Ebuka Turns Up Africa Reality Travel Series

“Ebuka Turns Up Africa” is a great choice if you're looking for a show that's soothing and highlights the stunning locations of Africa, minus the inorganic drama.

Cast: Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Timini Egbuson, Zubby Michael, Jimmie Akinsola, Onoja Adole, and Alistair Englebert Preston

Producers are aware of the profitable potential reality shows possess in Nigeria because of programs like Showmax's Real Housewives of Lagos, which developed a cult-like following after its premiere. When Prime Video unveiled an original reality series with media celebrity Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, it came as no surprise.

The show, titled “Ebuka Turns Up Africa,” was first viewed with suspicion due to its all-male ensemble.

Some in Nigeria assumed it would be dull since “Nigerian men tend to steer clear of drama.” But after two episodes, the show disproved everyone by showcasing not only the stunning locations of Africa but also some top-notch drama that had fans happy and glued to their screens, waiting for the cast members to spar

The reality show's basic idea is that Ebuka travels throughout several African nations with five of his pals. In every episode, the group travels to new nations, visits intriguing locations, partakes in local pastimes, and converses deeply—or occasionally gets into small disagreements.

The Plot

It's long overdue for Ebuka to take a vacation. He invites five pals along in an attempt to spice up the holiday (or reality TV plot). Among his friends are well-known figures in the entertainment industry: photographer Alistair Englebert Preston; presenter and hype man Jimmie Akinsola; actress Timini Egbuson; and entertainer Zubby Michael.

It's clear that there is conflict among the pals upon their initial meeting at the airport. This is mostly because some of them are unfamiliar with one another. It is revealed that Jimmie and Timini ‘had’ a close relationship prior to Timini's treachery while they were at the hangar. A minor disagreement breaks out as the gang trades some bants, and Jimmie soon brings up his issue with Timini for having backed out of his wedding.

As their first stop on the African Tour, Rwanda, the group de-escalates their conversation and boards the private jet. The gentlemen are astounded by Rwanda's breathtaking landscape as well as the exquisitely simple yet opulent flat that Ebuka chose for them. Before long, the tension builds as Zubby and Timini start joking about who is a better actress. Soon after, the party attends a basketball game, which resolves the conflict.

The gang visits a new nation, goes sightseeing, partakes in a few activities or attends events, muses over a personal matter, looks over past disagreements or issues, and works out their differences in later episodes that have a similar structure.

Africa to the Global Community

“Ebuka Turns Up Africa” honors the distinctive qualities of our land and is a love letter to Africa. The way the group introduces viewers to the customs of the places they visit tends to follow a same pattern. In the second episode, for instance, Ebuka and Alistair go to Lake Kivu and join the Kivu fisherman who are singing. A voiceover provides us with a brief history of the fishermen. This is especially evident when the group visits a coffee farm, showcasing the agricultural products of Rwanda.

As demonstrated when the group rallies and meets Queen, Rwanda's top rally driver, it is evident that the teaching is not just focused on the events or places in the host countries but also on notable individuals.

A Superb Production

It's likely that “Ebuka Turns Up Africa” will always have the best cinematography available. The lack of subpar images demonstrates how deliberate the crew was with the production. The locales were serene and captivating, the angles were perfect, the styling and clothing solidified Ebuka's reputation as a style icon, the color grading felt appropriate, and the sound was masterfully recorded.

A Reality Show With A Script

“Ebuka Turns Up Africa” felt forced, even though it deserves praise for giving travel shows a fresh perspective with its dramatization.

The actors appeared to have been briefed by the producers in advance, providing them with scripts and guidance on what to say and how to say it.

It's incomprehensible that Jimmie would approach Timini just five minutes after they first met to ask her to attend his wedding.

This exchange may be seen as the producers' attempt to tease viewers with a cliffhanger that reads, “Watch out for these two because things are going to get pretty heated between them throughout the series.”

The “I am a better actor than you” line is another example. How can an actor meet another actor and almost instantly boast about being better without a significant occurrence that sets them apart? The way Timini begins to brag gives the impression that he is looking for trouble on purpose, and Zubby's response supports the idea that the fight was carefully planned beforehand.

Finally, the fact that Timini and Jimmie's conflict dominated the most of the drama raises the possibility that this is the reason both guys were chosen for the show. It's not bad to cast people on reality shows because of their conflicts; rather, it's just that the majority of the talk on the show revolves around the conflicts.

The Final Verdict

8 out of 10. “Ebuka Turns Up Africa” is a great choice if you're looking for a show that's calming and highlights the stunning locations in Africa, minus the manufactured drama.

You can watch “Ebuka Turns Up Africa” on Prime Video right now.