All posts by Gary

Movie sequel The Kujus Again to join Prime

The Kujus Again

Nigerian comedy-drama movie The Kujus Again, the sequel to  Introducing the Kujus, will debut on Amazon Prime Video on March 22.

Directed by Biodun Stephen and produced by Bisola Aiyeola and Winnie Okpapi, the film follows the Kuju clan to a hotel resort for a traditional wedding. But things quickly take a turn for the worse when underlying tension and unfortunate incidents mean people go missing.

The cast includes Timini Egbuson, Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Bisola Aiyeola and Sophie Alakija.

Introducing the Kujus debuted in 2020 and stars Aiyeola. The movie was followed by The Kujus Again in 2023, which had a theatrical release before being acquired by Prime Video.

Netflix orders shows by African women

House of Ga’a

Streaming giant Netflix has unveiled a number of new drama series and a movie directed and produced by African women filmmakers.

The move was part of an International Women’s Day event called Her Voice, Our Story organised by the SVOD service in partnership with EbonyLife CEO Mo Abudu to spotlight female creators and their contribution to the film and TV industries.

The projects to debut on the platform include the series Òlòtūré: The Journey, produced Abudu. It follows a young journalist working undercover as a sex worker in Nigeria to expose corruption as she fights to reach Europe. The cast includes Sharon Ooja, Omoni Oboli, Beverly Osu, Ikechukwu Onunaku and Daniel Etim Effiong.

The series Baby Farm, also produced by Abudu, tells the story of a young woman who unknowingly entrusts her unborn twins to a high-profile NGO, only to discover she’s become a prisoner of a sinister Baby Farm. The show stars Rita Dominic, Joseph Benjamin, Onyinye Odokoro, Genoveva Umeh, Langley Kirkwood and Jenny Stead.

Also in the works is the series Postcards, directed and produced by Namaste Wahala’s Hamisha Daryani Ahuja. It follows four conflicted Nigerians in India who find identity and acceptance as they face their fears and desires through a journey of love and self-discovery. The cast includes Sola Sobowale, Tobi Bakre, Rajniesh Duggall, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Rahama Sadau and Nancy Isime.

To Kill a Monkey, meanwhile, is directed and produced by Kemi Adetiba and centres on a struggling everyman whose life takes a dramatic turn after he reconnects with an old friend. Pressured by circumstances, he delves into cybercrime, forcing him to compromise his principles. It stars Bucci Franklin, William Benson, Stella Damasus, Bimbo Akintola, Micheal Ejoor, Chidi Mokeme, Lilian Afegbai and Sunshine Roseman.

The film is Bolanle Austen-Peters’ House of Ga’a, set in the 18th-century Oyo Empire. It is based on true events surrounding Bashorun Ga’a, a formidable prime minister who rose to power behind the kings he enthroned. The cast includes Femi Branch, Mike Afolarin, Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham, Ibrahim Chatta, Dele Odule, Bimbo Manuel, Lateef Adedimeji, Femi Adebayo and Gabriel Afolayan.

In addition, reality TV series Young Famous & African is set to return for its third season later this year, while the girls of Parkhurst High School return for S4 of Blood & Water.

“At Netflix, we want our stories to reflect as many lives as we can. This is why we are not just passionate about the stories we tell, but the people who tell them and the people we tell them for,” said Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix’s director of content in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We are happy to work with the female powerhouse in the creative industry and bring to life the awesome projects that reflect their stories and promote our culture.”

Canal+ to increase bid for MultiChoice

Canal+ wants to fully take over MultiChoice and its streammer Showmax

Vivendi-owned Canal+ Group is set to table an improved bid to up its minority stake in The MultiChoice Group and take full ownership of the African broadcasting giant.

Having seen its previous €2.5bn (US$2.7bn) bid of SAR105 (US$5.50) per share rebuffed last month, Canal+ will return with a new all-cash offer of SAR125 per share.

Canal+ is working with JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of America to prepare a formal offer, which is due by April 8.

The French group currently owns a 31.7% stake in the South Africa-headquartered company, which is active in 50 markets across sub-Saharan Africa and owns the Showmax OTT service jointly with Comcast.

MultiChoice today issued a statement to shareholders saying both companies have agreed to co-operate and MultiChoice will be speaking exclusivity to Canal+ about a takeover.

MultiChoice said an independent board would provide an opinion and recommendations on the new offer in due course.

The move comes after Canal+ was informed by South Africa’s takeover panel at the end of February that it had to make a mandatory offer for MultiChoice.

If the bid is successful, Vivendi would look to combine its local Canal+ operations in Africa with MultiChoice’s to create a powerhouse with almost 50 million subscribers and the scale to invest more in local content and sports rights.

MultiChoice operates dozens of channels and entertainment platforms, including pay TV service M-Net, the DStv satellite offering and streamer Showmax.

The group’s revenue fell by 1% to SAR28.3bn during the six months ending September 30 last year as the group battled local and global economic headwinds.

MultiChoice said factors contributing to the slight fall in profitability included the ongoing South African energy crisis, cost of living pressures and sharp depreciation in local currencies against the dollar.

The group was recently linked with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky to relaunch Showmax with a refreshed brand and revamped content line-up, including English Premier League football, local originals and US series.

Vivendi, meanwhile, is exploring the feasibility of splitting itself into several entities, including Canal+ Group and Lagardère, each of which would be listed on the stock market.

Following its acquisition of Luxembourg-based broadcaster M7 and channels provider SPI, Canal+ Group has taken strategic stakes in businesses such as Hong Kong-based OTT service Viu, embattled Nordic streamer Viaplay and MultiChoice as part of its international expansion plans.

BBCS in Africa claims 12.9m viewers

BBC UKTV, a multi-genre channel from BBC Studios in Africa, has amassed a viewership of more than 12.9 million, according to the BBC, marking a growth of 135% since its launch in December 2022.

Pierre Cloete

The channel’s share has also increased by 99% among all individuals since launching on the MultiChoice-owned digital satellite platform DStv.

It was created to match DStv audiences’ viewing habits in South Africa with a variety of content across genres from the BBC Studios catalogue.

The content ranges from lifestyle programming (such as Come Dine With Me) to documentaries, dramas (Call the Midwife), soaps (EastEnders), award-winning factual series and other shows, including Secrets of the Supercars, Bake-Off Crème de la Crème, Musketeers and The Great South African Bake-Off.

Pierre Cloete, commercial director of BBC Studios in Africa, said: “BBC UKTV has seen incredible growth over the past year. I am so proud that over 12.9 million people have watched our shows.

“We crafted the channel to match the viewing habits of families in Africa and give more people access to our high-quality shows. With a variety of genres available for all age groups to enjoy, it’s amazing to see how many families are tuning in.

“We have committed to the future of BBC UKTV and can’t wait for DStv audiences to explore even more of BBC Studios’ award-winning catalogue.”

BBC UKTV (DStv channel 134) streams on DStv Compact, DStv Family, DStv Access and DStv Easy View.

Dahomey doc wins at Berlin Film Festival

French-Senegalese director Mati Diop’s documentary film Dahomey has won the Golden Bear for best film, the top prize at the 74th Berlin Film Festival.

Mati Diop

The film was among 20 contenders at the event and gives an account of 26 artefacts from the Kingdom of Dahomey, in modern day Benin, that were held in a museum in France. The film explores how the artefacts were returned to Benin, and the reactions of the Beninese people.

Diop said: “The prize not only honours me but the entire visible and invisible community that the film represents. To rebuild, we must first restitute, and what does restitution mean? To restitute is to do justice.”

Dahomey is an international coproduction between companies Les Films du Bal and Les Films du Losange in France, as well as Fanta Sy in Senegal and Benin. It is scheduled for theatrical release in France on September 25.

MTF unveils films on Africa Magic

Grown

MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), West Africa’s school for young filmmakers, has unveiled two feature films that are set to premiere on the Africa Magic broadcast platform in March.

The films, created by the academy’s class of 2023, are Grown and Her Dark Past.

Grown is written by Nosa Isibor and Boakye D Alpha and produced by Desmond Ebuwa Ekunwe and Nosa Isibor. It tells the story of a pampered teenager who wishes she was an adult who wakes up one morning as a grown woman with kids. Its cast includes Efe Irele, Yemi Cregx, Bobby Ekpe and Najite Dede.

Her Dark Past is produced by Elvis Damptey and Adeniran Wuraola. It follows the journey of a successful social media influencer and life coach whose life takes a tumultuous turn when the child she abandoned resurfaces, creating a web of drama and unearthing buried trauma. The cast includes Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Daniel Etim Effiong and Iremide Adeoye.

Grown will premiere on Africa Magic Showcase at 8.30pm on March 2 and on Africa Magic Urban at 8pm on March 9, while Her Dark Past is scheduled to debut on Africa Magic Showcase at 8.30pm on March 3 and on Africa Magic Urban at 8pm on March 10.

The Johnsons cancelled after 13 years

The Johnsons

Nigerian family television show The Johnsons has come to an end after 13 years on air.

The Johnsons aired on MultiChoice-owned channel Africa Magic and was produced by Rogers Ofime. It focuses on an average Nigerian family in Lagos and the challenges they face.

The cast includes Chinedu Ikedieze, the late Ada Umeh, Samuel Ajibola, Olumide Oworu, Susan Pwajok, Seun Osigbesan and Kunle Bamtefa.

The cancellation of the show was announced by director Charles Inojie, who played the role of the head of the family, Lucky Johnson.

He said: “Thank you, Africa. After 13 years of absolute magic, 13 years of awesomeness, 13 years of being Africa’s most watched show on television, 13 years of being every family’s favourite, The Johnsons is finally taking a bow.

“I thank my co-travellers, the wonderful team of cast and crew, without whom these past 13 years could not have been spectacularly outstanding as The Johnsons made it.

“I am immensely grateful to our fans across the African continent for the love and support we got unconditionally. Indeed, while it is the beginning of greater exploits from every individual member of the team, like every good thing that must have a terminal point, it is the end of the road for The Johnsons.”

Britbox, SBS, UKTV take Catch Me a Killer

Catch Me a Killer

UK content specialist streamer Britbox in North America and Australian public broadcaster SBS are among the buyers of South African crime drama Catch Me a Killer.

The 9×60’ plus 1×90’ series has also been acquired by UKTV’s Alibi channel, BBC First in Benelux and Poland, AXN’s Mystery Channel/NHK Enterprises in Japan and Cosmote TV in Greece, in deals announced at this week’s London TV Screenings.

Catch Me a Killer is produced by CMAK Films and Night Train Media for South African pay TV channel M-Net.

Set in 1994 and based on real events, it follows serial killer profiler Micki Pistorius, played by Charlotte Hope (Game of Thrones), as she attempts to track down murderers.

The deals were announced by UK-based distributor Abacus Media Rights, which also revealed sales for its crime drama Scrublands

The 4×60’ series has been acquired by the BBC in the UK, RTÉ in Ireland, Warner Bros Discovery New Zealand and Cosmote TV. A Stan Australia and Nine Network original, it is produced by Easy Tiger Productions.

Scrublands stars Luke Arnold (Black Sails) as an investigative journalist dispatched to an isolated country town to cover the anniversary of a gun massacre.

Modikoane to host SA comedy awards

South African comedian Mpho ‘Popps’ Modikoane is set to host the 11th Savanna Comics Choice Comedy Awards, an event billed as Africa’s biggest comedy awards.

Mpho ‘Popps’ Modikoane

Featuring some of South Africa’s funniest comedians, the April show is aimed at celebrating comedians and the spirit of South Africa. The event will be broadcast by Paramount-owned pay TV channel Comedy Central.

“Get ready to laugh until your sides hurt because Mpho Popps is hosting the 11th Savanna Comics Choice Comedy Awards! Save the date for an evening filled with laughter, surprises and honoring the best in the comedy business,” said the awards organisers.

Mpho said: “Much like our country, our comedy infrastructure was a bit on the edge there for a while, so everyone’s had to pull their weight to rebuild the framework of comedy. South Africa’s much the same; we all need to do our bit to drive our country forward, and as SA gives us comedians so much material daily, we thought it high time that we affectionately gave back to it in our own endearing but comedically brutal way.”

Dillon Khan, London-based VP of Comedy Central, said: “We are proud to join in this laughter revolution as an official television partner for the 2024 Savanna Comics Choice Comedy Awards. It’s talented comedians like this who help us deliver on our mission to make life funnier and we can’t wait to celebrate and showcase the brilliance and humour that defines our nation.”

The show will take place at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City on April 13.

Akbar Hussain crime novel set for TV

Best-selling Kenyan crime novel Truth is a Flightless Bird from author Akbar Hussain is being developed as a TV series by Chudor House Productions and Artist International Group.

Odiri Iwuji

The 2022 novel, about a privileged New York socialite who joins an NGO in Somalia and gets embroiled in a drug smuggling ring in Nairobi, will be adapted by Adam Targum (Banshee, NCIS: New Orleans) and Chudor House director and exec producer NneNne Iwuji (African Queens: Njinga, Queen Cleopatra) into an eight-part returning series.

Targum is showrunner, with Odiri Iwuji at UK-based Chudor House and Aleksey Ageyev at LA-based Artist International Group producing. The show will be set in Kenya, the US and Somalia.

Odiri Iwuji, also a director at TV trade publication C21Media and Content Nigeria, said: “When we optioned Akbar Hussain’s novel, we knew that we needed a very experienced and passionate creator to help bring it to life for the screen. Adam embodies both. We are thrilled to have both Adam and NneNne deliver Akbar’s uniquely captivating story to an international audience very soon.”

Ageyev added: “The landscape of television is evolving, with emerging territories and markets beginning to have a significant influence in the realm of scripted TV. With the potential for growth residing in these burgeoning markets, together with Chudor House, we look forward to creating a series that resonates not only with local audiences to further expand the local market, but also captivate global audiences.”

Yoruba epic film to hit cinemas

Beast of Two Worlds

Yoruba epic movie Beast of Two Worlds (aka Ajakaju) will premiere in cinemas next month.

The movie is directed by Odunomo Adekola and Adebayo Tijani, produced by Eniola Ajao, executive produced by Lagos-based Anthill Studios, and distributed by Film One Entertainment. The film will debut on March 29.

Beast of Two Worlds is about a king who needs a son but his three wives can’t give him one, so he marries a new wife from another world who promises him a son. But when she arrives, she causes unexpected problems.

The cast includes Bimbo Akintola, Fathia Balogun, Odunlade Adekola, Eniola Ajao, Ibrahim Chatta, Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, Mercy Aigbe and Bimbo Akintola.

African toon Iwájú set to debut on Disney+

Iwájú

Iwájú, an animated sci-fi series produced by African entertainment company Kugali Media and Walt Disney Animation Studios, is set to premiere on global streamer Disney+ on February 28.

The show is about two kids who live in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. They’re friends but their bond faces challenges from a tech leader with a hidden criminal side. The city is split between the wealthy and the poor, adding to the tensions in their friendship.

The series features the voices of Kehinde Bankole, Femi Branch, Chioma Omeruah, Bisola Ayeiola, Toyin Oshinaike and Lala Akindoju, who is also the casting director.

“Iwájú has a release date and I am excited that the world gets to experience this beautiful work and meet the talented cast,” said Akindoju.

Aiyeola said: “One of my childhood dreams was to be a princess in one or more Disney cartoons. Fast forward many, many years (after realising I am but human) I voiced a character for a Disney animation, Iwájú,”

The series is created by Hamid Ibrahim, Toluwalakin Olowofoyeko and Kugali co-founder Ziki Nelson.

Blood & Water S4 gets release date

Blood & Water

Global streamer Netflix has announced the release date for the fourth season of South African teen crime drama series Blood & Water.

Netflix said of the new episodes, which drop on March 1: “Blood gets thinner. Water gets murkier. Some secrets are better left untold.”

Set in Cape Town, the series follows a girl who transfers to an elite school when she suspects one of the students may be her sister who was abducted as a baby. As she delves into the mystery of her missing sibling, she unravels long-held secrets concealed by her friends and family over the years.

The cast includes Ama Qamata, Khosi Ngema, Gail Mabalane, Leroy Siyafa, Thabang Molaba, Dillon Windvogel, Greteli Fincham and Mekaila Mathys. The show was developed by Gambit Films and directed by Nosipho Dumisa.

The six-part first season was released on Netflix in May, 2020. In June of that year, Netflix renewed the series for S2, which was released in September 2021. A third run, announced in April 2022, premiered that November.

The series won Best TV Drama at the 2021 South African Film & Television Awards as well as awards for cinematography and sound design.

Kizazi Moto toon picks up award

Sci-fi anthology series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire

African futuristic animated shortform series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire has won an international award.

The sci-fi anthology series, commissioned by Disney+ and comprising 10 films each 10 minutes long directed by African animators, was named best animated series at the Kidscreen Summit 2024 awards in San Diego.

The series was coproduced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Blink Industries and Triggerfish Animation Studios, based in South Africa.

“We won a 2024 Kidscreen award for best animated series! Congratulations to the incomparable team of directors, cast and artists that made this happen. African talent is worth investing in,” said Triggerfish in a statement.

African animators were out in force at the event this week, including Anthony Silverston, creative director of Triggerfish; Mbuotidem Johnson, CEO of Lagos-based Basement Animation; Nompi Vilakazi, producer at Buthano Pictures of South Africa; and Isaac Mogajane, producer at Diprente Films of South Africa.

Canal+ bids for control of MultiChoice

Multichoice streamer Showmax

Vivendi-owned Canal+ Group has offered to up its minority stake in The MultiChoice Group and take full ownership of the African broadcasting giant.

France’s Canal+ currently owns a 31.7% stake in the South African-headquartered company, which is active in 50 markets across sub-Saharan Africa.

The company operates dozens of channels and entertainment platforms, including pay TV service M-Net, the DStv satellite offering, DTT platform GoTV and streamer Showmax.

According to reports, the French pay TV giant’s bid to the board of directors of MultiChoice is a non-binding and indicative offer as it seeks to acquire all the issued ordinary shares in MultiChoice that it does not already hold.

Canal+ said it has offered SAR105 (US$5.65) per ordinary share, which were valued at SAR75 on January 31. The potential deal, valued at approximately US$1.7bn, would be subject to regulatory approvals. MultiChoice confirmed it has received a letter of intent from Canal+ Group and said it would update its shareholders if there were any developments.

Revenue at The MultiChoice Group fell by 1% to SAR28.3bn during the six months ending September 30 last year, as the group battled local and global economic headwinds.

MCG said that factors contributing to the slight fall in profitability included the ongoing South African load-shedding energy crisis, cost of living pressures and sharp depreciation in local currencies against the dollar.

MultiChoice recently linked with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky to relaunch Showmax with a refreshed brand and revamped content line-up, including English Premier League football, local originals and US series.

Vivendi, meanwhile is exploring the feasibility of splitting itself into several entities, each of which would be listed on the stock market, including Canal+ Group and Lagardère.

Following its acquisition of Luxembourg-based broadcaster M7 and channels provider SPI, Canal+ Group has taken strategic stakes in businesses such as Hong Kong-based OTT service Viu, embattled Nordic streamer Viaplay and MultiChoice as part of its international expansion plans.

“For MultiChoice to continue to thrive in Africa it will require a strategy that enhances its scale as well as strengthened local and global expertise. Our potential offer, if successful, would be an important next step for MultiChoice to realise its full potential,” said Maxime Saada, chair and CEO of Canal+.

SA drama Spinners heads to Brazil

Spinners

Brazilian TV giant Globo has returned from last week’s Content Americas event in Miami having acquired the Canal+ and Showmax original drama Spinners in a deal brokered by distributor StudioCanal.

A coproduction between African streaming service Showmax and Canal+, Spinners revolves around the popular and dangerous South African motor sport of ‘spinning.’

The series centres on a 17-year-old driver working for a local gang. Trying to support his younger brother but increasingly disgusted with this life and constantly on the edge, he discovers a possible way out via spinning.

The eight-part series premiered across sub-Saharan Africa on Showmax and on Canal+ in Africa in November and will soon launch on Canal+ in France.

It was produced by Joachim Landau and Raphaël Rocher for Empreinte Digitale and coproduced by Ramadan Suleman. The local coproduction company was Natives at Large.

Directed by Jaco Bouwer, it was produced and co-created by Landau alongside showrunner Benjamin Hoffman.

Anne Chérel, executive VP of global sales and distribution at StudioCanal, said: “High-octane series Spinners highlights the terrifying pursuits that young adults in South Africa are gripped by, as well as revealing the difficult and nerve-wracking life they must continually navigate.”

FilmOne movie Orisa lands on Amazon

Orisa

Epic Nigerian movie Orisa is set to premiere on Amazon’s streaming platform Prime Video this weekend.

The movie is directed by Odunomo Adekola, produced by FilmOne Studios and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment. The cast includes Femi Adebayo, Shaffy Bello, Jide Kosoko, Dele Odule and Muyiwa Ademola.

Set in Yoruba land, Orisa follows a warrior who joins forces with a band of highly proficient fighters. Their illicit undertakings become a challenge for both the king and other underworld factions in the city.

The film was released in cinemas last July and made it into the top five highest grossing Nollywood films of the year. FilmOne licensed the movie to Prime Video.

Auditions open for Nigerian Idol S9

The producers of reality singing show Nigerian Idol have opened auditions for its ninth season with potential contestants asked to come forward before January 29.

Themed Dare to Dream, the competition will run for 12 weeks on Africa Magic and talented Nigerians between the ages of 16 and 28 can record a 30-second clip of themselves singing any song of their choice and upload it here.

Busola Tejumola, executive head of content and channels for West Africa at pay TV operator MultiChoice, said: “MultiChoice is committed to enabling young talent to actualise their dreams and delivering premium entertainment to our audience.

“The success of previous editions of Nigerian Idol has encouraged more young Nigerians to dare to dream. Today they are some of the voices that carry our African stories and inspire others to live their dreams. Season nine promises to be bigger and more entertaining than other seasons. Interested contestants can send their entries to the Nigerian Idol portal on our Africa Magic website.”

Nigerian Idol S9 will be available on DStv Channel 198 and GOtv Channel 49 while the live shows will air on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv channel 151), Africa Magic Urban (DStv channel 153 & GOtv channel 8) and Africa Magic Family (DStv channel 154 & GOtv channel 7). The season will be sponsored by soft drink brand Bigi and gadget manufacturer Tecno.

Amazon to cut investment in Africa, MENA

Gangs of Lagos

Amazon Prime Video is set to reduce its investment in originals from the Middle East and Africa and instead focus on European territories, as part of a strategy to “rebalance and pivot” its resources amid broader cuts across the business.

With the change in strategy, Prime Video will cease ordering new shows from sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa and make job cuts.

However, shows that had already been commissioned across the regions, including the Ebuka Turns Up Africa and the South African version of the LOL franchise, will still be released.

Staffers were notified of the changes by Prime Video’s VP and general manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Barry Furlong.

“We’ve been carefully looking at our business to ensure we continue to prioritise our resources on what matters most to customers,” he said.

“I have carefully evaluated our structure in the region and decided to make some adjustments to our operating model to rebalance and pivot our resources to focus on the areas that drive the highest impact and long-term success.”

Among the changes revealed on Thursday, the European team will be split into two regions of focus.

The first team, EU Established, will focus on the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and France and will be led by country MD for France Brigitte Ricou-Bellan.

The second, EU Emerging, will concentrate on expanding Prime Video’s presence in the Nordics, Benelux and Central and Eastern Europe, with Ritchie Ordonez, director of Benelux, CEE and Turkey, leading the team. Both of these European teams will report to Furlong.

Prime Video also plans to create a new role, director of EU content and programming strategy, that will work with the US and international teams on projects coming from Amazon MGM Studios.

“I have listened and considered the feedback received across the teams over the past 12 months. I believe these changes will improve the operational running of our multi-territory business and allow us to be more agile and focused,” added Furlong.

Over the past two years, Amazon Studios has touted grand expansion goals in Africa, with execs speaking of plans to begin producing originals in more countries.

At Mipcom in October, Ned Mitchell, who serves as head of African and Middle East originals for Amazon MGM Studios, discussed the tech giant’s “long-term commitment” to the region on the back of original films like Nigerian crime thriller Gangs of Lagos and drama Breath of Life.

While the company’s African originals strategy has primarily been focused on Nigeria and South Africa, Mitchell said the goal was to expand into other African countries, though he would not be drawn on where it was looking next.

“Africa is so huge; we wouldn’t dare paint it with a single brush. It’s hundreds of languages and dialects, cultures and belief systems, so for us, Nigeria and South Africa are a great fertile place to start and to really build our home for talent,” he said in Cannes.

“We’re hard at work building a pretty large slate of originals, and we also have great stuff coming into Prime Video through licensing routes as well.”

The cutbacks in Africa and the Middle East are taking place amid wider restructuring and lay-offs at Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video.

Last week, the company made a significant number of job cuts in the US when it consolidated three MGM departments – MGM Scripted, MGM Alternative and MGM+ Productions – into a single unit, in addition to cutting its South-east Asia originals team.

Prior to that, Mike Hopkins, senior VP at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said the company would axe “several hundred” positions across Prime Video and MGM Studios after a year-long review of its video and streaming operations.

Morayo Brown named MD of TVC

Morayo Brown, the anchor of Nigerian television show Your View, has been appointed as MD of TVC Entertainment, the company that broadcasts the show.

Morayo Brown

Brown has been anchor of the popular daily talkshow for 10 years and will continue to co-host it. Prior to her appointment, she held the role of deputy director of programmes at Lagos-based TVC Entertainment.

Andrew Hanlon, TVC Communications CEO, said: “Morayo has lots of experience, energy and great ideas to bring the TVC Entertainment channel to a whole new level, and I look forward to working with her and the team to achieve the great plans we have for 2024 and beyond.”

Morayo said: “I am really looking forward to bringing the huge success of TVC Entertainment on to the next level, combining a great mix of homegrown content, telling the Nigerian story and bringing the best in international programming to our audience.

“This is a new chapter in my career. I am exceedingly grateful to the board for entrusting me with this all important role. Looking forward to a fulfilling experience.”