Tag Archives: Akin Omotoso

Akin Omotoso’s Brave Ones set for Netflix

The Brave Ones, a South African fantasy film created by Nigerian film director Akin Omotoso, will debut on global streamer Netflix on September 16.

The film follows the story of a goddess who is reborn and has to learn how to harness her superpowers to avenge her sister’s death and protect her family from destruction. The cast includes Sthandile Nkosi, Nomalanga Nkosi, Bonko Khoza, Zamani Mbatha and Keke Mphuthi.

“The show is entertaining, enchanting, packed with lots of drama and a labour of love with swinging tears and I can’t wait for you to see it,” said Omotoso.

“In 2019, a few months after I joined Netflix, I met Akin Omotoso and he had a great story to tell,” said Dorothy Ghettuba, director of original series for Africa at Netflix.

“This became the first show I signed. It has been three years in the making and I cannot wait for you all to watch it! My biggest lesson has been that some things just take time.”

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Netflix orders first Nigerian series

The cast of Akin Omotoso’s upcoming Netflix drama

Global streaming platform Netflix has commissioned its first Nigerian original series, to be helmed by Nollywood director Akin Omotoso alongside Daniel Oriahi and CJ Obasi.

The supernatural drama, which is yet to be titled, is set in modern-day Nigeria, shot in Lagos and produced by Rififi Pictures.

The series tells the story of Kemi, a goddess reincarnated as a human to avenge her sister’s death. However, she must learn how to use and harness her superpowers to defeat her enemies and save her family from destruction.

It will feature Nollywood actors including Kate Henshaw, Ade Laoye, Richard Mofe Damijo, Joke Silva, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Kehinde Bankole, Ayoola Ayolola, Toyin Oshinaike, Goodness Emmanuel, Ireti Doyle, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Bimbo Akintola, Tope Tedela and Ijeoma Grace Agu.

“I’m excited that in the same week that we’re launching Queen Sono, we had the opportunity to be here in Lagos with Nigerian storytellers to share plans of our first Nigerian original production,” says Dorothy Ghettuba, who leads African originals at Netflix.

“Our continent has a wealth of diversity, multiplicity and beauty in stories that have yet to be told and we want to be top of mind for creators in Nigeria, especially when it comes to stories they haven’t had a chance to tell yet.”

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be investing in Made in Nigeria stories – bringing them to audiences all around the world.”

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Yanga! acquires Omotoso movies

Yanga! TV has acquired network premier rights within the UK and Ireland to air Akin Omotoso’s award-winning films Man on Ground and Tell Me Sweet Something in November.

Akin Omotoso

Nigerian director Omotoso hails from Ibadan and has acted in several movies, including Blood Diamond and Shake Hands With the Devil.

He has also directed several short films and his first feature was God is African in 2003. He has directed series like Jacob’s Cross and Fifty, which now airs on Africa Magic and M-Net. He also helmed Jesus & the Giant, A Hotel Called Memory and Vaya.

Yanga! CEO Lindsey Oliver said: “We could not be prouder to broadcast acclaimed director Akin Omotoso’s work on Yanga! TV, further cementing our goal to be the best broadcaster of African content to the diaspora, bringing brilliant and vibrant auteur voices from Africa directly to viewers in the UK and Ireland.”

Tell Me Something Sweet is a story centering on a Johannesburg woman who falls in love with a male model, setting off a complicated love rollercoaster. Funded by the African Women’s Development Fund, this film has won two awards at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCAs).

Man On Ground, meanwhile, is a crime drama about a young Nigerian refugee in Johannesburg who goes missing amidst rioting by immigrants. It premiered in 2011 at the Toronto International Film Festival and won two AMVCAs.

Yanga! will air the films in the UK in November and is available on Sky channel 453 and Freesat channel 171.

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