Global streamer Netflix is extending its How to Ruin Christmas franchise with a new South African scripted series that will debut at the end of May.
How to Ruin Love: The Proposal is created and produced by Katleho Ramaphakela and Rethabile Ramaphakela under their Randburg-based production company Burnt Onion Productions, with Tshepo Ramaphakela executive producing
The plot revolves around a woman, portrayed by Sivenathi Mabuya, who is convinced her long-term boyfriend (Bohang Moeko) is being unfaithful.
The new show is a spin-off from Burnt Onion’s How to Ruin Christmas franchise, which has so far comprised the three-part How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding (2020); four-parter How to Ruin Christmas: The Funeral (2021); and three-parter How to Ruin Christmas: The Baby Shower (2022).
Series in the franchise usually air on Netflix in the run-up to Christmas, but How to Ruin Love: The Proposal lands on the streamer on May 31.
Cross-cultural Nollywood-Bollywood series Postcards, described by its producers as a “feel-good dramedy,” is set to debut on Netflix on May 3.
Filmed across India and Nigeria, Postcard’s cast includes Sola Sobowale, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nancy Isime, Tobi Bakre and Rahama Sadau.
The show is produced by Lagos-based prodco Forever7 Entertainment, the company behind the 2020 Nollywood-Bollywood romcom movie Namaste Wahala.
Hamisha Daryani-Ahuja, executive producer at Forever7, said: “I’m super excited to announce that our show Postcards series will be arriving on Netflix on May 3rd! This means it will be premiering next month in over 190 countries to an audience of over 260 million people!
“After the exciting success of Namaste Wahala, super excited for you guys to see Nigeria and India come together again but this time with a whole different flavour. Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable experience that will touch your heart and soul.”
Postcards follows the stories of four individuals on a rollercoaster of emotions – from joy to frustration, from grief to triumph, from love to heartbreak, and everything in between. “When a Nigerian single mother travels to India for a medical check-up, her journey will end up touching the lives of everyone she meets,” according to Netflix.
Global streamer Netflix is set to premiere new South African comedy-drama series Miseducation on September 15.
Miseducation is produced by Randburg-based Burnt Onion Productions, created by Rethabile Ramaphakela and Katleho Ramaphakela and directed by Catharine Cooke, Themba Mfebe, Lwazi Mvusi and Rea Rangaka.
The young-adult series tells the story of a wannabe influencer, played by Buntu Petse, who is forced to start afresh in a small university town after her mother’s implication in a corruption scandal.
Once in the remote town, she tries to regain her social status and ‘uncancel’ herself. Her haters, on the other hand, will stop at nothing to bring her right back down to earth.
As well as Petse, the cast includes Lunga Shabalala, Baby Cele, Prev Reddy, Mpho Sebeng, Micaela Tucker, Mandisa Nduna, Camilla Waldman, Nicole Bessick and Ebenhaezer Dibakwane.
Global streamer platform Netflix is set to debut the latest movie from Nollywood actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo next month.
Yoruba epic Jagun Jagun will land on Netflix on August 10. It follows a young man who, determined to become a powerful warrior, joins an elite army and encounters the wrath of a maniacal warlord and the love of a fierce woman.
Directed by Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani, the film stars Nollywood actors Ibrahim Yekini Itele, Fathia Balogun, Debo Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji and Bukunmi Oluwashina.
Femi Adebayo’s most recent movie was last year’s King of Thieves (aka Agẹṣinkólé) , produced by the filmmaker’s prodco Euphoria360 Media and coproduced by Niyi Akinmolayan’s Anthill Studios.
“The dream was to surpass Agẹṣinkólé in every [way],” Femi Adebayo said. “It almost seemed impossible because people kept asking, ‘What else could be bigger than Agẹṣinkólé?’ Well, it happened. We beat our record! We made a didactic story about life, power, people, change, chance and purpose.
“We made a story that talks about the two important days of our lives as humans – the day we were born and the day we find out why we were born. Ladies and gentlemen, we made Jagun Jagun! This movie made warriors of us; it called to our inner strength – and we answered. There is a fighter in all of us. What calls to your inner warrior?”
Production has wrapped on Nigerian actor, producer and director Kunle Afolayan’s latest project, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, which serves as a sequel to 2022 Netflix movie Anikulapo.
Kunle Afolayan
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre is a four-part original series written by Sola Dada and produced by Afolayan’s KAP Motion Pictures in collaboration with Lagos studio Golden Effects Pictures. It takes viewers on a journey through time, exploring the concept of reincarnation and the idea that souls are connected across lifetimes.
The cast includes Bimbo Ademoye, Sola Sobowale, Lateef Adedimeji and Gabriel Afolayan.
Afolayan said: “It’s officially a wrap on the set of Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre. Congratulations to all the cast and crew. We hope it resonates, entertains and sparks conversations that go beyond the cinema screen.
”Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre has been a labour of love, combining the extraordinary vision of my humble self, the writer Sola Dada, the exceptional talent of our actors and the expertise of our production team. We are confident the final result will captivate and leave a lasting impression.”
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre will be released later in the year as a Netflix original series.
Netflix has tapped Nuha El Tayeb, its content director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Turkey, to oversee all Arabic content following the recent departure of Ahmed Sharkawi.
The global streamer has now confirmed to C21 that El Tayeb, who has been with the company since 2018, will oversee all Arabic content on the platform.
El Tayeb, a former senior manager for Arabic channels in the programming department at OSN, spent two years as director of acquisitions at Egyptian broadcaster CBC before joining Netflix.
During her time at Netflix, El Tayeb has agreed deals with the likes of Saudi Arabian animation studio Myrkott, covering new series and movies as well as existing comedy Masameer.
News of El Tayeb’s appointment was first reported by Deadline.
Sharkawi joined Netflix in 2019, helping build the Arabic content team and slate and leading the development of Arabic shows including Paranormal, Abla Fahita, AlRawabi School for Girls, Finding Ola, The Exchange and Crashing Eid.
Sharkawi’s next move is not yet known, but in a LinkedIn post he mentioned being “excited for the new adventures ahead.”
During his career, Sharkawi has overseen the development and production of over 500 scripted drama hours for Egypt and the Middle East.
He was among the founding team of Sony Pictures Television (SPT)’s operation in the Middle East and headed the scripted development division at SPT Arabia between 2010 and 2013.
After SPT, Sharkawi went on to set up the development divisions at various companies, such as iProductions Egypt and Beelink Productions, where he served as scripted development consultant for all its drama projects.
Sub-Saharan Africa will have 16 million paying SVoD subscribers by 2029, up nine million from the end of 2023, according to Digital TV Research.
South Africa and Nigeria will supply 59% (9.4 million) of the region’s total, the UK-based analysis firm said.
However, African SVoD penetration is still expected to be comparatively low by 2029, with only 7.1% of TV households paying for at least one subscription – although this is up from 4.7% at the end of last year.
Netflix will remain the most popular streamer, with 6.9 million subs by 2029, Digital TV Research said. It also predicted that local OTT service Showmax will be in second place with 3.7 million paying members.
Meanwhile, Disney+ will only have 905,000 subscriptions by 2029, as its roll-out on the continent is expected to be limited to South Africa.
Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “SVoD is a battle between Netflix and regional player Showmax. Rich in local content and sports rights, Showmax now has access to NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures and HBO content. Showmax’s parent MultiChoice recently rejected a takeover bid from Canal+.”
Burnt Onion Productions’ young-adult series Miseducation
US streamer Netflix is working on more original series out of South Africa and has renewed Blood & Water, Savage Beauty and pan-African reality series Young, Famous & African.
The streaming giant detailed its commitment to the South African TV and film industry at MipAfrica in Cape Town today during a panel session entitled See What’s Next on Netflix.
Netflix shared details of a series of collaborations with local filmmakers and labels across both TV and movies.
Of the TV projects, it has signed a multiple-title book adaptation deal with Akin Omotoso and Ochre Media, while it will also develop multiple titles across various genres and formats with Gambit Films (Blood & Water, Unseen).
Stained Glass Productions will develop book adaptations across a variety of genres, and Black Brain Pictures is set to produce both TV series and films for Netflix.
It will also make two more films with director Donovan Marsh (iNumber Number, Spud & Spud 2, Hunter Killer and I Am All Girls) following the release of iNumber Number: Fool’s Gold.
Writer, producer and director Jayan Moodley (The Kandasamys franchise) has struck a three-picture partnership with Netflix, starting off with the next instalment of the Kandasamys series of films, Kandasamys: The Baby, which is currently in production.
The new partnerships come as Netflix gears up to release Miseducation, a young-adult (YA) series from Burnt Onion Productions (How to Ruin Christmas).
Set to premiere on September 15, it stars Buntu Petse as student Mbali Hadebe, who must reinvent herself after her mother is accused of political corruption.
Meanwhile, YOH’ Christmas is a holiday season series scheduled for later this year, made by BBZEE Productions.
Netflix also announced renewals for teen crime series Blood & Water (S4), mystery drama Savage Beauty (S2) and pan-African reality series Young, Famous & African (S3).
“Netflix has pioneered a path for the voices of African filmmakers to be expressed globally,” said Bradley Joshua, CEO and executive producer of Gambit Films. “As a company, we are beyond grateful for the growing relationship we are forging.”
Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s VP of content for Middle East and Africa, said: “We are incredibly excited to continue with our investment in South African storytelling and to expand our relationships with these amazing storytellers.
“These long-term partnerships with local filmmakers have enabled us to uncover unique perspectives and diverse stories from South Africa to entertain our more than 238 million members around the world.
“This is why we’re committed to investing in South Africa’s creative industry and showcasing the incredible talent the country has to offer.”
Aníkúlápo: The Series is a spin-off from the film that was released last year
Netflix is set to release seven Nigerian films and series in the coming months, including titles from EbonyLife Studios, Charles Okpaleke, Golden Effects Pictures and Kunle Afolayan.
The new Nollywood projects are The Black Book, Blood Vessel, Òlòtūré: The Series, Ijogbon, Aníkúlápó: The Series, To Kill a Monkey and War: Wrath & Revenge.
Crime thriller The Black Book is directed and produced by Editi Effiong and follows a man who seeks justice for his son after his murder by corrupt policemen. The cast includes Shaffy Bello, Ireti Doyle, Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Ikechukwu Onunaku, Patrick Doyle and Richard Mofe-Damijo.
Òlòtūré: The Series is based on the 2019 film by Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Studios. It follows a young journalist who fails to flee from human traffickers and makes a perilous journey through hostile lands. The cast includes Sharon Ooja, Omoni Oboli, Beverley Osu, Ikechukwu Onunaku and Stan Nze.
Drama-adventure film Ijogbon has been created by Kunle Afolayan and produced by Golden Effects Pictures. It tells the story of four teenagers whose lives change after finding diamonds. The cast includes Ruby Akubueze, Kayode Ojuolape and Oluwaseyi Ebiesuwa.
Aníkúlápó: The Series is a four-part spin-off from the 2022 Yoruba epic Aníkúlápó. It is directed and produced by Kunle Afolayan and will feature actors including Sola Sowobale, Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Owobo Ogunde, Gabriel Afolayan, and Lateef Adedimeji.
Kemi Adetiba’s crime thriller To Kill a Monkey will also make its debut on Netflix. It stars William Benson and Bucci Franklin.
Mystery and crime thriller Blood Vessel is directed by Moses Inwang and is produced by Charles Okpaleke and Play Network Studios. It revolves around a group of six friends attempting to flee the unrest in the Niger Delta as stowaways on a ship. David Ezekiel, Adaobi Dibor and Jide Kene Achufusi star in the movie.
Finally, drama series War: Wrath & Revenge from EbonyLife Studios is a spin-off from the popular 2016 thriller series Sons of the Caliphate. It tells the story of a woman who seeks revenge after her husband takes a second wife. The cast includes Mofe Duncan, Rahama Sadau, Yakubu Mohammed and Patrick Doyle.
Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s VP of content in the Middle East and Africa, said: “We are fortunate to bring incredible projects from some of Nigeria’s most prolific creators. Collaborating with them has enabled us to showcase Nigeria’s immense storytelling talent and creativity and make Netflix the home of the best Nigerian stories for our audience in Nigeria and around the world.”
Love, Sex & 30 Candles is inspired by Angela Makholwa’s The 30th Candle
South African drama film Love, Sex & 30 Candles, directed by Stephina Zwane (Love & Kwaito), will premiere on Netflix on 18 August.
The film focuses on four best friends. When they hit the age of 30, they deal with hardships, relationships and a secret that might destroy their friendship.
Inspired by South African author Angela Makholwa’s book The 30th Candle, it stars Amogelang Chidi, Bahumi Madisakwane, Gabisile Tshabalala and Candice Modiselle.
According to the producers, Love, Sex & 30 Candles takes viewers on a heartfelt journey of friendship, love and self-discovery.
As well as 2016 movie Love & Kwaito, Zwane’s other credits include TV series Spirit Sundae and Jika MaJika for SABC, plus Sifun’Ukwazi for Mzansi Magic. She is the co-founder of Sorele Media, a Randburg-based film production company she started with film producer and actor Salamina Mosese.
Multi-award-winning Nollywood filmmaker Kemi Adetiba (King of Boys), who announced her return to movie directing last year, has struck a new partnership with global streamer Netflix.
Kemi Adetiba
The deal will result in Netflix debuting several of Adetiba’s forthcoming projects, including To Kill a Monkey, King of Boys (KOB) 3 and Welcome to the Fourth.
Adetiba, who is CEO of her Nigeria-based prodco Kemi Adetiba Visuals (KAV), said: “We’ve been quiet since KOB 2, and that’s pushing three years now. We’ve enjoyed how the industry has grown since then. But now, I’m ready to get back in the ring. It’s back-to-back season, baby.
”It’s gonna be a lot of work, but check this. Standing on my father’s name and with the strongest streaming platform’s backing, Netflix, you’re gonna wanna watch every single visual project KAV shoots out the cannon. We’ve cooked up some great stories, and we can’t wait to tell them to you visually, and with the help of some of the most amazing talent in this country.”
Global streamer Netflix and French visual arts school Gobelins have partnered to offer scholarships to six African animators in a bid to strengthen the pipeline of new animation talent on the continent.
The selected students will be admitted to Gobelins’ Master of Arts in Character Animation and Animated Filmmaking course. The two-year course, taught in English, is designed to enable students to reach a professional level in a multicultural environment.
The curriculum includes advanced courses in 2D and 3D character animation, scriptwriting, directing and storyboarding.
The scholarships will cover the tuition fees for the entire length of the programme, as well as a contribution to the cost of living in Paris.
Applications close on March 2. Those selected will be announced at the end of April, and classes will commence in September.
A Sunday Affair, a new romance film produced by Nigeria’s EbonyLife Media, will debut on global streamer Netflix next month.
A Sunday Affair
Written by Darrel Bristow-Bovey and directed by Walter Taylaur, the movie will become available on Valentine’s Day (February 14).
A Sunday Affair follows two female best friends who fall in love with a charming yet flawed eligible bachelor who is caught up in an unenviable dilemma. A love triangle ensues, with the women unaware they are dating the same man.
The cast includes Nse Ikpe Etim, Dakorea Egbuson, Alex Ekubo, Hilda Dokubo, Chris Iheuwa and Uzor Osimpkpa.
Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife Media, said: “A Sunday Affair is an original idea that has been playing around in my head for nearly 10 years. It has been written and rewritten by several writers, each time adding a layer of richness to the story.
“It’s wonderful to see this film launch on Netflix on Valentine’s Day. This underscores how special this film is.”
Netflix is set to debut the third season of South African comedy series How to Ruin Christmas next month.
The latest season of How to Ruin Christmas will debut on December 9. The franchise follows two families, the Sellos and Twalas, and the mayhem that ensues when the get together. It debuted in 2020 and was soon followed by another run in 2021, which centred on a funeral.
The new season will force the Sello and Twala families together once again, this time for a baby shower.
The series is produced by siblings Katleho and Rethabile Ramaphakela through their Johannesburg-based company Burnt Onion Productions. The cast includes Clementine Mosimane, Charmaine Mtinta, Rami Chuene and Trevor Gumbi.
“The Sellos and Twalas and chaotic Christmases? Same WhatsApp group! On the agenda this time? Throw the baby shower of the year, don’t reveal the agenda and keep the family together,” said Netflix.
International streamer Netflix has announced the launch date of Far From Home, its first Nigerian show aimed at a young adult audience.
Produced in partnership with Inkblot Productions, the five-part series concluded principal photography earlier this year and is set for a December 16 global premiere on Netflix.
The series follows a charismatic teenager and talented artist from a poor family, played by Mike Afolarin, whose dreams suddenly appear within reach when a prestigious scholarship to the most exclusive school in the country catapults him into the affluent world of Nigeria’s elite.
The show blends up-and-coming talent and established screen stars, with a cast that includes Funke Akindele, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Bolanle Ninalowo, Bucci Franklin, Bimbo Akintola, Linda Ejiofor, Chioma Akpotha, Femi Branch, Carol King and Ufuoma Mcdermott.
Nigerian scriptwriter Dami Elebe served as the series’ head writer, with Chinaza Onuzo, Erika Klopper, Zulumoke Oyibo and Damola Ademola as executive producers.
Inkblot is the Lagos company behind the lucrative movie franchise The Wedding Party and Moms at War 2, and also signed a three-year deal with Amazon Studios last year.
Onuzo said: “We’re excited to be partnering with Netflix to create this special show on a global scale for and about young Nigerians. Working with such an amazing cast and crew to tell this unique story about making your way in the world and chasing your dreams no matter your status in life is such a privilege and honour.”
Period drama film Elesin Oba (The King’s Horseman) is set to debut on global streaming platform Netflix on November 4.
Adapted from 1975 play Death & the King’s Horseman, the story focuses on one man’s lustful desires and another man’s interference with a long-held custom.
The screenplay was written by Biyi Bandele. The cast includes Odunlade Adekola, Shaffy Bello, Olawale ‘Brymo’ Olofooro and Deyemi Okanlawon.
The King’s Horseman is a coproduction between Netflix and Nigeria’s EbonyLife.
Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife, said the film will premiere in various cinemas across Nigeria including EbonyLife, Filmhouse, Genesis and VIVA in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Akure.
Global streamer Netflix will launch the third season of South African teen crime drama series Blood & Water next month.
Returning for S3 on November 25, 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.
Its cast includes Ama Qamata, Khosi Ngema, Gail Mabalane, Thabang Molaba, Dillon Windvogel and Arno Greeff.
Blood & Water won Best TV Drama at the South African Film and Television Awards in 2021.
Global streaming platform Netflix is set to premiere Nigerian writer/director Korede Azeez’s latest project, Adieu Salut.
Korede Azeez
The so-called ‘lo-fi sci-fi’ short movie is set in a not-so-distant future and follows a young girl who fights for control over her own fate. It also tells the story of the plight of the people of a small Fulani village.
The project is written and directed by Azeez, who was one of six winners of the Netflix and UNESCO African Folktales Reimagined Competition that was held last year. She emerged winner and received US$25,000 plus a production budget of US$75,000 for the short film.
“The film was the product of thoughts I had held for some time, so when Netflix made the call for entries last year, it wasn’t too difficult finding the right material to form the basis of my reimagined folktale. I submitted my entry, I got the email months later, and here we are,” she said.
Adieu Salut is produced by Kenneth Gyang, founder of Cinema Kpatakpata.
Becoming Abi, a six-episode workplace comedy-drama created, written and co-directed by its star, Bolu Essien, will debut on streaming platform Netflix this autumn.
Produced by Essien’s production company Evolving Light Studios, the series is inspired by her experiences working in an advertising firm and looks at life as a professional in Nigeria. It will debut on October 28.
Essien, who plays the lead role, said: “To think my first big project is exactly about my journey to this point, I still can’t fathom it. God, indeed, is the greatest planner. When the details are out, you’ll understand more.
“To the crew who worked with me to bring my baby to life, thank you. I have called you all to thank you at different times but this is so if you stumble on my page, you’ll know how much I appreciate you. To the cast who took on the characters, if we get to do season two, I’ll bring everyone back, that’s how solid you guys were. Professional and committed.”
The show is directed by Terrel Ejem and the cast also includes Benita Okojie, Seun Ajayi, Biodun Stephen, Akah Nnani, Juliana Olayode, Ifeanyi Kalu and Idowu Philips.
Netflix’s Dorothy Ghettuba told the MipAfrica conference this week about the need to take African stories around the world and to work with African creatives, and explained the streamer’s efforts to be inclusive.
Dorothy Ghettuba at MipAfrica
Ghettuba, director of African originals at Netflix, told the inaugural MipAfrica event in Cape Town, South Africa, that storytellers are important because they are the custodians of our history, present and the future. “We are responsible for preserving our culture, for showcasing our culture in whatever form you tell your story,” she said.
“If you look at Hollywood, it’s local American stories; in Bollywood, those are local Indian stories; and in Nollywood — I admire Nigerians saying, ‘This is the party, you are welcome to join’ — they are telling authentic Nigerian stories,” Ghettuba told delegates.
“We have found that the shows that do the best are the ones that are locally specific. There is an unwavering dedication to telling local stories and it is our responsibility to tell our stories to the world. Let us continue being brave, courageous and tell our stories to the rest of the world.”
She added that for an organisation like Netflix, being inclusive was key and a sound business decision because good stories come from around the world.
The streamer has embarked on a mission to get more African content on to its platform, including signing deals with Nigeria’s EbonyLife Media and John Boyega’s UpperRoom Productions.
African content on Netflix so far incudes spy thriller Queen Sono, teen drama Blood & Water, gangster drama King of Boys: The Return of the King, sci-fi animated series Team 4 and historic drama Amina.
On getting along with African creatives, Ghettuba suggested MipAfrica delegates try three things: “You need to honour them and respect them for their craft, you need to pay them well and pay them on time, and make sure our creatives are happy. They are doing what it is they need to do to tell the best stories.”
She added that she makes sure the team at Netflix have what they need to be able to help creatives do their best work.
MipAfrica is a market for film, television and digital content distribution and coproduction in Africa. The event joins event organiser RX’s portfolio of TV industry gatherings MipTV and Mipcom in France, plus MipCancun in Mexico and MipChina.
The selected students will be admitted to Gobelins’ Master of Arts in Character Animation and Animated Filmmaking course. The two-year course, taught in English, is designed to enable students to reach a professional level in a multicultural environment.
