The Story⚡
Visionary writer and creator of Shanty Town is set to release his next TV series, Uriri, under the aegis of his Ogbono Studios. The show is set to launch on Africa Magic on the 30th of December, 2024.
Tell Me More
Recently nominated as one of the top 100 Nollywood personalities for the year 2024, visionary screenwriter and producer Xavier Ighorodje is the creator and head writer of the Netflix blockbuster hit TV series Shanty Town, the most watched TV show on the streaming platform for 2023.
With over 4000 + minutes of primetime Nigerian TV writing to his credit, he has worked on either creating, head writing or story editing 60,000+ minutes of story on primetime Nigerian TV, having worked on nearly all of MNET’s Africa Magic Showcase’s hit Telenovela series (Hush, Ajoche, Jemeji, Unbroken, Dilemma, and so on).
Currently, he is the creator, head writer and showrunner of The Theory of Breakfast, a 26-episode Romantic Comedy Drama airing on MNET’s Africa Magic Showcase DSTV channel 151. His last project, Covenant, a 260-episode political crime dramatic Telenovela, which he co-created with legendary Nigerian filmmaker/writer Femi Odugbemi, aired prime time for the past year on the same channel with the finale on the 29th of September, 2023.
Amongst his slew of projects, Xavier Ighorodje is the screenwriter of the documentary short A Will of Iron, which won a Sundance award for best short documentary in 2014, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His short film, The Truth About B.A.E, won best cinematography, best screenplay, best directing and best actress in a lead role in the Lagos 48-hour film challenge in 2015, which earned him and his team the chance to represent Nigeria at the worldwide festival in Atlanta, Georgia, March 2016.
He is credited with creating and writing companion materials for Burna Boy’s Grammy award-winning album Twice as Tall. He is currently the head of the screenwriting department at the Ebonylife Creative Academy, Lagos, Nigeria.
His latest work is Uriri, set to premiere on Africa Magic on the 30th of December, 2024.
Uriri: Book 1 is set in 14th-century Urhobo land. The series follows the story of a legendary wrestler who must face the darkness within and confront the destiny that calls him in the face of overwhelming odds and a great love.
Comprising 39 episodes, Uriri is co-directed by the duo of Usman Olarotimi “Blackky” Ogunlade and David “Gee” Ahanmisi. While English is the primary language, the series is richly infused with the Urhobo dialect, adding a unique cultural depth to the narrative.
The show’s writers’ room comprises Xavier Ighorodje (head writer), Pearl Osibu (script editor), Great Opara (story editor), Isaac Mmaduadichie (story intern), Blessing Peter (story intern), TigerFireRose, Riches Abayomi Olusegun, Ogechi Nwobia Eke, Onyinye D. Nwogu, Chinazaekpere Chukwu, Akinwale Akinyoade, Faith Aminu, Charles K. Ugwuzor, Atinuke Odufuye, Brooks Eti-Inyene, and Kelvinmary O. Ndukwe. The cultural consultant for the project is Ufuoma Precious Gabari.
Xavier Ighorodje shares that the story is good to be told now because there’s never a bad time to tell great stories, especially a human story of great tragedy.
For him, the story is relevant in today’s world because it is a poignant celebration of the everlasting permanence and succour brotherhood can provide.
Speaking of the sort of person who will love the series, Seun Ajayi, one of the lead cast, says that any African who is a fan of culture and history and is proud of their African identity will find the story resonating with them. Responding to the same question, Philip Asaya says that anyone who loves good stories laced with drama and good performances will find interest in the epic show.
Commenting on the challenges they experience in bringing the script to life, Seun says that working on the project has pushed him the hardest in terms of performance since the beginning of his career. This is because his character demanded so much from him physically and emotionally, which couldn’t be done with half measures.
For Philip, the most challenging thing about the project was becoming one in a time and an era different from his reality. He also said that speaking a language he wasn’t familiar with challenged him.
In Summary
Uriri is “a story of love, madness, and fate like no other.
The show will premiere on December 30, 2024, on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv Channel 151/GOtv Channel 8).
