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Yvonne Orji

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Emmy Nominated actress ,Yvonne Orji  is developing a comedy series about her experience as a Nigerian-born, first-generation American in “First Gen” premiering on Disney Plus. David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey will serve as executive producers for the forthcoming project.

In case you missed the first trailer for “First Gen” shot in 2015. Click here to watch.

“Well… when one door closes. God still got a blessin witchyo name on it! THOUGH THE VISION TARRRRRYY, WAIT FOR IT!! The trailer I shot in 2015 for this family sitcom I desperately wanted to create, is what helped me get an audition for @insecurehbo”, Yvonne Orji wrote on Instagram.

FIVE YEARS LATER (after being told “NO” SEV. ER. AL. Times), my lil engine that could, finally has a home with the @disneyplus family. Thank you @davidoyelowo for believing in the dream FROM JUMP, and Lady @oprah for coming on board as our Fairy Godmother.

I’ve been very vocal about my desire to highlight stories from the Continent, and I’m grateful to have this opportunity to do so.

According to Variety, “First Gen” is a half-hour show based on Yvonne Orji’s personal experiences growing up as a Nigerian immigrant in America. “As a child, she’s caught between trying to honour her parents and culture while simultaneously trying to assimilate to American life”.

This is one of the projects David Oyelowo spoke about in his exclusive interview with BellaNaija. This project serves as the second collaboration between Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon and Winfrey’s Harpo Films. The production companies recently produced “The Water Man“, Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut in which he also stars.

“You cannot date until you get married.”

Born to strict Nigerian parents, Yvonne Orji was determined to get married and intimate at 18 but her enthusiasm was diminished by her friends’ low expectations of sex. After getting “bamboozled by Jesus” in college, today Yvonne is a 33-year-old virgin. Suddenly her parents want her to meet someone.

Yvonne gives 5 suggestions for finding love – regardless of your beliefs, values and choices because when you find the right person, the wait is worth it.

Yvonne Orji is a Nigerian-American actress, comedienne and writer who continues to display her versatility and passion with each project she takes on. On television, she stars in HBO’s new comedy series “Insecure”. The show follows the friendship of two modern-day black women and all of their uncomfortable experiences and racy tribulations.

Orji stars as one of these women opposite Issa Rae, who is executive producing the show along with Prentice Penny and Melina Matsoukas. She is also currently developing a half-hour sitcom, based on her life entitled “First Gen”, that Oprah and David Oyelowo are executive producing. The show is a comedy about a Nigerian girl who trades medical school for a career in stand-up comedy and the adventures that ensue after her strict African mother discovers her plans.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organised by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

source: Bellanaija