YOLO (2016 TV Series)

YOLO premiered in 2016 and quickly became a staple of Ghanaian television. The series aired on TV3 Ghana and was also distributed through Africa Magic, extending its reach beyond Ghana.

The series was produced by Farm House Production, the company founded by Ivan Quashigah, who also directed the show. Quashigah was a well-known figure in Ghanaian film and television, and his involvement lent the series considerable credibility. The series used English and Ghanaian Pidgin, with listings also identifying Twi and Ga among its languages.

YOLO's broadcast history includes a notable milestone in August 2019, when Farm House Production announced that episode 13 would be the final episode of the fifth season. The series continued beyond that point, with season 6 supported by the Ghana Health Service, National Population Council, and USAID through the Accelerating Social and Behavior Change activity, with broader government health-sector involvement.

YOLO is a drama series that follows the lives of Ghanaian teenagers and young adults as they navigate the complexities of adolescence. The show's central purpose is educational: it aims to advise and direct young people concerning the challenges they face during their teenage years. These challenges include peer pressure, relationship troubles, the struggle for survival, and the difficulties young people from deprived backgrounds face.

The series is built around a core message of healthy, productive behavior for young people. It addresses sensitive topics, including sexual health and sexuality, in a manner designed to be accessible and relatable to its target audience. The show's narrative structure combines drama and comedy to engage viewers while delivering its educational content.

At the heart of the series is the character Cyril, played by Aaron Adatsi, whose story serves as a central thread throughout the show. Cyril is portrayed as a naive young man struggling to find his place in the complicated adolescent world. Around him, a cast of characters represents different aspects of teenage life in Ghana, from the wealthy and well-groomed Emily to the naive and unsuspecting Serwaa, and the troublesome Drogba, who embodies the negative influences that teenagers may encounter.

Spoiler warning: The section below may contain spoilers.

The series also explores the lives of adult characters who were carried over from Things We Do for Love, including Auntie Enyonam and Pusher, who serve as Cyril's parents. These characters represent individuals haunted by their pasts and struggling to keep their families together, adding a multigenerational dimension to the show's exploration of Ghanaian life.

YOLO features a mix of established Ghanaian actors and emerging talent. The cast includes several performers who became household names through their work on the series.

Main Cast

Aaron Adatsi plays Cyril, the central character of the series. His portrayal of a naive young man navigating adolescence made him one of the most recognizable faces of the show.

Queenstar Anaafi plays Emily, Cyril's girlfriend. Emily is depicted as a young, rich, and beautiful girl whose parents' ideal upbringing has turned her into a well-groomed adolescent. Anaafi's performance made her one of the main pillars of the series.

Evelyn Galle-Ansah plays Araba, a wise and decisive character who possesses modern-day information about adolescent life. Her character serves as a positive role model within the show.

John B. Peasah plays Drogba, the naughty and somewhat villainous character of the series. Drogba represents the negative aspects of teenage life and serves as a cautionary figure. Despite his on-screen persona, Peasah is described as shy and reserved in real life.

Fella Makafui plays Serwaa, a naive and unsuspecting poor girl. According to an account she gave in a TV3 interview, Fella, who hails from the Volta Region of Ghana, sold bread for her mother in her village before moving to Accra to pursue her acting career. She secured her role in YOLO after a successful audition.

Desmond Danso Sakyi, credited as Chiiief, plays King George, the go-to person in the neighborhood for the latest information and gossip. Sakyi holds a bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from the School of Arts at the University of Education, Winneba, and worked in digital media and broadcast before taking on his YOLO role.

Jackie Appiah plays Auntie Enyonam, Cyril's mother. Appiah is one of Ghana's most renowned actors, having received numerous awards for her work, including Best Actress and Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. She is Ghanaian-Canadian and was born in Toronto. Her popularity grew through her appearance on Things We Do for Love, and she has also featured in numerous Nollywood films.

Adjetey Anang plays Pusher, Cyril's father. Anang is a popular Ghanaian actor who attended Labone High School and studied Fine Arts at the University of Ghana. Like Jackie Appiah, he was carried over from Things We Do for Love, where he played the same character. Anang has also acted in a Dutch film titled Slavery.

New Characters in Season 5

Farm House Production introduced several new characters alongside the existing cast, including:

• Kelvin Bruun as Mark Anthony
• Ama Ampofo Ababio as Ariana
• Akosua Asare Brewu as Tilly
• Joseph Delove August as Odenkyem
• Etornam Bedi
• William Odartei Lamptey
• Jelson Anum Ashitei
• Kelvin Troy

These additions brought fresh storylines and perspectives to the series in its later seasons.

YOLO had completed seven seasons by 2024. The show's seasons followed the lives of its characters as they grew and faced new challenges.

The fifth season concluded with episode 13, which Farm House Production announced in August 2019 would be the final episode of that season. The announcement generated significant attention from fans and media outlets covering the show.

Season 6 was supported by the Ghana Health Service, National Population Council, and USAID through the Accelerating Social and Behavior Change activity, with broader government health-sector involvement. This support allowed the series to continue its educational mission and underscored its recognized value as a platform for public health messaging aimed at Ghanaian youth.

While exact episode counts for each season are not documented in available sources, the series maintained a consistent presence on Ghanaian television throughout its run, with new episodes airing regularly on TV3 Ghana and Africa Magic.

YOLO was produced by Farm House Production, the company led by Ivan Quashigah, who served as both producer and director of the series. Quashigah was a significant figure in Ghanaian cinema, and his work on YOLO was part of a larger body of work that included the original Things We Do for Love series.

The show's writing was handled by Eddie Seddoh for seasons 1 through 4, with Selassie Yao taking over as writer for season 5. This change in writing leadership brought a new voice to the series in its later seasons while maintaining continuity with the show's established tone and themes.

YOLO was more than a commercial television production. It was produced by Farmhouse Productions as an entertainment-education program supported at different stages by the National Population Council, Ghana Health Service, USAID-funded initiatives, and FHI 360-led programs, including Communicate for Health and Accelerating Social and Behavior Change. This institutional framework meant that the show's content was developed with input from public health and education professionals, ensuring that its messaging aligned with national health and education priorities.

The series was filmed in Ghana, with reported locations including Accra and, for season six, Tamale.

By 2024, FHI 360 described YOLO as a national sensation; season seven reportedly drew more than 12 million YouTube views and about 3.4 million views per television episode.

The show's appeal spanned generations, attracting both young and old viewers. Its combination of entertainment and education resonated with audiences who appreciated the show's engagement with real issues facing Ghanaian youth. The series was praised for addressing topics such as peer pressure, relationship troubles, and the challenges faced by young people from deprived backgrounds.

YOLO received documented recognition, including Best Drama Series and acting, supporting-acting, and directing awards at the 2016 Ghana Movie Awards; the production also received two 2023 Ghana Youth Awards.

The show's cast members also benefited from the series' popularity. Several actors, including Fella Makafui and Queenstar Anaafi, gained significant public recognition through their roles on the show, with media outlets publishing features on their lives and careers.

YOLO occupies an important place in the history of Ghanaian television. It emerged at a time when Ghanaian television was evolving from a primarily state-controlled system to a more diverse landscape with multiple private and commercial broadcasters. The series aired on TV3 Ghana and was also distributed through Africa Magic, extending its reach beyond Ghana.

The series was part of a tradition of Ghanaian television dramas that combined entertainment with social messaging. Its predecessor, Things We Do for Love, had established a template for this kind of programming in the 1990s and early 2000s, and YOLO built on that foundation while updating the format for a contemporary audience.

YOLO's use of Ghanaian Pidgin English alongside English reflected the linguistic realities of urban Ghanaian youth and helped the show connect with its target audience. This linguistic authenticity was one of the factors that distinguished the series from imported programming and contributed to its local appeal.

The show's institutional partnerships were also notable within the Ghanaian television context. While many television dramas were purely commercial ventures, YOLO's backing by the National Population Council, Ghana Health Service, and other public institutions made it an example of entertainment-education in Ghana. This model allowed the show to address sensitive topics such as sexual health with a level of authority and purpose that purely commercial productions might not have achieved.

The series also contributed to the development of Ghanaian acting talent. Several cast members, including Aaron Adatsi, Queenstar Anaafi, and Fella Makafui, gained prominence through their work on the show, and the series provided a platform for emerging actors to build their careers.

YOLO is directly connected to Things We Do for Love, the Ghanaian television series that preceded it. YOLO is a sequel to this earlier series, and several characters, including Auntie Enyonam and Pusher, were carried over from the original show. Things We Do for Love was a renowned television series that left many fans spellbound in the 1990s and early 2000s, and YOLO sought to capture some of that same magic for a new generation of viewers.

Ivan Quashigah, the creator and director of YOLO, was also the driving force behind Things We Do for Love. His death in 2021 marked the end of an era for Ghanaian television, but his work on both series left a lasting legacy. Quashigah was described as a legend in the Ghanaian movie industry by those who worked with him and admired his contributions.

YOLO also exists within a broader ecosystem of Ghanaian youth-oriented media. The show's partnership with organizations such as the National Population Council and FHI360 connected it to a wider field of health communication initiatives in Ghana. The show's success demonstrated the potential of television drama as a vehicle for public health messaging, a model that other productions could follow.

For viewers familiar with Ghanaian television, YOLO represents a bridge between the classic era of Ghanaian drama and the contemporary television landscape. Its connections to Things We Do for Love provided continuity for older viewers, while its focus on contemporary youth issues attracted a new generation of fans.