Hi ni story ya ma boys, in gear five,
Madem wa fly (hot girls) getting down with the music, feeling fly,
Furahi day nights, music vibes, sweat and sex in the air.
This is a story of true love, lust, broken trust,
It is the story of bright lives, entwining and colliding,
Hi ni story ya morning after, mabyebye baadayes, (It is the story of morning afters and sweet departures),
Madoa sugu zimeachwa (and the stains we leave on each other)
So what do you do when the party catches up with you?
Has the ride been worth it?
Shuga, MTV’s Staying Alive hard-hitting drama has begun screening on local television stations.
The three-part series which premiered November 11, stars filmmaker and model Lupita Nyong’o (Ayira), musician Valerie Kimani (Sindi), South African actor and television presenter Tumisho Masha (Felix), David Omwange (Skola) and Eva Kanyang’onda (Virgina).
Shuga follows the lives and loves of a group of cool young students whose bright lives and fabulous futures are balanced on a knife-edge due to their love of risk and danger.
It is a story of love, sex, Friday nights and the indelible marks we leave on one another. Also starring are Nicholas Mutuma (Leo), Sharon Olago (Violet), Pepe Haze (Ty) and Anthony Mwangi (Kenneth).
The series, which the producers described as non-prescriptive, gives a raw and uncut view of the lives of sexually active young Kenyans, illuminating the risks of unprotected sex and the party hard lifestyle of urban Kenyan youth.
According to producer Teboho Mahlatsi, the show is filmed in Nairobi and specifically deals with student lifestyles.
“Each of the three episodes has a different story,” explains Tim Horwood Creative Services Manager MTV. “Our first story is lead by our main character Ayira.” Ayira is an ambitious student who will do anything to get what she wants including engaging in risky sexual behaviour.
“The second strand of the story follows the life of Skola.” Skola is a spoilt, rich, fun young man, who hosts the campus radio show. He has gotten away with reckless behaviour all his life.
“The third strand focuses on the Virginia,” says Horwood. Virginia is gorgeous, very much in love with Kenneth. All the boys think she is a virgin and want to sleep with her. Virginia hides a dark secret.
The recurrent theme of the series is the importance of knowing one’s HIV status. It discusses how HIV is spread, the incubation period and where to get tested.
Unlike most behavioural change campaigns, the final episode of the series does not prescribe any solutions to its viewers, but leaves them the option to make their own educated choices.
“If you love yourself, get tested,” Shuga actor Anthony Mwangi advises sombrely.
Shuga is the brainchild of MTV Staying Alive global HIV and Aids education and prevention campaign, GPANGE and UNICEF.
Catch the shows on MTV Base, KTN, NTV, Citizen and KBC.
On MTV Base every Wednesday at 10pm. On KBC every Thursday at 9.50. On NTV and KTN every Friday 9.50 and on December 1st World Aids Day, Citizen will screen the three episodes back-to-back.
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