The Soaps that rocked Nairobi

                        Soaps were often the highlight of a long day.

Soap Operas have continued to fascinate television audiences the world over for years on end. Take a look at the tube today and it becomes clear that soaps operas (so called as they were sponsored by soap companies) appeal never seems to fade, yet the storylines and bag of hook tricks are invariably the same. But    that is the magic of a great story – it never gets old. Reason is people-read women- want to know who will dump the cute rich girl and will the nasty mother-in-law get her ‘barbed wire’ looking daughter hitched? In the 1980s and ‘90s there were soaps, mostly Mexican, that got Nairobians glued on telly despite the characters talking like “Estella Cordoba Fernandes, I love you very much, Estella Cordoba Fernandes.” Here goes:      

No One but You

This 1985 soap was one of the most popular and it’s still considered one of the most successful telenovelas of its time. It had one of the most memorable soap villains and heroes. The plot revolved around Max and Antonio, two stepbrothers. Max loathes his stepbrother Antonio because his father, the husband of Max’s mother Victoria, left all his fortune and the business to his son Antonio. Max then hatches a dastardly plan to take all of Antonio’s money by marrying Raquel, a girl of humble roots.

The Bold and the Beautiful

It premiered on March 23, 1987 and centres on the Forrester family and their fashion house business, Forrester Creations. While winning international recognition, fame, and wealth with their work, the couple managed to raise four children: Ridge, Thorne, Kristen and Felicia. Like many soap operas, The Bold and the Beautiful looks into the lives of wealthy families and how love affairs, scandals, and betrayals affect each of the family members and their relationships with each other and how they handle competition from Sally Spectra of Spectra Fashions. The most-watched soap in the world has an audience of about 26.2 million viewers and by December 13, 6, 720 episodes (27 seasons) had aired on TV.

Wild Rose

Who can forget the soap opera about the poor tomboy who fell in love with a rich boy with two of the most villainous sisters? The 1987 soap starred Veronica Castro, in the main role as Rosa. The story revolved around Rosa Garcia (Verónica Castro), a naive tomboy who lived with her Godmother in an impoverished neighbourhood of Mexico.

The Rich Also Cry

Verónica Castro who also played the lead role in Wild Rose was the lead character in this 1979 soap that revolved around class – rich boy, poor girl. When Mariana Villareal, played by Castro, finds herself homeless after her father dies and her stepmother takes over their hacienda, she escapes to Mexico City and a priest asks Don Alberto Salvatierra, a millionaire to care of the young girl.

Lady of the Rose

 Gabriela is wrongly accused of drug possession and goes to prison for 15 years. Her wealthy boyfriend abandons her even though she is carrying his baby. This ‘90s soap is themed on the lengths a woman scorned can go to get her revenge- after escaping from prison!

Neighbours

The Australian soap could be described as good old clean family entertainment that featured Kenyan actress Mumbi Kaigwa in 1995. The 22-minute soap centres on the residents of Ramsay Street-the Ramsays, the Robinsons and the Clarkes and their ‘neighbours.’ The soap deals with everything from family rivalries, to marriage, to teenage issues. In 2001, when its 4,000th episode aired, the soap was the most popular and acclaimed TV programmes. As of December, Neighbours had aired 6, 790 episodes (29 seasons).

Dallas

Here again the theme of family feud was very strong. The 1978 TV soap revolves around a wealthy and feuding Texan family, the Ewings, owners of Ewing Oil- with oil tycoon JR Ewing as the show’s most memorable character whose schemes and dirty business became the show’s trademark.

Days of Our Lives

“Like sand through the hour glass so are the days of our lives”. Yes, your memory is good. The soap would begin with a stern voice intoning that line. It first made its debut in 1965 and to date it is still on air. The soap is the longest-running scripted TV programmes in the world. This one show had it all, from complex love triangles, to hot affairs, to demon possession. The show originally revolved around the tragedies and triumphs of the suburban Horton family but over time, additional families were brought to the show to interact with the Hortons and to inject more drama into the storylines. It had one of the most memorable villains with everyone including: Stefano Dimera, Sami Brady and Lucas Roberts. And who can forget the love triangle that involved Billie Reed, Bo Brady and Hope Brady.

Knots Landing

It was a 1979 spinoff of Dallas that lasted 14 years, and originally revolved around the ‘black sheep’ of the oil-rich Ewing family, Gary Ewing and his long-suffering wife Val and their interaction with: Gary’s boss Sid Fairgate and his much-younger wife Karen; philandering attorney Richard Avery and his real estate-agent spouse Laura; and record executive Kenny Ward and his bride Ginger. 

Egoli: Place of Gold

The South African soap featured TV music judge Ian Mbugua in 2000 and revolves around the daily ups and downs of a few families living in Johannesburg, from influential business people to the average suburban family next door. The soap ran for 18 years and aired its final episode in March 2010.

Young and the Restless

Since 1973 this is still one of the most watched soaps that focuses on two  families: the wealthy Brooks and the working class Fosters. Over the years, other families such as the Newmans, Winters and the Baldwin-Fishers were introduced. And at the heart of all the drama is the feud between Jill Foster Abbott and Katherine Chancellor, the longest rivalries on any American soap opera.