Netflix Highlights New Female-Focused African Series for International Women’s Day
Timed to International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8, Netflix has unveiled several new, female-focused series and films from Africa, with the goal of “shining the spotlight on” the “remarkable achievements” of female creators from the region.
Leading female members of the Nigerian film community are coming together in Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday, March 6 for a “Her Voice, Our Story” International Women’s Day event, organized in collaboration with Mo Abudu of EbonyLife TV, to celebrate African women in the creative industries. Those taking part include Netflix Director of Content in Africa Dorothy Ghettuba, and creatives Bolanle Austen-Peters (Man of God), Hamisha Daryani Ahuja (Namaste Wahala), Chichi Nworah (Shanty Town), and Peace Hyde (Young Famous & African).
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“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 Ghettuba. “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.”
Among the new African shows unveiled by Netflix include the series Baby Farm and Postcards —the former a look at Adanna, a young pregnant woman, who becomes a prisoner of a sinister baby farm operating under the auspices of an NGO; the latter the story of four Nigerians living in India who struggle with questions of identity and acceptance.
Netflix also announced a new feature film, House of Ga’a, set in the 18th century Oyo Empire and based on the life of Bashorun Ga’a, the ferocious and feared Prime Minister and kingmaker who became more powerful than the kings he enthroned.
Other series being highlighted include the Mo Abudu-produced series Òlòtūré: The Journey, about a young Nigerian journalist who goes undercover to expose Nigerian-to-Europe sex trafficking; the cybercrime series To Kill a Monkey, and new seasons of the popular reality series Young Famous and African and YA school drama Blood and Water.
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