The new projects were unveiled at an International Women’s Day event in Lagos, Nigeria, dubbed ‘Her Voice, Our Story’.
Leading female film producers, directors, actors, and members of the Nigerian film community converged in Lagos, Nigeria, for the ‘Her Voice, Our Story’ International Women’s Day event. Spearheaded by Mo Abudu of EbonyLife TV, the event celebrated the unique perspectives and remarkable stories of African women in the creative industry.
Notable speakers at the discussion included Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix Director of Content in Africa, alongside Bolanle Austen-Peters (Man of God), Hamisha Daryani Ahuja (Namaste Wahala), Chichi Nworah (Shanty Town), and Peace Hyde (Young Famous & African). They shared their experiences as women in the creative industry and highlighted their efforts to portray strong, real-life female characters.
“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. 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,” said Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix’s Director of Content in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The event, aimed at celebrating and honouring inspiring women in front of and behind the camera, heralded a diverse slate of upcoming films and series. The upcoming slate of female-led Nigerian stories promises a range of genres and themes from Mo Abudu, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Kemi Adetiba, Chichi Nworah, and Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, set to launch on the service in 2024.
Mo Abudu, the powerhouse behind EbonyLife TV, will executive produce Baby Farm, a series following Adanna, a young pregnant woman who unknowingly entrusts her unborn twins to a high-profile NGO, only to discover she’s become a prisoner of a sinister baby farm. The series features a stellar cast led by Rita Dominic and includes Joseph Benjamin, Onyinye Odokoro, Genoveva Umeh, Langley Kirkwood, and Jenny Stead.
Additionally, Abudu’s previously announced Òlòtūré: The Journey follows a young journalist working undercover as a sex worker in Nigeria and stars Sharon Ooja, with a cast including Omoni Oboli, Beverly Osu, and Ikechukwu Onunaku.
Hamisha Daryani Ahuja produces and helms Postcards, a scripted project following four Nigerians in India discovering their identity through self-discovery, featuring Sola Sobowale, Tobi Bakre, and Rahama Sadau.
Bolanle Austen-Peters directs and produces House of Ga’a, a period feature set in the 18th-century-old Oyo Empire, featuring a stellar cast including Femi Branch, Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham, and Ibrahim Chatta.
These new shows join an existing slate including Kemi Adetiba’s drama series To Kill A Monkey, a third season of reality series Young, Famous And African, and the fourth season of Blood And Water.
As Women’s Month unfolds, Netflix also unveils global stories showcasing strong women, including Furies (1 March), Damsel (8 March), and Shirley (22 March), starring Regina King, chronicling the story of the first Black congresswoman and political icon, Shirley Chisholm, and her trailblazing run for president of the US.
