Tobi Bakre, Hermes on Featuring in ‘Slum King’

by Vanessa Obioha

A new drama series ‘Slum King’ will be premiering today, October 8 on Africa Magic and features two alumni of the Big Brother franchise in Nigeria and Africa, Tobi Bakre and Hermes Iyele.

‘Slum King’ delves into the life of Edafe ‘Majemijesu’ Umukoro, portrayed by Tobi Bakre, a character who endured a tragedy at the tender age of 11 when his family fell victim to armed robbers. This traumatic event sparks an ambition within the young Edafe, leading him to despise his humble origins and crave power. Trapped in a cycle of guilt and trauma, ‘Slum King’ takes viewers on Edafe’s remarkable journey from a troubled figure in the slums to becoming Maje, the charismatic king of the underbelly.

Bakre, who rose to fame from participating in the Big Brother Naija Double Wahala season, is no stranger to the crime drama genre, having played lead roles in a few productions. Playing the lead role Edafe in ‘Slum King’, he explained the elements that made the character compelling to him in a recent chat.

“Each character has a different backstory and a lot of it is just about life choices and happenings. It just kind of keeps me grounded in the sense that we are a result of our life’s happenings, our society and community, and sometimes our choices. I really find it interesting that these people end up in this kind of life but given certain circumstances, it could have been totally different. The series humanises these characters who are often seen as bad guys in society. Perhaps if given a second chance, they can make things right.”

Hermes Iyele, a former housemate of Big Brother Titans, resonates with the opportunity to portray a character he understands intimately:

“Having grown up in a similar community, I had the opportunity to experience this sort of life: gang and violence. And as much as people want to generally ascribe violence to this set of people and label them, we, the people who get to live in communities like that get to experience the human beings outside of these environments. They’ve got brothers that they care so much about, you see them with your sisters or children and you won’t believe that these persons are worthy to even constitute that level of intelligence, and to be able to experience their humanity gives credit to how good and complex these characters are.”

Produced by Chinenye Nworah, known for ‘Shanty Town,’ ‘Slum King’ unravels the ambitions of young men who rule over the gritty slums of sprawling metropolises. Bakre believes that the series is a mirror reflecting the pressing societal issues in the country:

“It ties to some of the things that happen in our society. Right now, there’s an increase in drug use generally in the country, there are also political issues and how all of these tie to the series about slums. Viewers will get to see the social construct these characters had to deal with.”

The star-studded series features notable Nollywood characters like Kanayo O. Kanayo, Elvina Ibru, Gideon Okeke, Sonia Irabor, and Olarotimi Fakunle, among others.

The 10-part Africa Magic Original will immerse viewers into a world of ambition, redemption, and the rich humanity hidden within characters often misunderstood by society. It airs every Sunday on Africa Magic Showcase.