African culture through the tool of entertainment has been continuously evolving ever since it has come on board. Gone are the days when African movie scene were preoccupied with tapes of foreign movies, but today, Africa can boast of original contents churning out from filmmakers across the Black continent. Most African movies are already assuming their position at cloud nine huge patronage from people and even streaming giant, Netflix.
Netflix is hugely investing in the international film industry and Africa is not excluded. Unlike previous projects like its Strong Black Lead initiative that was launched in 2018 to highlight Black stories, the Made By Africa, Watched By the World initiative takes a new direction entirely.
Now, there’s more African content ranging from films to shows on Netflix, and the Made By Africa, Watched By the World initiative comes in to give a platform to new original content showcasing talent from across the continent.
Africans have brilliant and amazing stories to tell that touch on all the genres out there but often the narrative is voiced by others instead of Africans themselves.
The narrative and global perception is changing as the stories will be by Africans, and Netflix would give the better required avenue to reach the international audience.
Here are some blockbuster African movies to stream to make you relish for more.
King of Boys
If the words “power” and “violence” are anything to go by, King of Boys embodies the life of a powerful businesswoman played by Sola Sobowale, who will stop at nothing to be on top of the game despite threats from her underworld connections.
The movie carries a dark, politically charged borderline thriller theme that is contrary to the earlier work of Nigerian director Kemi Adetiba whose film The Wedding Party was a more light romantic comedy, which to date is the highest-grossing Nigerian film ever.
Seriously Single
We have all stalked our exes before. Okay, maybe not all, but most of us have and that is exactly what Fulu Mugovhani’s character does in this South African comedy Seriously Single. She goes against the advice of her care-free best friend, Tumi Morake. Morake urges her to embrace her singlehood but like the social expert that she is, she turns into the ex we all love to hate and stalks her former lover online.
Lionheart
This Nigerian film was the first Netflix original film production for the West African nation. It is a warm intriguing film that follows a young woman who must prove her worth as a business leader at her father’s company after he falls ill. In a male-dominated field, Adaeze (Genevieve Nnaji) must run the family business with her uncle. This film is Nnaji’s directorial debut as well.
The Perfect Picture, Ten Years Later
If you saw The Perfect Picture, then you know the sequel is a must-watch. Ten years seems like a long time but if old habits stick you through an entire decade, then you can face similar issues as before or even worse ones.
This film follows the love life of three friends and the trials they must overcome together, relying on themselves for support. It stars Jackie Appiah, Naa Ashorkor Mensa-Doku, and Lydia Forson, and was directed by renowned Ghanaian director Shirley Frimpong-Manso.
Atlantics
Atlantics won the Grand Prix at 2019’s Cannes Film Festival, and deservedly so as director Mati Diop pulled out all the stops to make the film. The Senegalese film predicates on love and life as a young Ada (Mame Bineta Sane) is betrothed to a rich man, but has her eyes and heart set on another man, Souleiman (Ibrahima Traoré).
The pair become estranged as Souleiman sails to Europe. Ada’s wedding to the rich man approaches amid strange happenings while her heart yearns for an absent Souleiman.
