The Ibibio people account for about 8 million out of Nigeria\u2019s 225 million people \u2013 that\u2019s just under 4% of the country\u2019s population. Putting this number alongside the most-populated ethnic groups such as the Hausa (66 million people), the Igbo (40 million people) and the Yoruba (47 million people), you will see why the spoken Ibibio language in Shanty Town represents a major cultural moment for their people.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Spoilers ahead\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shanty Town is an ensemble series, assembling the biggest of Nollywood\u2019s stars in Ini Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Shaffy Bello, Chidi Mokeme, Nancy Isime, Uche Jombo, and Nse Ikpe-Etim.  It helps that Ini and Nse play characters who are not the stereotypical damsels in distress or helpless playthings for male characters.  Ini plays Inem, whose real name is Amanda and happens to be a surviving twin and undercover policewoman.  She is able to infiltrate the Shanty Town \u2013 a community in Lagos controlled by a pimp and gangster called Scar played by Chidi Mokeme \u2013 because her identical twin sister once lived in the Shanty Town but succumbed to cancer unbeknownst to the community dwellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nse Ikpe-Etim plays Ene, the pimp\u2019s deputy.  Even though she ranks higher than Inem in the community as the former is a pimp deputy and the latter is a prostitute, the Ibibio language frequently erases this hierarchy between them and the viewer can sometimes forget whom is senior to whom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ini Edo\u2019s character, Inem, frequently challenges Scar and Ene without caring about the consequences.  Imagine the impact that will have on a female Ibomite who watches the series! She\u2019ll feel she can take charge in a male-dominated society and achieve her objectives and goals.  Not to talk of when she finds out that in real-life Ini Edo was one of the producers! The sky will be her limit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the series, justice prevailed within the Shanty Town as information Inem got led to the death of Scar and the arrest of his boss Chief DaCosta Fernandez played by Richard Mofe-Damijo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a state of just over 5 million people with more men than women. Akwa Ibom can add Shanty Town to its growing list of achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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