In an exclusive video interview provided by TNC Africa, Lani Aisida, the head writer of the highly anticipated Nigerian TV show of the month Ololade, provides a deep dive into the creative process behind the series. Produced by TNC Africa and soon to be available on Netflix, Ololade is a Yoruba-language show that promises to bring chaos and drama to the screen.
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Aisida, known for his work on Rumour Has It and Love Like This, shares insights into the unique approach taken during the series’ development. He reveals that the writing team, carefully picked for their diverse cultural and social experiences, collaborated virtually to workshop the storyline. By intentionally selecting writers with backgrounds different from his own, Aisida aimed to tap into a rich tapestry of perspectives during the collaborative writing process. From a Yoruba-speaking writer to a non-Yoruba one who served as their first audience.
Ololade marks Aisida’s inaugural dive into an indigenous project, a fact he acknowledges during the interview. “I had never done a local language show before but it is something I have always wanted to do,” he reveals. “All the gbas gbos I have seen in Yoruba films from growing up, we were going to be able to bring it to this story.”
He also expresses admiration for TNC Africa’s commitment to storytelling, a sentiment he shares as a core focus in his own work. The collaborative vision between Aisida and TNC Africa is expected to result in a series that seamlessly weaves together chaos and drama, drawing on both old and new Nollywood influences, both eras of Nollywood which he enjoys and “calls an evolution of the same thing”.
During the conversation, Aisida touches upon the significance of team dynamics in the writing process. He weighs the benefits of writing alone versus writing with a team, emphasizing that the advantages of collaboration are rooted in perspective. By consciously avoiding bringing individuals with similar experiences into the writing room, Aisida aims to ensure a broad spectrum of insights and ideas shapes the narrative of Ololade.
Starring Kunle Idowu aka Frank Donga, Femi Adebayo, Mide Martins and Liz DaSilva, Ololade follows two friends who suddenly become rich in unexpected ways. It seems too good to be true — until they get entangled in a deadly money laundering scheme
As the anticipation for Ololade continues to build, Lani Aisida’s behind-the-scenes revelations provide a captivating glimpse into the layers of storytelling that promise to unfold in this unique Yoruba series.
Watch the full interview here.
Ololade premieres on Netflix on November 24.
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