17th April, 2015
Funsho Arogundade
Popular actress Dorcas Shola Fapson is to make a surprise return to TV screens as ‘Sophie’ in the new series of MTV Shuga, the sizzling sex and relationships drama and multimedia campaign developed by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and MTV Base.
Last seen with a life-threatening gunshot injury sustained in the dramatic season finale of the TV drama, former ‘runs girl’ Sophie has been profoundly affected by her brush with death and has vowed to turn her life around. However, audiences will have to wait and see whether Sophie will be able to cope with the harrowing new challenges that life has in store for her.
A brand new face on the series is South African actress and singer Mohau Mokoatle who was chosen for a juicy new role in the prestigious TV series. Mohau, will be interpreting the new role of Bongi, a 15-year-old songwriter and wannabe singer from South Africa who is living in Nigeria with her family.
MTV Shuga represents the first professional acting gig for Mohau, who graduated in 2014 from the University of Witwatersrand with a B.A. in Dramatic Arts. Raised in Soweto, Mohau originally hails from Matatielein the Eastern Cape and speaks English, Sesotho, isiZulu, isiXhosa and Setswana. Fapson and Mokoatle join returning cast members Emmanuel Ikubese (Femi), Sharon Ezeamaka (Princess), Nick Mutuma (Leo), Chris Attoh (Nii), Timini Egbuson (Tobi), and Olumide Oworu (Weki) in series 4 of MTV Shuga.
New cast members include Adesua Etomi (Sheila), Peace Hyde (Eniola), Zoe Favour (Mary), Jemima Osunde (Leila), Tunbosun “Tuby” Aiyedehin (Sheila’s mom), Jude Chukwuka (Sheila’s dad), Kate Adepegba (Sheila’s aunt), Paul Adams (Sheila’s uncle), Ifeanyi Dike Jr (Sheila’s brother), Najite Dede (Mary’s mom) and Ahide Adum (Mary’s dad).
Filming for MTV Shuga is already underway in Lagos and the show will hit TV screens later this year. The new season is set to top the success of series 3 of MTV Shuga, which aired to more than 550 million households in Africa, Europe, UK, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Oceania, and the Caribbean.
Fusing sexual and other public health messaging with world-class storytelling and relatable characters, the new series of MTV Shuga will focus on a range of themes relevant to young people, including adolescent girls, first sex, gender-based violence, HIV testing and counselling, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, disclosure of HIV status, stigma and the use of help lines.
MTV Shuga season 4 will premiere on MTV Base and partner TV stations later this year.