The first season of the Showmax Original soap opera series Wura premiered on 23 January 2023, and concluded on 13 July 2023, with a total of 100 episodes. Shortly after Wura hit 50 episodes, the producers spoke with The Guardian Saturday Magazine, about its plan for the first season to reach over 200 episodes., it was announced that Wura would have only 4 episodes released from Monday to Thursday for 25 weeks. On 13 July 2023, the Showmax announced the end of season 1, shortly after the release of the 100 episodes "Blabbermouth". On 13 November 2023, showmax announce the release date for its second season.
Wura tells the story of Wura Amoo-Adeleke, the ruthless CEO of the fictional Frontline Gold Mine, and the perfect wife, a mother of two, who will do anything to maintain her ground in the gold mining industry. In her family, Wura is faultless and a saint, but when it comes to running her business, she becomes that ruthless lady, who doesn't care whose ox is gored in her path to get what she wants.
In the Iperindo community of Osun State, where Wura's mining business is located in Iperindo town, live poverty-stricken residents, many of whom work at the mine, including the Kuti family. The Kuti family, consisting of Pa Kuti, Iyabo Kuti, and their children, Olumide, Ebunoluwa, and Tumininu the adopted child, been found close to a river as a baby by her late adoptive father, Pa Kuti.
Principal photography of the series set location in Iperindo, a community in Atakunmosa East local government in Osun State, a state in southwestern Nigeria. The community discovered gold first in 1945. In 2017, its gold deposit was evaluated at $5 billion. According to Nigerian Entertainment Today author Anjolaoluwa Abiosun, âÂÂits community is plagued with poverty and a lack of basic amenities, including access to potable water, motorable roads, and functioning health facilitiesâÂÂ.
On 22 April 2023, shortly after Wura hit 50 episodes, the producers spoke with The Guardian Saturday Magazine, about its plan for the first season to reach over 200 episodes. On 13 June 2023, following the release of episode 82 in its 1st season, one of Tinsel directors, Ben Chiadika joined the production team, led by Rogers Ofime as a director.
The cast was reported when season 1 began, with a line-up of Scarlet Gomez, Yomi Fash Lanso, Ray Adeka, Iremide Adeoye, Toluwani George, Oluwaseyi Akinsola, Ropo Ewenla, Ego Ihenacho, Martha Ehinome, and Lanre Adediwura as main cast. With Carol King, Tersy Akpata, Olawale Gold, Rhoda Albert, Muyiwa Donald, Toluwanimi Adekanmbi, Jare Martins, Taiwo Ibikunle, Ayorinde Babatope, Misi Molu, Odufeso Olajumoke, Obadare Akinade, Adekunle David, Chukwuebuka Ude, Audrey Edak Harrison, Aweodein Adeola, Modesinuola Ogundiwin, Casey Edema, Miracle Gabriel, and Mofe Stephens as supporting cast.
On 19 January 2023, The á»Âá»ÂÃÂni of Ifẹà(King of Ife), Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi hosted a private screening at his palace of the first few episodes of the Showmax original series in Osun State. The King wives, Olori Tobi Philips Ogunwusi, Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, Olori Afolashade Ogunwusi, and Wura stars Scarlet Gomez, Yomi Fash-Lanso and Ego Iheanacho, alongside other cast and crew members where in attendance.
The king at the official premiere, described the show, saying: âÂÂThe show was very well put together and professionally doneâÂÂ, and added to the remark by saying: âÂÂIâÂÂm very impressed and I rarely get impressed with things. I love the naturalistic effect of the series. It premiered to me at the palace and I could barely find any faults. I have to give the entire crew some major credit. The story is very well scripted and thatâÂÂs the typical determination you find in any Nigerian. ItâÂÂs a show that will impact society not only in Ife. I look forward to watching the rest of it because itâÂÂs very obvious that itâÂÂs a series that will address a lot of societal ills and will engage the citizenry as a whole.âÂÂ