Oz just got a Lagos makeover, and the result is pure Nollywood drama.
Cynthia Erivo hosted “Saturday Night Live UK” on Oct. 24 and starred in “Nigerian Wicked,” a parody that reimagines the hit musical as a dramatic Nollywood film trailer. It is as gloriously over the top as that sounds.
A role reversal with Nigerian flair
In a fun twist, Erivo didn’t play Elphaba, the green-skinned witch she plays in the “Wicked” films. She played Glinda instead, while “SNL UK” cast member Ayoade Bamgboye took on the role of Elphaba.
Nollywood fans will recognize the style straight away: big music cues, intense close-ups and drama turned all the way up.
The sketch also played on the close bond between Elphaba and Glinda, which fans have long read as more than friendship. Nollywood’s love of high emotion made it a perfect fit.
Why “Nigerian Wicked” matters
For African audiences, especially in Nigeria and across the diaspora, this was more than a quick laugh. The sketch brought Nollywood’s storytelling style, instantly recognizable and loved around the world, to one of the U.K.’s biggest comedy stages.
It also put two talented performers of Nigerian heritage at the center of the moment.
The “SNL UK” cast also includes Hammed Animashaun, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young. Indie rock band Blossoms were the musical guests.
Cynthia Erivo’s impressive run
The sketch caps an impressive stretch for Erivo:
- “Wicked: For Good” opened in November 2025.
- She won a Grammy for “Defying Gravity” with Ariana Grande.
- She starred in a one-woman “Dracula” in London’s West End, playing 23 characters.
- Coming up: “Children of Blood and Bone” and “The Road Home,” a musical drama about South African music legends Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela.
From Broadway to Nollywood parody, Erivo keeps showing that African stories and talent belong on every stage.
Have you watched “Nigerian Wicked” yet? Tell us your favorite moment in the comments.
