Cynthia Erivo and Ayoade Bamgboye bring early-2000s Nollywood fashion to the spotlight in “Nigerian Wicked”, a sketch on Saturday Night Live UK that reimagines the familiar characters Glinda and Elphaba through the distinctive style of Nigerian films from the early 2000s.
For viewers who grew up watching Nollywood films during that period, the styling will feel familiar. Low-rise jeans, colourful tops, side-swept bangs, oversized gold jewellery and beaded door curtains were common features of the era’s screen aesthetic. The sketch draws on these recognisable details, giving the two characters a distinctly Nigerian makeover that extends beyond their clothing to the setting itself.
Erivo, who hosted the episode, plays Glinda in a metallic pink off-the-shoulder top paired with low-rise jeans featuring rhinestone detailing. A silver gear-link belt sits at her hips, while a quilted pink crossbody bag and pink bow platform heels complete the outfit. Her dark-rooted blonde hair is styled with side bangs, and dark lip liner, layered gold hoop earrings, a nose ring and long red acrylic nails reinforce the early-2000s look.
Bamgboye takes on Elphaba with an outfit that trades Glinda’s bright pink palette for shades of green and brown. Green face paint and a dark brown flip bob establish the character, while emerald tailored trousers, an olive-brown draped cardigan and a turquoise marble cowl-neck top create a look that departs from the familiar styling associated with the witch. A green shoulder bag, chunky gold rings and a gold watch complete the ensemble.
The set plays an equally important role in establishing the sketch’s visual identity. Vintage backdrop prints and beaded door curtains recall interiors frequently seen in older Nollywood productions, reinforcing the connection to a specific period in Nigerian screen culture. The combination of clothing, accessories, hairstyles and set design makes the reference more recognisable than a simple costume change.
The sketch also places Nigerian popular culture at the centre of a familiar international entertainment property. Rather than reproducing the usual visual presentation of Glinda and Elphaba from “Wicked”, it reinterprets the characters through fashion and styling associated with early-2000s Nollywood. The result brings together two recognisable cultural references, using the contrast between the fantasy musical’s characters and the era’s Nigerian screen aesthetic as the basis for the comedy.
Erivo is known for her performances in “The Color Purple”, “Harriet” and the film adaptation of “Wicked”. Bamgboye, a London-born, Lagos-raised comedian and Edinburgh Comedy Award winner, wrote and co-starred in the sketch. Together, their performances place the fashion and visual details of an earlier Nollywood era at the heart of the production.
