Popular streaming platform, Netflix, has presented an outline of what is largely an exciting time for viewers on the African continent regarding programming for the rest of 2022 and the beginning of 2023.
Bringing together talent, filmmakers and the media from South Africa and Nigeria, Netflix hosted See What’s Next Africa content showcase to spotlight its increased investment in Africa’s rich heritage of storytelling through exciting new projects that span a diverse range of genres and formats that will be available in 190 countries.
During the first half of 2022, Netflix in Africa released an exceptional slate of content from the sub-Saharan Africa region across multiple genres including the pan-African reality show Young, Famous & African, the South African action film Silverton Siege, the South African soapy drama series Savage Beauty, Netflix’s first Kenyan licensed branded series Country Queen, the first Netflix-owned Nigerian series Blood Sisters, a riveting south African crime documentary Senzo: Murder Of A Soccer Star and most recently, Justice Served.
The response has been astounding with several of these titles landing on the Netflix weekly Global Top 10 lists which rank global and country lists for the most popular titles on our service, in addition to the Top 10 daily product rows on the streaming platform.
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“We believe that Africa is one of the major creative centres for great storytelling that resonates around the world so it only makes sense for us to increase our investment with our slate with an even more exciting slate. We’re proud to continue creating global opportunities for the talented Creatives of this great continent and sharing their authentic stories with our members in Africa and around the world,” said Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix Director of Series in Africa.
As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to creating sustainable relationships with African storytellers, Netflix announced a multi-project partnership with acclaimed South African filmmaker Mandlakayise Walter Dube. Under the partnership, Mandla – who directed Netflix’s first commissioned African film Silverton Siege (Kalushi) – will direct a variety of Netflix-owned projects which will be shared in due course.
This partnership joins other multi-title agreements between the company and African Creatives including Mo Abudu (and Ebonylife StudioS) and Kunle Afolayan (KAP).
At the event, Netflix also gave a glimpse into the progress of the various projects being created by emerging filmmakers from the various initiatives the company introduced in the past year which include, the UNESCO & Netflix ‘African folktales, Reimagined’ Competition; the Netflix & NFVF Film Fund and the Realness Institute Episodic Lab. Watch the conversation video here.
Tendeka Matatu, Director of Local Language Films in Africa said: “We are working with top talent and filmmakers as well as exciting emerging voices from the continent. We are thrilled to expand our partnerships with Africa’s talented storytellers.
At the event, Netflix previewed a diverse range of best-in-class exciting African content through exclusive promo reels and images.
These include Ludik, The Brave Ones by Akin Omotoso, Kings of Queenstown, Blood & Water which is making a season 3 return, How to Ruin Christmas. Others include Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman based on the lauded play by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka -Death and The King’s Horseman produced by Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife production company and directed by Biyi Bandele; Anikulapo, part of the Netflix multi-title agreement with Kunle Afolayan and featuring Kunle Remi, Sola Sobowale etc, Office Invasion, Lockdown, The Razz Guy, Wild is The Wind and Disconnect 2.
To further delight fans of Nigerian stories, Netflix is bringing back 31 fan-favourite films from Nigeria which will be launched every day throughout the month of August. The films making their return to the service include The Ghost and the Tout, Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons, Elevator Baby, The Set Up, Love Is War, Sugar Rush, Up North, Merry Men 2: Another Mission, Coming from Insanity, The Vendor, The Wedding Party 2 to mention but few.
