King Of Boys And Its Political Message To The Igbos In Lagos -By Rees Chikwendu

In the past, I have watched a few Nollywood movies or series on Netflix, like Lion Heart and 76, and, based on the data collected, the Netflix algorithm recently recommended King of Boys to me. I was reluctant to watch it because I consider Nollywood movies as brain dullers – lacking creativity and intelligence. I also think Nollywood contributes significantly to destroy the Igbo culture. I haven’t forgiven them for the damage they have done to the Igbo culture. However, in a WhatsApp group with other Africans, they started talking about the limited series, and the conversation rekindled my interest. It took me more than a week to finish watching the seven episodes of the series.

In the end, I saw some hope in Nollywood. More significantly, the collaboration between the Igbo and the Yoruba, as the two nations that give Nigeria whatever good reputation it still has, was again buttressed. No doubt, the Igbo and the Yoruba as independent nations working together would be reborn of Africa. They produce magic when they work co-opetitively. I give many kudos to Kemi Adetiba and others who made that series what it is.

King of Boys has many messages around Nigeria’s dirty politics, religious criminalities, corruption, dark underworld, etc. To me, there is one clear message in that series to the Igbos in Lagos, that is: No matter how influential and powerful you have become in Lagos and the Yoruba friends you now have on your side, you can never be king here or sit on the throne. I wasn’t sure if this message was deliberate, but it would be hard to miss it after watching King of Boys.