Picture: Supplied – Nigerian all-star cast Genoveva Umeh, Kate Henshaw and Deyemi Okanlawon can be seen during a scene in the Netflix movie Blood Sisters. African-created content can compete with the leading international markets, the writer says.
By Chad Williams
Africa’s streaming film industry is taking the world by storm, and so rightfully it should – we have some of the finest directors in the world with some of the continent's finest talents.
The amount of African series on Netflix and other popular streaming service platforms is more than enough proof that African directors and producers are creating content that the world wants.
African-created content can compete with the leading international markets, and we've seen shows such as Blood and Water, reality-based TV shows such as Young, Famous and African, and the highly acclaimed thriller ‘8’.
February 2020 saw history being made with Netflix’s first script-to-screen African Original Series, Queen Sono.
African audiences, both in Africa and the diaspora, want to watch African films – and that is where its future investment will see huge growth.
So what is the benefit of creating African content for an African audience?
Job creation
When movies or television shows are shot on African soil, it’s the people who ultimately benefit from this investment through job creation.
This includes extras, sound, equipment and props and catering services to name a few. These are important aspects that contribute to the overall success of movie productions.
Opportunities for African performers
Africa’s film industry is beyond budding, it is flourishing and opportunities for budding actors and actresses and technical staff to make a name for themselves in the industry are now greater than ever.
African stories are unique
These stories have never been told, yet they’ve been passed down for generations.
The global audience is interested in something different, and let’s face it, representation matters.
Black people want to see themselves on the silver screen. With a talent pool such as Africa, young and vibrant, I look forward to African content taking over around the world.
According to analyst, Tony Maroulis, principal analyst for London-based Ampere Analysis, the bulk of international investment in African content goes to Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.
Chad Williams is a multimedia journalist at IOL News
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