14 May 2021
Why Ghanaians are obsessed with the new telenovela Dede
Ghanaians trust Shirley Frimpong-Manso to deliver, and she does just that! Her latest series Dede is a social commentary on the class divide that masquerades as a family drama. It follows a naïve but resourceful teenager, Dede, who is deceived by her stepmother and abandons a university scholarship for a job as a maid with a wealthy family. The job comes with its troubles, but she finds favour with members of the household, especially the family’s youngest son, Michael.
It is a Cinderella story that resembles another Africa Magic production, Nigeria’s Halita. Just as Halita gave Nigerians so much to laugh about and smile at, Ghanaians can’t stop talking about Dede, and the reasons are plenty.
Dede herself
Dede is a charming, brilliant girl with dreams bigger than her rural village, which is why we relate to her struggles. She’s kind but tough, intelligent yet humble. And she’s played with sweet innocence by newcomer Adomaa Adjeman.
Although she is always getting into difficult situations, as the Cinderella in this Disney story, she is saved by her prince charming, Michael Robertson. He’s the son of the family she works for as a maid.
The Robertson family
Remember the crazy Roy family in Succession? Same vibes. The Robertsons are a dysfunctional, aristocratic family who are as dramatic as they are rich.
The matriarch, Rama, gets drunk at family functions and she doesn’t get along with her only daughter, MaryAnn. The father has a side chick. Oh, and the eldest son is so focused on the family’s wealth that he’s willing to betray his brother. Have a taste of their madness.
The Robertson’s maids
While the family has drama, their maids are something else. When they are not fantasising about the dashing Michael, they gossip about the fiery matriarch, whose angry outbursts are simply bottled anger for her husband and his cheating ways.
Joselyn Dumas as Felicity
Away from the Robertsons is Dede’s evil stepmother, Felicity, played by the legendary Joselyn Dumas.
We are familiar with Dumas’s weighty roles: the single mother who wants to be a president in Shampaign; the newly-married doctor whose life becomes chaotic when an ex returns in Love or Something like That; the ass-kicking detective in Carter: The Genesis. Here, she tones it down to play Felicity. Come to see her serving looks, stay for her charismatic performance!
Felicity is a joy to watch, but Felicity and her brother, Ayree? Perfect combo.
New episodes of Dede are on Akwaaba Magic every weekday night, and those same episodes drop on Showmax at the same time.
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