ShantyTown is a 6-part limited series on Netflix that follows a group of courtesans as they try to escape the clutches of a notorious kingpin. However, due to political corruption and blood ties, escape is nearly impossible.
Since ShantyTown release on the 20th of January, the Nigerian crime thriller has continued to receive overwhelming praise from fans on social media, most especially Twitter.
Chidi Mokeme immersed himself in that "Scar" character, you'd most likely forget what he look like in real life. lost in the character, perfect performance.#ShantyTown pic.twitter.com/kDL2xq0hzQ
— Dotun Omiyale.jpeg (@the_bigdot) January 21, 2023
I could feel my heart beating fast with this 100-second video. This is absolute brilliance from Nollywood, as they depicted the stories of several societies with the Shanty Town series.#ShantyTown pic.twitter.com/kZJdMNiTSQ
— Sammy Sammy (@scad_official) January 28, 2023
Shanty Town proves again that Nigerian OG actors dey act pieces, they were just stuck with horrible stories and horrible directors in the beginning.
See Chidi Mokeme, Ini Edo, Uche Jombo, Nse Ikpe-Etim… the acting was 🤌🏿
Really happy for them.P.S. Chidi is still fine AF
— Ugonna (@frau_ug) January 21, 2023
Shanty Town looks like a fluid mashup of King of Boys and Oloture. The writers expertly borrowed story angles from both films to create this master piece
Chidi Mokeme literally performed like his life depended on it. His transition from old to new Nollywood is amazing pic.twitter.com/wV8VDsKsgJ
— Bob Ngene (@bobbyceezar) January 21, 2023
Chidi Mokeme killed every scene in this series, I’ll drink to that #ShantyTown pic.twitter.com/R3e9f5vRtD
— A Genz Planner🌹 (@FAROSSEY) January 21, 2023
It's so cool seeing Chidi Mokeme and Ini Edo roaring back to superstardom, thanks to Shanty Town movie where they both played great characters. Loveeeit!
— Sammy Sammy (@scad_official) January 25, 2023
However, despite the overwhelming praise, the producers of Shanty Town came under fire for the inclusion of nudity scenes.
“Nudity is not part of our culture” Shanty Town is about crime, prostitution, corruption, etc. if it’s culture you’re looking for, go and watch AM Epic and stop disturbing us.
— VEE. (@veeiye) January 22, 2023
Ini Edo, who played the role of Inem in Shanty Town, addressed the backlash in an interview with BBC Pidgin. She said, “We hear the talk about nudity and everything.” But people don’t realize that you can’t tell a story about shantytown, prostitution rings, or crime without including guns or nudity. “People should understand it’s part of the story you’re trying to sell, not an attempt to degrade anybody.”
“Because at the end of the day, we have to start seeing the woman’s body for what it is: just a body God created without people’s minds traveling to different places.” “We are trying to create real-life, near-life situations.” So, it’s inevitable for there to be nudity.