A few days ago, I came across some surprising news—there’s a Nigerian K-drama creating quite a buzz. At first, I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of a K-drama being produced in Nigeria. But after watching a clip on YouTube, I was genuinely amazed!
This phenomenon shows the truly global reach of Hallyu (the Korean Wave). What starts as a niche interest becomes a powerful influence. Today, we’re diving deep into this specific Nigerian K-drama, what it is, and what it represents.
What is “My Sunshine, My Light”? The Viral Nigerian K-drama
So, what is this show? The video I saw is from a Nigerian drama called “My Sunshine, My Light” drama. The story is set in a fictional “Korean school” located in Nigeria.
The scene that first caught my eye was at this school, where a group of girls with long dreadlocks chatter as they walk to class. Amid their conversation, I couldn’t help but notice Korean words like “아니” (ani, no), “진짜” (jinjja, really), and “대박” (daebak, amazing) slipping into their dialogue.
This isn’t just a random occurrence; it’s a core part of the show’s concept. Inspired heavily by K-dramas, the show incorporates Korean language and culture in overt ways.
- The main character calls her mother “엄마” (eomma, mom) in Korean.
- The male lead mixes English and Korean when he asks, “Do you want to go to PROM 같이 (gati, together)?”
- There’s even a love confession scene with a soundtrack featuring a K-drama-style OST sung in Korean, albeit with a slightly clumsy accent.
The drama is directed by JJC Skillz, a well-known Nigerian rapper and producer, and written by Kemi Ikuseedun, an actress and content creator. This JJC Skillz K-drama has attracted a lot of attention from global K-drama fans, proving that the format is bigger than just one country.
The Hallyu Effect: K-Drama Influence in Africa
This Nigerian K-drama didn’t appear in a vacuum. The K-drama influence in Africa has been growing steadily for over a decade. While K-Pop often grabs headlines, K-dramas have been quietly building a massive, dedicated fanbase across the continent.
Why do they resonate so strongly?
- Shared Cultural Values: Many K-dramas emphasize themes of family, respect for elders, and community—values that are deeply important in many African cultures as well.
- Unique Storytelling: K-dramas offer a different style of romance and drama compared to typical Western or local programming. The focus on slow-burn romance, emotional depth, and high-stakes conflict is highly addictive.
- High Production Value: Viewers appreciate the beautiful cinematography, fashion, and polished look of modern K-dramas.
This growing appreciation has clearly inspired local creators like JJC Skillz and Kemi Ikuseedun to not just consume K-dramas, but to create their own version.
Spotting the K-Drama Tropes in Nigerian Film
What makes this show a true Nigerian K-drama is not just the language. It’s the adoption of the formula. The show is a clear example of analyzing K-drama tropes in Nigerian film.
When you watch, you can play a “trope-spotting” game:
- The High School Setting: Like Boys Over Flowers or True Beauty, a school is the perfect backdrop for romance, rivalries, and friendships.
- The Dramatic Confession: The scene with the Korean OST playing is a classic K-drama climax.
- The “Fish Out of Water” Element: A fictional Korean school in Nigeria is itself a setup for classic K-drama scenarios.
- The Language Mix: The way characters code-switch, dropping Korean words, mimics how K-dramas often pepper in English.
The fact that the creators produced an original song in Korean for the show is the most significant part. It shows a deep understanding that the Original Soundtrack (OST) is not just background music, but a central character in any K-drama, driving the emotion of a scene.
The Future of the K-Drama Genre
This Nigerian K-drama shows that K-dramas are no longer just a product of Korea—they’ve become a global genre that resonates with and can be produced by audiences worldwide.
It makes me wonder, how far will this expansion of the K-drama universe go? The possibilities seem endless! It’s fascinating to see a new creative loop: a country exports its culture, which then inspires another country to create something new, which is then celebrated by the original fans. That is the true power of Hallyu.
