Have you seen Shuga yet? The amazingly well-made MTV produced Kenyan series on love, sex, sexuality, youth culture and all things connected? Well, here I’ve gathered all episodes of Shuga for your viewing pleasure. They are up to date and I will make necessary edits when/if newer episodes are released.
Season 1
Season 2
TW: rape for episode 2
There are so many good things about Shuga. And I’m not talking about how stunningly gorgeous the leading ladies, Ayria and Vio are or the awesome soundtrack of the second season. Shuga talks about issues that were largely ignored when I was growing up in Abuja and still remain largely ignored today. And not only in Nigeria but in other African countries.
I think it’s best, or a very good choice, that the series is set in Kenya. I have previously written on my frustrations with how Nigerian media, Nollywood etc, portray sex, sexuality and rape. Shuga is definitely more balanced.
I really don’t have anything constructive to say, just watch and enjoy the series please.
ETA: I’ve embedded the latest episodes! Season two is now officially complete, I sincerely hope there’s a season three.
I love the series and how it was made. I am glad you shared the link because I did not actually know about it until you tweeted (and like a good detective, I watched them all….there are going to be 6 in this next series, so 3 more to come!)
I think the series is very educational and also helps destigmatise HIV but I do think it is a touch unrealistic. It portrays many of the characters as having sex with multiple partners as the norm when I think there is a large number of young people in Kenya who do not fall into this category.
Anyway, it is hugely entertaining and a better tool than the old programs which generally said if you get HIV, you will die/only prostitutes get HIV/HIV infects evil people etc.
It was well advertised on MTV Base when I was in Nigeria. I’m eagerly waiting for the other 3 episodes to come, I was initially worried there’d only be 3 episodes this season as well.
I think the series is very educational and also helps destigmatise HIV but I do think it is a touch unrealistic. It portrays many of the characters as having sex with multiple partners as the norm when I think there is a large number of young people in Kenya who do not fall into this category.
I’m not sure if this is unrealistic…I can’t speak for Kenya but heading back to Nigeria after spending most of my ‘growing up’ years in the UK I was surprised to see just how many young people were having sex and with how many partners. Like you I initially thought that most young Nigerians were not having sex with multiple partners or not, but the truth is they are/were yet everyone pretends like they don’t. I guess this is why I appreciate Shuga, while I don’t view it as portraying having sex with multiple partners as the ‘norm’, I do think those stories need to be told. Then again, now I think about it there was only one character who seemed celibate, from season 1.
You’re right it is truly a better tool.
I am a young Nigerian and still a virgin, never had a boyfriend even and my group of friends are like that too, it depends on the people around you but I don’t think you should judge an entire country solely because of who you encounter.
Hello Jennifer! Thank you for coming to my blog and suggesting that my experiences as a Nigerian are invalid because of you and your small group of friends. It’s pretty obvious that the one making assumptions here is you. I could ask you, who told you that I have ever had a boyfriend? What exactly does it mean to be a “virgin”? Is your “virginity” taken away when you are kissed? With oral, or anal sex? Masturbation? Wearing tampons?
I do not know how old you are. I’m young as well and in my group of Nigerian friends there are only a few people who have never had sexual contact. In a group of, say, 15 people, only 2 are “virgins”. Now you don’t see me jumping into conclusions and saying that ALL Nigerians are engaging in raunchy sex. Well, neither are all Nigerians “virgins”. I’m scratching my head trying to understand how I’m “judging an entire country”.
Do you know a lot of Nigerians LIE about their “virgin” status? People tend to talk frankly with me, and I’ve seen people who have detailed their sexual encounters to me, a near stranger, tell their friends that they are “virgins”. So please don’t come to my personal space accusing me of “judging” a country that I happen to be from because of “who I encounter”.
You could also learn to read before leaving comments like this. It is true that a whole lot of Nigerians are engaging in sex whether you like it or not…their stories NEED to be told. Note that a whole lot does not mean ALL. No one said there were no “virgins” in Nigeria, “virgins” get all the limelight and praise as it is.
umm okay, did you understand what I wrote at all? I said It depends on who you encounter, I did not in anyway try to devalue your experience. You are the one totally assuming here by saying my own experience is invalid. I have never even kissed a guy before, I have never had a boyfriend and It is also not uncommon for me to see people my age(early twenties) who have never dated a guy BY CHOICE. I also happen to know people my age who are married and I’m well aware that a lot of young Nigerians are sexually active. Again you are the one doing exactly what you are accusing me of doing that is making assumptions and saying my experience is invalid just because they don’t agree with yours. I really cannot believe that you threw a tantrum over what I said, what is so threatening to you? That there are still Nigerian girls who respect themselves and keep themselves for marriage or that not everyone is like your group of friends.
And please tell me what exactly is not judgmental in this sentence?
Like you I initially thought that most young Nigerians were not having sex with multiple partners or not, but the truth is they are/were yet everyone pretends like they don’t.
Oh it’s you again…jennifer, no one is arguing with you, no one is throwing tantrums. We’re living in a trolling culture and I reserve the right to be suspicious when I see comments like yours.
I don’t know if I should be engaging with you because I don’t see what I have to gain from it. It just looks like “debating” for the fun of it and I have no interest in typing out long comments if no one is going to learn anything. You’re not saying anything new to me, and I see nothing “judgemental” in stating the fact that there are *gasp* Nigerians having sex with multiple partners! They exist and by calling me “judgemental”, you’re looking like part of the people who pretend they don’t to me.
You don’t have to agree with me, I don’t expect you to. If I’m being so horrible, judgemental and making wrong assumptions, there should be a little “x” on the top right or left corner that should take you away from this place.
Again I know that there are Nigerians with multiple sex partners, I’m not disputing that but since you are insinuating that decent girls are rare and an insignificant number then I’m glad to be among that number. Thanks to you, I now consider them an elite group 🙂 I also see no point arguing after all what you are trying to do is for the greater good. Also, it seems you are beginning to make an assumption about me, so I’ll return the favor judging me already makes you look like someone who forms opinions on assumptions. I really do not feel threatened by this place unless you feel threatened by me.
Yours is the second blog where I have seen this series posted. I watched a couple of episodes and was pleasantly surprised to note the quality of the production and openness with which they approached the issues.
Yay! It makes me happy to know other people are sharing this series!