The fact that it was directed by Kenneth Gyang was enough to pique our interests. And then the fact that it’s set in “The North,” a region largely underrepresented in mainstream Nigerian film and television, made it clear we just had to check out EbonyLife TV’s Sons of the Caliphate.

The show describes itself as “a political drama series set in the North of Nigeria about three rich, entitled and ambitious young men all caught up in the lust for power, addiction, love and desire, as well as the obligations of family loyalty and the craving for revenge in the deadly tussle for the governorship seat of the Northern Caliphate State.” Okay. Cool.

So. We watched. And we were bored. Maybe it’s because we’ve only seen 3 episodes but we struggle to be genuinely entertained by anything here. Gyang’s work is solid as always but the show leaves a lot to be desired where character and narrative are concerned.

The most memorable thing about the show at this point is Nuhu. Unfortunately this isn’t exactly a positive as it is largely due to the actor, Mofe Duncan, and his attempt at a “Northern” accent.

It’s not horrible. Not so bad that it’s so good that people watch just to laugh at it. It’s just “off” in a way that is noticeable. Which might as well be a microcosm for the entire show. It isn’t saying anything just yet. But we are here.

There’s still a lot of time for the show to reveal itself to be more than what it is now. We’ll be watching, if only for the Dora Akunyili clone at the head of the show’s version of EFCC.

Media Blogger