Move over “House of Cards!” And “Better Call Saul” can wait. If you need a new obsession to binge-watch online, we’ve got a hot list of African TV and web series for you.
From painstakingly awkward mockumentaries to gritty city dramas to entertaining profiles of quirky creatives, there’s a whole host of popular shows captivating audiences in Africa and beyond
CNN picks out eight must-see TV or web series from across the continent and the diaspora that you should tune into.
1. “I of Africa”
From Aina Fadina, a Nigerian born/American raised fashion model comes “I of Africa” — a web series celebrating all things African from a global perspective. So far, she’s produced two seasons of one-on-one interviews with entrepreneurial creatives.
She says the series celebrates trailblazing individuals by focusing on inspirational, global African stories. “I cover topics that influence the image of what African is, ‘African beauty,’ what African cultures are, influences the continent has on the world from a global perspective, and the evolution of these things.”
Fadina — who has worked with luxury labels including Oscar De La Renta and Alexander McQueen, as well as fashion changemakers Duro Olowu and Mimi Plange — is a force du jour for this storytelling outlet. Juggling the many hats of financier, host and producer, she says the ultimate goal is to one day be picked up for TV. She is currently in the process of securing partners and sponsorship to begin filming Season Three.
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“Ogas At The Top ” is a quirky political satire web series from Nigeria with puppets. Created by the same team who launched the popular THE XYZ SHOW in Kenya, the web series turns the country’s leaders into comical punching bags.
Some of the puppet personas of Nigerian society to make appearances on the show so far include President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, former leaders Olusegun Obasanjo and Sani Abacha, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, comedian Basketmouth and Nollywood actress Patience “Mama G” Ozokwor.
Season two, which has a strong focus on the upcoming elections, kicked off at the beginning of February with new episodes — each running around five minutes long — releasing each Friday. And producers are hoping to see the same success season one brought — the show went viral (with many episodes reaching over 100,000 views) and has been nominated for Best Online Video at this year’s Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice awards in March.
Watch it here
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