''Desperate Housewives Africa'', also known as ''Desperate HWA'', is a Nigerian

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

mystery Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters *Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange'' Films * ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film * ''Mystery'' ( ...

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

Pan-African version of the American television series, ''

Desperate Housewives ''Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama soap opera television series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Marc Cherry, Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from Octobe ...

'' created by

Marc Cherry Marc Cherry (born March 23, 1962) is an American television writer and producer. He is best known for creating the ABC dramedy series ''Desperate Housewives''. Personal life Early life Marc Cherry was born in Long Beach and lived briefly in ...

and produced by

ABC Studios ABC Signature is an American television Filmmaking#Production, production studio that is a subsidiary of Disney Television Studios, a division of Walt Disney Television, which is part of the List of assets owned by The Walt Disney Company#Disne ...

, that premiered on Ebony Life TV on 30 April 2015. The show features an

ensemble cast In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one that is composed of multiple principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.Random House: ensemble acting Linked 2013-07-17 Structure In contrast to ...

, which includes: Joseph Benjamin,

Kehinde Bankole Kehinde Bankole (born 27 March 1985) is a Nigerian actress, model, and television host. She made her entertainment debut in the ''2003 Miss Commonwealth Nigeria beauty contest'', then proceeded to the ''2004 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pagea ...

, Omotu Bissong,

Nini Wacera Nini Wacera (born 16 January 1978) is a Kenyan actress and casting director. Wacera has appeared in more than a dozen films and television series. She is notable for her role in the 2005 soap opera, '' Wingu la moto''. Career In 2003, Nini playe ...

Michelle Dede Michelle Dede is a Nigerian freelance television presenter and actress. She co-produced the film '' Flower Girl,'' starred in the television series ''Desperate Housewives Africa'' and the 2017 drama thriller '' What Lies Within''. Early life a ...

, Marcy Dolapo Oni and

Linda Osifo Linda Osifo (born 27 July 1991) is a Nigerian actress and television host. She was first runner-up Miss Nigeria Entertainment Canada 2011 and 2nd runner up Miss AfriCanada 2011 beauty pageant. In 2015, Linda was nominated for the ELOY awards f ...

. The show was shot in

Lekki Lekki is a city in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is located to the south-east of Lagos, Lagos city. Lekki is a naturally formed peninsula, adjoining to its west Victoria Island (Lagos), Victoria Island and Ikoyi districts of Lagos, with the Atlantic O ...

. It is a Pan-African adaptation of the American series, ''

'', that aired from 2004 to 2012; the show has been minimally adapted to African themes; from character names to the main plot, but the main characters play the same roles as the characters in the original version.

Plot

A look at the seemingly normal suburban lives of African women as they seek to live out their aspirations through their families, career and relationships, set in the middle-class development on Hibiscus Lane on the

Lekki Peninsula Lekki is a city in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is located to the south-east of Lagos city. Lekki is a naturally formed peninsula, adjoining to its west Victoria Island and Ikoyi districts of Lagos, with the Atlantic Ocean to its south, Lagos Lago ...

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

. It begins with the shocking suicide of Rume Bello (

Mary Alice Young Mary Alice Young (previously Angela Forrest) is a fictional character from the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives''. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry and is portrayed by Brenda Strong, who ...

); a beautiful housewife, known for her warmth and generosity. In death, Rume delves into the lives of the friends she left behind – commenting from her now elevated perspective. Her intimate circle of friends who are confused by her death, are introduced. Tari Gambadia (

Susan Mayer Susan Delfino is a fictional character played by Teri Hatcher on the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives''. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry. She first appeared in the pilot episode of the ...

) who is divorced, single-mother looking for love; Funke Lawal (Lynette Scavo) a corporate high-achiever turned stay-at-home mum of four children who create a huge scene at Rume Bello's wake seriously embarrassing her; Ese De Souza (

Bree Van de Kamp Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. She is played by actress Marcia Cross, who has received multiple awards and nominations for her portrayal, including an Emmy Award nomination, thr ...

), a devout and perfectly groomed housewife and mother of two teenagers, who is dealing with the outcome of her family's rejection of her façade and standards; Kiki Obi (

Gabrielle Solis Gabrielle "Gaby" Solis () is a fictional character portrayed by Eva Longoria on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. Longoria was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for her ...

), ex Nollywood actress and trophy wife whose marriage to the rising movie financier Chuka Obi (Carlos Solis) fails to satisfy her deepest needs, and she turns to her personal trainer, Tai Etim (John Rowland) to alleviate her boredom. We are also introduced to the neighbours on the Lane including Rhetta Moore (

Edie Britt Edie Britt is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. Nicollette Sheridan portrayed Edie from her debut in the pilot episode of the series until th ...

) a twice-divorced real estate broker with a voracious sexual appetite, who aggressively competes with Tari for the affections of handsome newcomer, Larry Izama (

Mike Delfino Michael Delfino is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character was played by actor James Denton from the show's inception, until the eighth and final season of the show. Storylines Backstory Michael ...

) who we later discover came to Hibiscus Lane with a hidden agenda. Tensions rise as Kay De Souza (

Rex Van de Kamp Dr. Rex Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character is played by actor Steven Culp, and is the first and late husband of one of the series' protagonists, Bree Van de Kamp (portrayed by ...

) asks his wife Ese for a divorce; Chuka Obi treats his wife Kiki like she is on his payroll; Shina Lawal (Tom Scavo) is oblivious to his wife's frustration and growing desperation; Deji Bello (

Paul Young Paul Antony Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, he became a teen idol with his solo success in the 1980s. ...

), Rume's now widowed husband, seems to express his grief by suspiciously digging up his garden. Rume narrates the series from her vantage point, giving an insight into the lives, mysteries and conflicts of these four intriguing women.

Cast

as Tari Gam * Omotu Bissong as Funke Lawal *

as Ese De Souza *

as Kiki Obi *

as Rhetta Moore * Mercy Dolapo Oni as Rume Bello * Nonso Odogwu as Kayonde De Souza *

Femi Branch Femi Branch (born May 14, 1970) is a Nigerian actor, director and producer. Early life Branch was born on May 14, 1970. His parents were teachers in Sagamu, Nigeria. He attended Satellite Town Primary School at Amuwo Odofin before attending th ...

as Deji Bello * Joseph Benjamin as Chuka Obi * Jason Dwoga as Larry Izama * Susan Pwajok as Aisha Gambandia * Ben Touitou as Tai Etim * Ifeanyi Dike, Jr as Leo De Souza * Ozzy Agu as Shina Lawal * Omolara Akinsola as Esther Benson * Moyosore Okisola as Tobi Lawal * Emmanuel Osawaru as Tope Lawal * Imolejesu Noah as Tola Lawal * Esther Ubong-Abasi as Katherine De Souza *

Shaffy Bello Shaffy Bello is a Nigerian film actress and singer. She first shot into the entertainment scene when she featured vocals in a 1997 hit song by Seyi Sodimu titled " Love Me Jeje". Career Shaffy grew up in the United States where she completed h ...

as Agnes Bassey *

Blossom Chukwujekwu Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Early life and education Born Chukwudi Echezona Chukwujekwu on ...

as Lekan Phillips * Carol King as Abike Haastrup * Lemmi Ilemona Adejo as Solomon Haastrup * Katung Musa Aduwak as Dunlandi Gambadia *

Samuel Robinson Samuel Robinson may refer to: * Samuel Robinson (1666–1729), member of Parliament for Cricklade, England * Samuel Robinson (politician) (1738–1813), Vermont political and military leader * Samuel Robinson (industrialist) (1794–1884), English i ...

as Akin Bello *

Tina Mba Tina Mba is a Nigerian actress who was nominated for Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards. Career In 2017, she starred in ''Isoken'', ''Bariga Suger'', ''Okafor's Law'' among ...

as Furo George * Amaka Anioji as Nnena Okafor * Ayo Liyado as Father Ajayi * Nicole Vervelde Keza as Amanda * Faith Emmanuel as Bose *Gregory Ojefua as Private Investigator

Production

Auditions for various roles were announced in December 2013.

Mo Abudu Mosunmola Abudu, also known as ''Mo Abudu'', (born 11 September 1964), is a Nigerian media mogul, philanthropist, and former human resources management consultant. She has been described by Forbes as "Africa's Most Successful Woman", and rated ...

the CEO and executive producer led the production. Directed by Quinty Pillay, the cast members were mainly from Nigeria. The names of the cast were changed from names in the original show, in order to have African names. Michelle Dede plays

while

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

n actress plays the adapted version of

, as

plays

. Omotu Bissong plays

Lynette Scavo Lynette Scavo is a fictional character on the series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character is played by actress Felicity Huffman, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2005, and was nominated for ...

, Mercy Dolapo Oni plays of

and Linda Osifo plays

. The husbands that depicted the original version were, Joseph Benjamin playing African version of

Carlos Solis Carlos Solis () is a fictional character portrayed by Ricardo Antonio Chavira on the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives''. He is, for most of the series, the husband of Gabrielle Solis, portrayed by Eva Longoria. Past Carlos was bo ...

, Larry Izama plays Mike Delphino,

plays

, Ben Touitou plays African version John Rawland, Ozzy Agu plays

Tom Scavo Thomas Scavo is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives'', played by actor Doug Savant. Tom was originally credited as a recurring role throughout Season 1, but became credited as a series regular in Season 2. ...

and Samuel Robinson plays

Zach Young ''Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda Stro ...

. On July 30, 2015, the show went for a production break in order to replenish the remaining nine episode. It took over from September 3, 2015, from the fifteenth episode of the first season.

Broadcast

''Desperate Housewives Africa'' premiered across the African continent and beyond on Ebony Life Television that is available on Multichoice dish, DSTV Channel 165 on 30 April 2015.

General Manager

* Giovanni Mastrangelo

Created by

Created and written by

Written By

Jason Ganzel Jason Ganzel is a television screenwriter. He worked as part of the production staff on several television series, including ''Married to the Kellys'', ''Kevin Hill'', ''So Little Time'', and ''The Ellen Show''. In 2004, he became the assistant to ...

Jenna Bans Jenna Bans is an American screenwriter. Bans is a producer and writer on ''Grey's Anatomy'', and is the creator and the co-producer (along with Shonda Rhimes) of '' Off the Map'', a series which premiered on ABC in January 2011, and was cancelled ...

* Joshua Senter *

Dahvi Waller Dahvi Waller is a Canadian screenwriter and television producer. The recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award and three Writers Guild of America Awards, she is best known for her work on the television series ''Mad Men'' and the television miniseries ...

Kevin Etten Kevin Etten is an American screenwriter and television producer. He began his career as a writer for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'', and then moved on to be the screenwriter and producer for notable television series including ''Reaper ...

* Brian Tanen *

Alexandra Cunningham Alexandra Cunningham (born 1972/73) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and television producer. Biography From 1998 through 2000, she attended the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program at The Juilliard School. Her plays inclu ...

Bob Daily Bob Daily is an American television producer and screenwriter. Career Beginning as a writer for the 1990s Nickelodeon cartoon ''Rugrats'', Daily joined the crew of the sitcom ''Frasier'' in 1999. In total he wrote or co-wrote fifteen episode ...

John Pardee John Pardee is an American screenwriter and television producer, and was an executive producer for ''Desperate Housewives''. During the 1990s, Pardee wrote episodes of several television series, including the cartoon '' Doug''; the short-lived s ...

Joey Murphy Joey Murphy is an American screenwriter and television producer. Murphy has written episodes of the cartoon, '' Doug'', '' The Crew'', and Cybill Shepherd's sitcom, ''Cybill'', the last two for which he also served as producer. He also collabora ...

Wendy Mericle Wendy Mericle is an American television writer and producer. She is known for her work on the ABC dramedy ''Desperate Housewives'' and The CW's superhero series ''Arrow''. Life and career From the age of seven on, Mericle grew up without a tele ...

Matt Berry Matthew Charles Berry (born 2 May 1974) is an English actor, comedian, musician, and writer. He is best known for his roles in comedy series such as '' The IT Crowd'', ''Garth Marenghi's Darkplace'', ''The Mighty Boosh'', ''Snuff Box'', ''What ...

* Kevin Murphy *

Tom Spezialy Tom Spezialy is an American television producer, director and screen writer. In 2007, began serving as executive producer of ''Reaper''. Career Spezialy began his career in 1989 writing for the CBS television series '' Doctor Doctor''. He has als ...

Jeff Greenstein Jeff Greenstein is an American television writer, producer and director. Greenstein was the showrunner of ''Will & Grace'' and '' Dream On'', as well as on '' Partners'' and ''Getting Personal'', both of which he created. A member of the Writers ...

* Joe Keenan *

Jamie Gorenberg Jamie Gorenberg is an American television producer and Television writer, writer. Her most prominent work is on American Broadcasting Company, ABC's dramedy, ''Desperate Housewives''. She began working on the series as a producer and screenwriter ...

* David Flebotte *

Marco Pennette Marco Pennette (born July 9, 1966) is an American television writer and producer. Early life Pennette was born in Greenwich, Connecticut where he grew up loving theatre: "I want to go into theatre; TV sort of lured me away." He attended New Yor ...

* David Schladweiler * Chuck Ranberg *

Anne Flett-Giordano Anne Flett-Giordano (née Flett; born 1965) is an American television producer and screenwriter, known for her work on ''Kate & Allie'', ''Frasier'', '' Desperate Housewives'', ''Hot in Cleveland'' and '' Mom.'' On ''Hot in Cleveland'', the fic ...

Susan Nirah Jaffee Susan Nirah Jaffee is an American screenwriter and television producer, primary working on sit-coms, and, as at 2007, serving as a writer and producer for ''Desperate Housewives''. Beginning as an episode writer and story editor for ''Cybill'' in ...

* Chris Black *

Lori Kirkland Baker Lori Kirkland Baker (née Kirkland) is an American writer and producer. Career Kirkland first worked as a writer's assistant on '' Perfect Strangers''. Kirkland was a writer for three episodes of ''Jenny'' in 1997. She was a writer and co-execut ...

* John Paul Bullock III * Cindy Appel *

Christian McLaughlin Christian McLaughlin (born September 29, 1967 in Houlton, Maine) is a television writer, producer, and author. McLaughlin is a graduate of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas. He gained notoriety in his early twenties with the publi ...

Peter Lefcourt Peter Lefcourt (born 1946) is an American television producer, a film and television screenwriter, and a novelist. Lefcourt's early career involved writing teleplays for primetime series such as ''Cagney and Lacey'', ''Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' ( ...

Jeffrey Richman Jeffrey Richman is an American writer, producer and actor. Producer * ''Uncoupled'' (2022): executive producer * ''Modern Family'': co-executive producer * '' Stacked'' * ''Frasier'': executive producer * ''Charlie Lawrence'' (2003): executive p ...

* Jim Lincoln * Scott Sanford Tobis *

Valerie Ahern Valerie Ahern is an American television screenwriter and producer. She has written episodes for a number of television series since 1995 including ''The Young and the Restless'' (July 27, 2007 – November 29, 2007; April 4, 2008 – July 7, 2008) ...

* Brian A. Alexander *

Patty Lin Patty Lin is an American television screenwriter and producer. She is a graduate of Cornell University Career She has written episodes for the television series ''Friends'', ''Freaks and Geeks'', ''Martial Law'', ''Citizen Baines'', ''Desperate ...

Tracey Stern Tracey Stern is an American television writer and producer. Stern made her television debut writing for the first two seasons of '' ER''. She has also worked as a writer on '' Pacific Blue'', '' Sports Night'', ''Angel'', '' Law & Order: Special ...

Adam Barr Adam Barr is a television screenwriter and producer best known for his comedy credits including the hit NBC series ''Will & Grace''. In the early nineties he teamed up with best friend Peter Ocko, with whom he wrote 12 episodes of ''Parker Lewis ...

* Alan Cross * Katie Ford * Ellen Herman *

David Schulner ''David Schulner'' is an American television writer and producer. His production company is Mount Moriah. The company signed an overall deal with Universal Television. Television filmography Producer * ''What About Brian'' (2006) * ''Despe ...

Oliver Goldstick Oliver Goldstick (born January 9, 1961) is an American television screenwriter and executive producer, working on Netflix’s new series Bridgerton. Prior to this, Goldstick launched High School Musical: The Series for Disney + and spent seven y ...

* Sheila R. Lawrence * Valerie Brotski *

Bruce Zimmerman Bruce Zimmerman (born 11 June 1952)"Bruce Zimmerman (2006). ''Contemporary Authors Online''. Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from ''Biography in Context'' database, 2016-08-09. is an American novelist, screenwriter, and television producer. Among the te ...

Sara Parriott Sara Parriott is an American screenwriter working in partnership with Josann McGibbon. The team's first major success was a screenwriter credit for the early Brad Pitt film, '' The Favor''. Their major works since then include ''Three Men and a ...

Josann McGibbon Josann McGibbon is an American screenwriter who previously teamed with Sara Parriott in one of the longest writing partnerships in Hollywood; they were a team for 33 years from 1986-2019. Biography The team's first major success as screenwrite ...

* Annie Weisman

Episodes

References

External links

* * * * {{Desperate Housewives Nigerian television soap operas 2015 Nigerian television series debuts 2015 television series endings English-language television shows 2010s Nigerian television series Television shows set in Lagos Non-American television series based on American television series Television series by ABC Studios Nigerian television series Ebonylife TV original programming