Osas Ighodaro Hopes Viewers See Themselves and Find Inspiration in ‘The Smart Money Woman’
Since its premiere, ‘The Smart Money Woman’ has taken on various financial conversations from strong narrative entryways. The show, which follows a group of friends Zuri (Osas Ighodaro), Adesuwa (Kemi Lala Akindoju), Lara (Toni Tones), Tami (Ini Dima-Okojie) and Ladun (Ebenezer Eno), explores the complexities of modern love, trying relationships, existential concerns, divorce and more, through the surprisingly fascinating lens of money; the anxiety-inducing lack of it, the unending pursuit of it and its consequential omnipresence. Adapted from The Smart Money Woman: An African Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom, by Arese Ugwu, the first season of the series was released to immense success on Africa Magic, garnering even more fans when it premiered on Netflix.
Ighodaro believes that a lot of people resonated with the first season because it was liberating to see the women unapologetically discuss their finances and make bold choices with their money. “People are drawn to that authenticity, especially in cultures where female financial independence is often understated. At its core, it’s about friendship and resilience. Money may drive the plot, but the relationships, the emotional support, and the love between these friends give it heart,” she tells OkayAfrica.In the second season, now streaming on YouTube, conversations around finances are drawn with firmer brushstrokes, taking everyday life events into territories that we may not typically associate with money.
“This season digs deeper into how financial independence affects every part of the characters' lives,” Ighodaro says. “I think audiences will resonate with how each character’s choices reflect our own, how we make mistakes and grow and learn from them and, well, [how we] sometimes don’t.”
Photo courtesy of Azuwa Studios.
“I think audiences will resonate with how each character’s choices reflect our own.” - Osas Ighodaro.
A familiar return
In this new season, Ighodaro and Eso Dike return to their roles as romantic partners. Ighodaro, a high-powered real estate agent and Dike a perpetually restless tech entrepreneur. The season takes their picture-perfect relationship into new, delicate territories, illustrating the ways in which the pursuit of a better life can mean neglecting an already established one. And for both actors, returning to these beloved characters wasn’t hard at all.
For starters, these characters mean something to them away from the series. “When I played Shola the first time, the character actually gave me some points for myself in real life,” Dike says. “I have been following said pointers to varying degrees, so when it was time for me to go back into character, it wasn't so hard for me at all.”Photo courtesy of Azuwa Studios.
Co-stars Osas Ighodaro and Eso Dike say that the characters’ actions, emotional reactions and internal turmoil resonate with experiences similar to modern Nigerian life.
On Ighodaro’s part, the best thing about reconnecting with Zuri was exploring her immense growth as a person. “She’s navigating independence in ways that are so honest and relatable, which is such a rewarding experience as an actor.”
As Ighodaro and Dike rightly say, the characters in TSMW are so well drawn and plausibly constructed. Their actions, emotional reactions and internal turmoil resonate with experiences similar to modern Nigerian life.
One scene — in the second episode of the new season — artfully illustrates the financial and emotional demands of grief and mourning in Nigeria. The harsh reality of how expensive funeral arrangements can be, is explored side-by-side with the mounting stress of having to mourn the death of a loved one. It’s not a popular topic on Nigerian television, but it’s what makes TSMW so intelligently observant.Buoyed by friendship
When Dike was filming the first season of the series, he admits, being early in his career at the time, to have felt dwarfed by the other established actors he was working with. “It wasn't easy, because at the time, and I don't say it even in interviews, I was dealing with some things personally,” Dike shares.
With time and even more so with the filming of the second season, a sense of camaraderie and community replaced that anxiety. Ighodaro echoes the same sentiment: “From the beginning, we shared our own stories and experiences, which helped us bond and I think it translated to our on-screen relationships. Sometimes, it felt less like acting and more like sharing a part of ourselves with the audience.”
Photo courtesy of Azuwa Studios.
Osas Ighodaro hopes that in this new season, viewers see themselves in the stories and feel inspired to take control of their financial journey.
In this second season, TSMW raises the stakes of the friendship between the women even higher. They are tested to show up in extremely difficult times and are moved to build financial assets together, a potentially disruptive turf, still they manage to make it work.
Ighodaro hopes that viewers see themselves in the characters and be inspired to take control of their financial journey. “Money isn’t just about numbers; it’s about choice, security, and freedom. I want viewers, especially women, to feel empowered to address their finances head-on.”
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