows the industry of an artist that can shape-shift across genre lines.
On the Makossa-inspired strings and drill kicks of ‘Ivory Coast,’ Rybeena samples an all-timer Afrobeats classic and the ultimate Yahoo boy anthem in Olu Maintain‘s ‘Yahooze’ as he celebrates the hustler’s fast life through impressive Fuji melodies.
Like a true student of the genre, he hails influential figures, such as Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, to whose label he’s signed to, and hip hop icon Olamide Baddo, who co-signed him.
On the standout track ‘New Taker,’ Rybeena poignantly delivers high-level Afropop melodies molded by the tonal inflections of his Islamic background. A man who has seen both sides of the hustle, he advises new takers to learn to hit the breaks and live in the moment because the hustle never ends.
On ‘Despacito,’ he infuses some Spanish he picked up from Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee‘s famous hit single. He delivers suitable melodies on the Highlife record where sweet talks an unyielding damsel over a sampling of Stanley Okorie‘s viral hit ‘Billionaire’.
Yoruba bata and gangan drums take center stage on the poorly titled ‘Amapiapala,’(perhaps to capture the blend of Apala and Amapiano).
Rybeena holds up his status as an “omo ope” (loosely translates into a young successful man mostly used to describe internet fraudsters) through lines that capture his laser focus on the money and the popularity of transactional sex and recreational drugs within the hustlers’ ranks.
He doubles down on the central themes of hustling, savviness, and a good time on the log drum punctuated ‘Agba Singing’ where he shows off his industrous melodies and Islamic back ground which he also showcased on the Reggae fusion ‘1999’.
On ‘World Best,’ he taps Street hop star Tee Dollar, who also knows a thing or two about hustling for a chest-thumping that he shares the husters dream of fast cars, luxury watches, and the individuality (every man for himself philosophy) that shapes their reality.
On ‘Dealer,’ he links up with another Street pop star TI Blaze to narrate the overwhelming nature of the rat race and the need for escapism.
Success, espeically one that shuts up detractors is a major motivation for several stars inlcuding, Rybeena who draws motivation from the dismissive comments of a critic on ‘Go Harder’ where he shares his statement of purpose.
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Entertainment
From Courtrooms to Chaos: Suits LA Brings Hollywood’s Power Struggle to your Screen on Showmax

In Hollywood, reputation is everything, and for entertainment lawyer Ted Black, keeping the biggest names in showbiz out of trouble is his full-time job. Suits LA takes the high-stakes legal drama of the original series and raises the bar, moving the action from New York’s corporate towers to Los Angeles’ power circles, where one bad deal could mean the end of a career.
Led by Teen Choice winner Stephen Amell (Arrow), Suits LA follows Ted as he navigates a cutthroat industry where billion-dollar contracts, scandalous lawsuits, and celebrity egos collide. The legal drama also features Gabriel Macht reprising his fan-favourite role as Harvey Spectre, alongside appearances from real-life Hollywood elites. With its gripping storytelling, the Suits franchise expands into new, high-stakes territory that’s already one of IMDb’s Most Anticipated New TV Shows of 2025.
Watch the trailer:
But while Suits LA brings power struggles to the courtroom, here are other must-watch titles that explore the battle for control, survival, and dominance in different ways:
Yellowjackets S1-3 | New Episodes Saturdays
What happens when survival instincts take over, and the line between humanity and savagery blurs? Yellowjackets tells the gripping tale of a high school girls’ soccer team whose plane crashes deep in the wilderness, leaving them to fend for themselves. As the story unfolds in two timelines, the past, where their descent into chaos begins, and the present, where the survivors struggle with the haunting aftermath, dark secrets and unsettling truths come to light.
Starring Emmy nominees Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, and Juliette Lewis, alongside Yellowjackets breakout star Sophie Thatcher (also seen in Heretic), the series masterfully blends psychological horror, mystery, and drama. Described by The Guardian as “a chilling mix of Lost and Lord of the Flies,” Yellowjackets keeps audiences on edge with every twist.
Watch the trailer:
The White Lotus S3 | New Episodes Monday Nights
Far from Nigeria’s mystical past, another world of power and deception unfolds in Thailand, where the guests of The White Lotus resort check in for what they believe will be a luxurious escape. Instead, their secrets, ambitions, and betrayals set off a chain of events that none of them could have foreseen.
Winner of 15 Emmys, the critically acclaimed series returns with a new cast, including Emmy nominees Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, and Walton Goggins, alongside BAFTA winner Aimee Lou Wood. As TimeOut puts it, “Much as we’ll all miss Jennifer Coolidge, RIP Tanya, the third run of The White Lotus should be February’s most talked-about telly.”
Watch the trailer:
Heretic | Now Streaming
The fight for survival takes an even darker turn in Heretic. Two young missionaries knock on a door, hoping to share their faith, but instead, they step into a nightmare. What follows is a chilling test of belief and endurance as they become trapped in a house where nothing is as it seems.
Featuring Hugh Grant in a terrifying role alongside Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) and Chloe East (The Fabelmans), Heretic was named one of Rotten Tomatoes’ top horror films of 2024. Men’s Health raves, “Arguably [Hugh Grant’s] best performance from the last decade,” while Empire Magazine warns, “You’ll never watch Notting Hill the same way again.”
Watch the trailer:
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire | Now Streaming
While humans fight their battles in courtrooms and luxury resorts, another kind of war is brewing beneath the Earth. Godzilla and Kong, once bitter rivals, must now unite against a powerful new enemy that threatens their very existence. Featuring BAFTA winner Rebecca Hall, Oscar nominee Brian Tyree Henry, and Teen Choice winner Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), this film was among the ten biggest box office hits of 2024 and earned a Best Fantasy Film nomination at the 2025 Saturn Awards. With jaw-dropping action sequences and stunning visual effects, Godzilla X Kong delivers pure blockbuster spectacle.
Watch the trailer:
From Hollywood power struggles to high-stakes resorts and monster showdowns, Showmax has something for everyone. And with the Shikini Offer, you can stream it all for less.
Get Showmax Mobile for just ₦1,000 or enjoy the multiple-device plan for ₦2,000. Don’t wait—sign up now at www.showmax.com/deals to get started. or download the Showmax app to start watching today.
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Entertainment
I no send anybody papa – VeryDarkMan reacts to arrest warrant against him

A day after an arrest warrant was issued against him by a magistrate court in Abuja, controversial Nigerian social media personality VeryDarkMan (VDM) has spoken up.
Taking to Instagram on March 14, 2025, the self-proclaimed activist addressed the situation, stressing that the warrant against him was issued while he was out of the country.
I dey come Naija very soon make una ready to arrest me for airport. Arrest no be new thing for the Ratel na.
“THE COURT ORDERED FOR MY ARREST BECAUSE OF MERCY CHINWO (I NO SEND ANYBODY PAPA, I AM COMING TO NAIJA SOON, still working on deals for the benefit of our youths and empowerment, we don too suffer,” he wrote in his caption.
The Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, had issued a bench warrant for VDM’s arrest over the alleged defamation of Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo earlier in the year after failure to appear before the magistrate after being summoned on March 5, 2025.
The news was confirmed to Channels Television on March 13 by VDM’s lawyer Deji Adeyanju, “Yes, a bench warrant has been issued against him for failure to show up in court. They are just interested in a media trial; they are not serious about prosecution,” he explained.
Adeyanju also explained that he had previously appealed to the court to allow him to appear in VDM’s stead; however, the appeal was denied, stressing that the social media personality was to appear by himself.
VDM’s warrant of arrest follows his allaged defamatory remarks on social media, accusing Chinwo of being involved in a contractual dispute and the alleged diversion of $345,000 connected to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, commonly known as Eezee Tee, were the basis for the bench warrant.
Chinwo provided the court with documentation to back up her assertions, such as emails and payment receipts, demonstrating that VDM’s accusations were not only wholly untrue but also defamatory and detrimental to her character and public image.
ALSO READ: Billionaire’s daughter sues VeryDarkMan, others over social media allegations
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