By Patricia Geula
The ghost of past mistakes haunts us, like a mystic lore that hangs above our heads. Jane & Abel is a drama series that centers around two rival siblings from two different mothers. They own different media houses and as they try to trample on each other the personal battle between the families rages on.
1. Lizz Njagah
No one could have possibly played the role of Jane better than the renowned and talented Lizz Njagah. She is known as the mistress of melodrama hence you can be sure that she is the girl to pull it off. She has graced numerous local sets and international platforms hence becoming a house hold name. She also has proved herself to be one of Kenya’s finest actresses by receiving various best actress awards; The Kalasha awards, London Greek Film Festival, Papyrus Magazine Screen Actors Awards. Her character Jane is portrayed to be an intelligent, highly independent competitive woman. Lizz adopts this conniving and calculative role so well making one question what is her persona in real life. She lets you connect with the mind of a woman who carries so much of life’s bitterness. All the while plotting against those deserve her wrath.
2. Brian Ogola
Abel! You can stop reading this article but you will still watch this series because of Abel. Brian Ogola deserves a standing ovation for his amazing and intense epic performance. He might be a rookie in a way but with the character of Abel he is a vet. He out does himself each time he steps in front of the camera. Hence takes the show to another level all together. His role is that of a stable, dependable loyal son. He works hard to impress his mother as the head of the Simba Media yet secretly loathes the corporate world. Then again his fierceness is shown by his growing loathe and animosity towards Jane. Ladies if you do not understand English you’ll have to read his lips.
3. The supporting cast
Jane & Abel is definitely a Kenyan programme that has gone out of its way by bringing together an ensemble of celebrities. It is like a magical pot of talent from which you can pick what you like best. You have Angel Waruinge with whom you trust to develop the rich, aristocratic and deceptive character of Aida Simba. We are assured that she will best do anything to protect her family, territory and secrets. Sarah Hassan who is known and loved takes the role of Leah. Mumbi Maina plays the role of Cecelia, a pretty pampered wife who yearns for admiration from her husband Abel. She builds Abel’s personality and his lack of a will power to say no to his mother. Tony, who is Jane’s son is played by Charlie Karumi. An unruly teenager into drugs and girl’s. He is a vulnerability to his mother as she’s often fixing his messes. Each character is a story on their own yet they all build up. Helena Waithera, Justin Mirichi, Chris Kamau, Neville Msati are evidence that you definitely have no reason to miss this…
4. The script
If you were to ignore all other factors and give an award to this series it would definitely be because of the script. Finally there is a fast pacing Kenyan script that keeps you on your toes. It has heavy beats that propel the story and makes you gasp a lot. It’s a melting pot of all sorts of characters, very diverse, very rich in emotion and many twists to the tale. You cannot get bored as new events keep getting thrown in a lot. A heads up when watching it, each time you think you know… you really don’t.
5. The story line
The concept of the story itself should be regarded as art. Purely splendid! It tells of the dirt that goes on behind media houses. Family wrangles and woes. The things that we can easily relate to in society. But if you observe close enough you realize that it is the re-imagining of the biblical mythology of Cain and Abel. This time it is framed in an African contemporary corporate setting. This is not a spoiler but an emphasis on the creative genius that went into its making. Unlike the biblical story, it is gender bended, Jane being Cain. This time not jealousy but vengeance being a motive, then there is the looming question… ‘What is the ultimatum?’
6. The set
If you are busy switching channels I can assure you that you will stop and take a long look at Jane & Abel show. The sets are simply beautiful and they tell the story on their own. The colours are a clear depiction of the story. Simba media has moody rich colours to show that the Simba family is of old money, well established, a mature powerful company just like the owner Aida Simba. On the other hand 24/7 Media which is owned by Jane has an icy look showing her malevolent nature. Although a high investment on the set does not always translate to a good programme in this case it does.
7. Choices have consequences
Jane & Abel speaks to you and to me. It becks onto our consciousness… ‘What would you do?’ When the late John Simba made his mistake did he realize how far reaching the consequences would be? Had he known that he would create an enemy within would he have chosen otherwise? How then would the events play out? It is deeper that what you may assume.
Choices have consequences. We are the consequences of our past choices.
Don’t miss out on anything…This is THE SERIES TO WATCH!