‘Shuga’, the sexually explicit series starring Lupita Nyong’o, returns to Kenya after 15 years. – Nairobi News ‘Shuga’, the sexually explicit series starring Lupita Nyong’o, returns to Kenya after 15 years.

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‘Shuga’, the sexually explicit series starring Lupita Nyong’o, returns to Kenya after 15 years.


After more than a decade, MTV Shuga, which once featured Hollywood star Lupita Nyong’o, is making a comeback in the country. Auditions for the brand new season of MTV Shuga Mashariki are kicking off this month (October) in search of Kenya’s freshest acting talent. The auditions are aimed at fresh talent, whether you’re new to acting or a seasoned performer.
To extend its reach to aspiring actors nationwide and nurture local talent, the show will hold physical and virtual open auditions this month. Nairobi-based actors are invited to attend the open auditions at the University of Nairobi (main campus) from 11th to 13th October 2024 from 8 am to 6 pm.

MTV Shuga Mashariki will also be offering online submissions as an option for those who cannot make it to the physical auditions by 13 October 2024, with details available on their social media platforms. This exciting development marks the show’s comeback after 15 years.
At the heart of MTV Shuga’s return is its unwavering focus on storytelling to transform the lives of Kenya’s youth. From script to screen, this season’s entire production is informed by local youth-centered research and designed to tackle restrictive, harmful gender norms that affect the outcomes of young people’s lives in Kenya.

The production of MTV Shuga Mashariki will be 100 percent Kenyan, ensuring that every aspect of the show reflects the authentic experiences and voices of Kenyan youth. The show is part of the award-winning MTV Shuga franchise – MTV-SAF’s flagship behavior change campaign.
The MTV Shuga franchise, which brings vital sexual and reproductive health messages to a global audience, has previously been filmed in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, and India. The highly successful MTV Shuga model debuted in Kenya in November 2009, bringing big names such as Lupita, Nick Mutuma, and Valerie Kimani to the limelight.

The first two series were commissioned by MTV Networks Africa and the Kenyan government, and the name Shuga is derived from the pronunciation of ‘sugar’. Shuga went on to become a hit and was broadcast in 40 different African countries before being shown internationally on over 70 television channels. The drama was considered very controversial by the older generation of Kenyans as it contained some sexually explicit scenes. In May 2010, it won a gold award in the Public Relations Health category at the World Media Festival in Hamburg, Germany, for its focus on love, emotions, and sexual behavior among Kenyan youth.
In 2013, production of the series moved to Nigeria, where the third and subsequent seasons are set.