I grew up in an era and time when a black and white television was a luxury in homes and our boundaries were confined to the Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF), which we connected to an improvised antenna mostly coupled through white fluorescent bulbs on a pole. That was the best an average Nigerian child was exposed to in the early 90's, at least when we watched TV series like Tales by Moonlight, The Village Headmaster, and Papa Ajasco. I'm sure a few Nigerians would relate well to the aforementioned TV series that spiced our early growing years.
I loved Papa Ajasco and company. The bald man who bore the same name as me, Pa James, and also the funny-dressed character with his double spectacle, boy Alinco. Also that I can remember is Miss Pepeye. All these were cast names that we identified the actors with. It was always fun watching these casts play on the TVs, and like children at the mercy of their parents, we were at the mercy of the power-holding authority we called NEPA (National Electric Power Authority) to supply us power to watch these TV shows.
Papa Ajasco, for example, was a family TV series that revolved around a few people. It was the delight of many families as the neighborhood talked excitedly about it. We did not have the luxury of variety, and having these TV series made it easily relatable.
The TV series in the 1990s set the template for the many TV series that sprung up in recent times. The nostalgia of those TV series keeps the memories of our childhood fresh and a little older. I guess the older generation has a totally different TV series that is more advanced and distinct, with varieties to choose from.
THEATRES
Theatres are large, room-spacing venues with a large screen that can portray characters about their actual sizes. Theatres do give a satisfying view and the feeling that images and casts are more real than viewing tiny objects on the screen. I used to be a fan of visiting the theater up until recently, when the prices shot up. Visiting theaters in Nigeria has become a luxury. I remember visiting theater shows from plays by the performing arts department of our college for just a token ticket or going to the cinemas for as little as ₦700 in 2017. Life was fun and cheap in previous years.
Recently, a movie was put in the cinema for about ₦10, 000, which shocked me to my marrow. Was I buying comfort or wasting money? One way I enjoy my theater space is by watching some interesting movies at night in my sitting room with the room darkened to give the cinema and theater effect. After all, there's little noise or distraction in such theaters. It's usually the feel of the atmosphere, and personally, I love such an environment.
Society keeps advancing in technology, and choices are constantly laid before users, and though we cherish the nostalgia of TV series in the 90's, we must embrace the innovations that have come to the movie industry.
Here is my entry into #aprilinleo monthly and daily prompts. You can participate via this LINK
Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.