''The Hostel'' is a Ugandan drama series created by Sabiiti "MMC" Moses and Emanuel "BUUBA" Egwel about the lives of university students in their hostels. The show premiered on

NTV Uganda NTV Uganda is a Ugandan television station under the Nation Media Group, NMG, operating in East Africa. It has been on air since 2006. It is one of the companies owned by Aga Khan IV. During the Arua elections, NTV Uganda reporter Herbert Zziwa ...

in 2011 and ran for four seasons. The fourth season which was titled Serenity saw a fresh new cast and in a new hostel. The season premiered on 23 February 2015. The series aired on

, DSTV - Africa Magic Entertainment, ZUKU TV and NTV KENYA, Canal France International and their African Partners, eTV, Star Times and Rwanda TV. The series started airing in the UK on 4 February 2013 on Channel 182 Ben TV for the European continent audience.

Overview

The Hostel is a

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 ...

about the endless hopes & fears, struggle, frustrations, pressures and challenges that affect students at higher institutions of learning especially those who reside in hostels. It features the adaptation to city life, roommates, friendships & hassles, prostitution, romantic liaisons, jealousy, sexual pursuits, hatred, broken hearts, lovers’ joys, academic pressures, college & hostel fees challenges, part-time jobs, independence, ethnic & religious diversity, parental control, career, cross generational sex, hopes & nightmares, AIDS, condoms, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, parties, loneliness etc.

Reception

The show generally received positive reviews as well as garnering a very big following from Uganda and across the borders.

Production

The Hostel was a collaboration between Sabiiti "MMC" Moses, Emanuel "BUUBA" Egwel and Fast Track Productions in Luzira, Kampala. At the end of season three, the revenue strategy changed as NTV Uganda finally commissioned the production of season 4 on wards. NTV Uganda. A revamped Hostel Serenity returned to little expectations as much of its loyal audiences had moved on to shows that had replaced them earlier like Deceptions.

Cast

The series cast mostly young celebrity actors plus a few university students. The major cast includes * Hellen Lukoma *Daniel Omara *Richard Tuwangye *Taryn Kyaze as TESSA * Michael Wawuyo Jr. * Housen Mushema * Mumba Benon * Kayesu Melissa *

Bash Luks Bashir Lukonge, known professionally as Bash Luks, is a Ugandan musician, music executive, songwriter, actor and author who is the founder and a member of Lot Fire Records, an independent record label which nurtures new talents in Uganda, East ...

(as Josh Akena)

Nominations and awards

Nominated for Best TV show by Teen Buzz Awards; Rated Uganda's No. 1 TV programme by Synovate Research in 2011 and 2012

References