‘Slay’, a star-studded movie by Elvis Chucks – Nigerian based in South African – shows off fictitious lifestyle. But Netflix pulls it down few days after, following claims of copyright infringement by a Ghanaian songstress. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports
Netflix has been steadily building a collection of Nollywood movies for the past few years, but in 2018 it began making originals. The latest of these Netflix Originals is Slay, a new movie by award-winning Nigerian movie producer, Elvis Chucks. The new film debuted on the streaming platform last Monday, shortly after the trailer was released. The over 90-minute movie, which features Ramsey Nouah, possess classy representations and descriptions that slay! It tells the tales of some young and attractive ladies (slay queens), who prey on older, promiscuous men.
The movie further sheds light on wannabe girls who pretend to come from a wealthy background when they, in fact, are living in poverty. These girls are merely attractive girls who get given what they want whether they’ve asked for it or not. They seem to have the best in everything. Now if you are familiar with modern slang, you might have heard of the word ‘slay’ being used in a figurative way. These days, many people in Africa use the term ‘slay queen’ to describe a woman that likes to show off her luxurious lifestyle even if she lives in the poorest neighbourhood and struggles to stay on her feet.
Slay Synopsis asks what is a Slay Queen? Is it a woman who preys on older, richer men who can give her the lifestyle that she wants? Is it a woman who pretends to live a life of luxury, when actually, she’s broke? Some people say Slay Queens are just beautiful women who get expensive things from men trying to buy their love, without them really requiring anything to attract attention. And their reality to impress or to be seen can or may not be over emphasised, this movie gives you an understanding to their main reasons and objectives to Slay.
Slay is directed by Adze Ugah whose previous works include Isibaya, Jacob’s Cross, Yizo Yizo, Isithembiso & Mrs. Right guy. Slay’s star-studded cast, with the exception of Ramsey Noah and Fabian Lojede, makes it seems purely a South African affair. The producer is a Nigerian based in South African. Other cast include Amanda Dupont, Dawn Thandeka, Enhle Mbali, Lilian Dube, Trevor Gumbi, Tumi Morake, Leroy Gopal, Joe Kazadi, Kabomo Vilakazi and Idris Sultan, Tanzanian actor; Joe Kazadi, Congolese actor; among others. Idris Sultan, a reality star and the 2014 Big Brother Africa winner might be the most beneficiary of Slay on Netflix reconnecting him with his long lost fans.
Incidentally the movie which had made it to number one spot on Netflix Nigeria and South Africa barely 24 hours after its release was pulled from the streaming platform following claims of copyright infringement by a Ghanaian songstress, Wendy Shay. She claimed the producers used her song as one of the film’s soundtracks without authorization. However neither Netflix nor the film’s producers have publicly addressed the singer’s claims as at press time.
