British-Nigerian actress and singer Cynthia Erivo brought strong Nollywood energy to television screens over the weekend during her appearance on Saturday Night Live UK.
Taking on hosting duties for the comedy show on 24 October, the celebrated performer starred in a special sketch titled "Nigerian Wicked." Rather than playing her original film character Elphaba, Erivo switched parts to play Glinda, a role portrayed by pop star Ariana Grande in the cinematic adaptation.
According to That Grape Juice, the sketch swapped out traditional musical polish for high-voltage Nigerian dramatic flair. Wearing a bright pink tracksuit and a blonde wig, Erivo teamed up with comedian Ayoade Bamgboye, who stepped in as Elphaba. Together, the pair set off on an unruly journey to meet the Wizard of "LagOz."
The short comedy film gave viewers classic Nollywood tropes and witty lines. During their encounter, Erivo’s Glinda delivers a slap to Elphaba for being what she called very classless, while the two also tease romantic tension by nearly kissing. When they finally present their requests to the Wizard, voiced by Hammed Animashaun, Glinda demands a luxury Birkin bag, while Elphaba asks for a Brazilian Butt Lift. The Wizard jokes that she wants a BBL that defies gravity.
The parody comes after Erivo had spent over two years promoting the Wicked film project, previously suggesting she was ready to step away from the franchise. However, she has continued to embrace the universe, having also shared a stage with her co-star Ariana Grande in London back in August.
