As an avid lover of African literature, I was excited at the fact that the story is set in Lagos, Nigeria. There are several references made to modern Nigerian societal norms. From the aspiration to find a sugar daddy to the constant pressure to spend plenty of nairas on a different aso-ebi each week. This book is basically a literary version of Nollywood – with more than one valuable lesson to learn!
This paragraph is from a book review I wrote way back in the day. If you’re an OG reader (with a long memory), then you’ll recognise it from my The Smart Money Woman book review. Well, it looks like we have manifested the Nollywood treatment of this book because last weekend The Smart Money Woman Netflix series, produced by Smart Tribe Productions landed on our TV screens.
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I have currently paused episode six to share my thoughts so far. If you would like to catch up with the book review first, then now is that the time to do that. But if you would like to just get on with this review then keep reading.
The story so far
So far we have met Zuri Guobadia (Osas Ighodaro), who has found out that her boyfriend of twenty months, has just proposed to another woman on her taxi ride back from the airport, after a vacation. Not only is it the talk of her friendship group, but the proposal is also a trending topic on socials. (This guy is a popular fellow).
Now, more on the girlfriends. Adesuwa is a high achieving lawyer who is bossing it in her career but struggling in her marriage. Her husband is a deadweight who is bringing nothing to the table and squandering all of HER money. Ladun is a stay at home wife who has no care in the world except how to spend her husband’s money; Tami, is a fashion designer with no business plan in sight, and whose brand is being sustained on pure vibes and daddy’s money. And lastly, Lara is another high earning career babe who does not get to even enjoy her paycheck before her money is drained by family commitments. As you can see, the foundation has been set for lots of money, relationship, and friendship drama that sees us through seven episodes!
Ain’t nothing going on but the rent
Back to the story: Zuri gets home from holiday to find her job hanging in the balance, her landlord on the cusp of evicting her for late payment, her car needing emergency repairs, and another party invite which will of course need a new outfit!
With so much to pay for, and not enough budget to do it, Zuri has to take drastic and immediate measures to ensure she does not become financially ruined. Starting with a mindset change, and quickly following up with active learning and tangible actions, Zuri goes on an eventful journey with her girlfriends (who all have their own course to trace) to get her financial house in order – a journey that is punctuated with romance, heartbreak, social media storms and sisterhood.
No romance without finance
Of course, in as much as The Smart Money Woman is a lesson in money management, it is also a chick flick, and no chick flick will be complete without a bit of romance. This is where the handsome Tsola enters the drama. And in the classic way the love interest makes several awkward encounters with the lead character at both the most convenient and inopportune times, Tsola and Zuri’s paths cross several on several occassions until their tensioned meetings become romantic. And actually, Tsola turns out to be one of several catalysts of Zuri’s success.
For me, the romance was my least favourite part of Zuri’s story. It could be because having read the book meant I already knew it was coming. But it could also be because the guy who plays Tsola was an awful actor. He held the same expression throughout the seven episodes; whether being screamed at, at close range, or watching Zuri descend the staircase in her gorgeous figure-hugging number, the muscles in his face didn’t move an inch.
One of the best things I did this year was get accountability partners for my finances.
— Madeline | The Book Blogger 🇬🇭 (@madelinewblogs) October 26, 2020
A Nollywood breakthrough
As I have mentioned, The Smart Money Woman is a series of seven episodes. Each episode takes us closer to Zuri’s financial success, whilst dishing out its own drama and delving into the stories of the other ladies. The drama is punctuated with ‘smart money lessons’, which I absolutely love. Rainy day funds, stocks and shares, investments, spending triggers – these are all conversations that need to be had in many friendship groups around the world. And Smart Money Woman did that!
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I have gone on my own financial journey with a small accountability group, which has taken me from mounting debt to finally being in the black, with a good amount in my ‘rainy day fund’. So I am familiar with many of the lessons. But for millions of African women both on the continent and in the diaspora, for whom maintaining an image is a massive factor – this is epic. A Nollywood film that does not centre success on finding a man is a huge deal!
In conclusion
I think it’s unfair to judge The Smart Money Woman on only one level, when it served two purposes – to dish out the melodrama, and to educate us. So, the story was ok. I loved the fashion, and the friendship between the women, however after watching other series such as King of Boys and Castle & Castle, I can’t say the drama had me on the edge of my seat. However, the financial education has been ace so far, and neatly woven into the story – as it was in the book. Having said that, I preferred the book.
Let me know below whether you have watched (or read) The Smart Money Woman, or if you intend to.