Anjola Oladimeji contributed to this article.
I had worked on the announcement a month before WURA premiered on January 23, 2023, noting with interest that it was an adaptation of the long-running South African series The River, which continued airing until 2024 with over 1,000 episodes. The most intriguing aspect at the time was imagining how a story of such scale and thematic intensity would translate into the Nigerian context. I took it seriously by watching the first four episodes of both versions to compare and understand the adaptations. Still, I was unable to commit to either because of time. But many others did.
The first sign of WURA‘s impact came from the intense online (and offline) discourse stirred by our two-faced titular lead which introduced many to Scarlet Gomez. Then came the conversations around its themes as the long-running series progressed. Increasingly, towards the end of its first season, the show became an early 2023 hit. Fans were clamouring for more, especially during the post-season lull after the first 100 episodes. That was when I realised WURA fever had truly taken hold.
Created as Showmax’s first Nigerian telenovela and executive produced by Rogers Ofime, WURA ran for 260 episodes until April 15, 2025. While official viewership figures remain undisclosed, the streamer confirmed it was one of their most-watched Nigerian titles of 2023 and 2024. More than a soap opera, WURA became a cultural pulse, aided by a writers’ room led by Musa Jeffery David and a cast of both emerging, transitioning and established talent.
Leading the charge was Scarlet Gomez as Wura Amoo-Adeleke, a morally complex, driven woman whose duality formed the emotional and ethical spine of the series. Gomez, who earned her first AMVCA nomination for the role in 2023 (for Best Actress in a Drama, Movie or TV Series), described WURA as “special”—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “To me, WURA means possibilities,” she said in a statement to WKMUp. “Personally, it has been a validation of the power of hard work and dedication. Professionally, it shows how much a good story can achieve.”
The show’s essence, according to most cast members, is best captured in the lead character’s duality. For Gomez, who once described “Wura as once-in-a-lifetime character that ticks all those boxes” in a 2023 interview with us, it is in the river scene between Wura and Pa Kuti. “Survival. That’s what the show is about. That scene shows how far Wura would go to protect her interests and secrets.”
“The first scene, which is the end of the story, sets the stage. It introduces Wura’s duality, the themes of love and family, and hints at the chaos to come,” Iremide Adeoye adds.
Playing Lolu Adeleke, Wura’s closeted queer son, he sees WURA as “groundbreaking” both personally and culturally. “From the moment I received my character bible and did the screen test, I knew it was something different,” he said. “It felt like a cultural reset.”
Toluwani George as Eve, the bratty last child of the Adelekes, experienced her breakout moment on the show, her TikTok post featuring the fictional Adeleke family amassing high engagement in less than 24 hours. “Professionally, it blew up my socials. Personally, it gave me lifelong friendships and growth.”
Martha Ehinome, who played Tumi, constantly caught up in Wura’s mess, described WURA as “a transformative journey.” She explained, “Professionally, it challenged and expanded my acting range. Personally, it deepened my understanding of complex human emotions.” She knew the show was something special from the moment she read the script, but it was during filming that it became real: “On set, witnessing the synergy among the cast and crew, I truly felt we were creating something extraordinary.” For her, the scene that best captured the show’s heart was when Wura is arrested by her husband during a press conference. “It encapsulates the show’s themes of betrayal, power dynamics, and the consequences of one’s actions.”
For Miracle Gabriel (Ebun Kuti), WURA was a deeply transformative project. As the youngest in her own family, she found a way to relate to her often-bratty character. But it was the authenticity of the show’s production that struck her the most. “We filmed in the real Iperindo. That level of commitment, moving from Lagos to Ife, made me realise this was not just another job.”
Modesinuola Ogundiwin (Kanyin Adeleke) calls the series “golden”, a moment in time she’ll always return to. “There is a scene from The Office where Andy says, ‘I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.’ That is WURA for me.”
Despite covering intense and often dark themes, WURA didn’t shy away from more progressive plots, including a same-sex couple storyline, which it handled without losing its devoted viewer engagement.
Ray Adeka (Jeje Amoo) described the series as the official start of his career. He still remembers the awe of stepping onto a purpose-built set and witnessing the scale of production. “They even flew in a fire specialist from South Africa. That’s when I knew it was serious,” the actor, known for playing Wura’s trusted right hand, revealed.
Tersy Akpata (Ewa) and Ego Iheanacho (Iyabo Kuti) echoed a similar sentiment: WURA was not just a job, it was a conversation starter, a career accelerant, and a communal bond.
Actor Lanre Adediwura (Mide Kuti) best captured the show’s thematic conclusion when he pointed to the final episode: “Episode 260 shows that no evil lasts forever. Every evil person, such as Wura, would be dealt with.”
The series leaves behind an impressive legacy in an era of limited audience attention. Not only did it break out and amplify talents like Toluwani George and Ego Iheanacho, it also cemented names like Iremide Adeoye and opened new chapters for others.
And as WURA ends, the cast leaves us with their final reflections as their characters:
“Deep down, you know you love me.” – Scarlet Gomez
“All I wanted was to be seen. I hope I was.” – Iremide Adeoye
“I did what I thought was necessary. Judge me if you must, but understand me if you can.”- Martha Ehinome
“Me Duuuurrrlllingz, I love una well well!” – Tersy Akpata
“Thank you for going on the journey with us.” – Modesinuola Ogundiwin
“I’m sorry! But I’d do it all over again for love.” – Ray Adeka
“I want to stop being a disappointment child.” – Lanre Adediwura
If you asked them all for one word to define the entire WURA experience, there is a chorus of tributes. They call it “special,” “groundbreaking,” “masterpiece,” “unforgettable,” “golden,” “amazing,” or even “needed.” Others describe it as “intriguing” and, above all, “captivating.”
Despite premiering in a busy streaming year that gave us Shanty Town, Beyond The Veil, MTV Shuga Naija, The Men’s Club: New Chapter, Last One Laughing: Naija, and Ololade, the long-running WURA proved to be impactful television.
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