On the 02 September 2024 morning at MIPAfrica, Nomsa Philiso, CEO of General Entertainment at MultiChoice Group, made a groundbreaking announcement that resonated with the global entertainment industry: African films and TV series are reaching international audiences at an unprecedented scale.

“There’s a good chance that Africa’s film industry is about to have its own global moment,. We’ve already seen that happen with Afrobeats, Amapiano, and African music as a whole.”

Philiso declared

Philiso’s optimism is well-founded, citing a series of remarkable achievements by African content over the past year. The documentary Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story captured hearts and won the Audience Award at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival. Two Sides, a gripping sports documentary, earned a nomination at the iEmmys. The psychological thriller Catch Me A Killer became the first South African series to compete at Series Mania and also claimed a British Production Designer’s Guild award. The dramedy Wyfie was not only nominated at the Global Production Awards but also contended for Best TV Series at the Seoul International Drama Awards. Notably, Spinners made history as the first African series to be featured at Canneseries and went on to beat Succession, the Emmy-winning global sensation, to be named Best Foreign Series at the Shanghai Magnolia Awards.

Spinners

MultiChoice’s efforts to amplify African voices on the world stage extend beyond these accolades. Through their sales arm, MultiChoice Studios, and strategic partnerships with global distributors like Abacus, AMC, Fremantle, StudioCanal, and The Exchange, African stories are being sold and showcased worldwide. MIPAfrica’s opening film, The Fix, is one such example, represented by The Exchange.

Reyka

Fremantle’s success with Reyka is another testament to the growing demand for African content. After opening the Monte-Carlo Television Festival and earning International Emmy nominations in 2022, Reyka was sold to over 150 territories, including major networks like BritBox North America, CANAL+, Channel4 (UK), HBO LatAm, and Sky Italia. The series’ second season, launched in February 2024, continues this momentum, with crime scenes now shifting to Durban’s bustling harbour, the largest port in Africa.

Other notable successes include:

  • The Real Housewives of Durban has captivated audiences on platforms like hayu, Peacock, and Bravo, the franchise’s original home.
  • In January 2024, Devil’s Peak was sold to Tubi for North American distribution.
  • In February 2024, Catch Me A Killer was acquired by Britbox North America, UKTV, and SBS Australia, courtesy of Abacus.
  • In May 2024, White Lies, a crime drama led by Natalie Dormer, reached #3 on STAN in Australia and was later added to Channel4 (UK), after successful sales by Fremantle.
  • In July, Spinners ranked #6 during its primetime run on CANAL+ in France and has been sold to Globo Brasil, with Season 2 currently in development.
  • Recipes for Love and Murder, a Berlinale Series Market Selects title, was recently sold by Acorn TV to UKTV’s Alibi Channel. The murder mystery is now available in 95 countries, including Japan on the NHK-owned Mystery Channel.

Despite this global success, Philiso emphasized that MultiChoice’s primary mission remains serving its core African audience.

“Like everyone else, Africans want to hear their own languages and see themselves reflected in what they watch,”.

she noted

This commitment is evident in the performance of local content on Showmax, where nine out of the ten most-watched shows since its relaunch in February have been African productions. Philiso pointed out that it took a massive international show like House of the Dragon to make a significant impact on viewership.

Shaka iLembe

As Africa’s largest content producer, MultiChoice has an unparalleled presence in 50 of Africa’s 54 countries, telling stories in 45 languages. Recent highlights include Shaka iLembe, the most Googled TV series in South Africa last year, and Big Brother Naija, which generated a staggering 1.8 billion votes. East African content is also thriving, with Showmax Originals Pepeta and The Real Housewives of Nairobi winning the Viewers’ Choice and Best TV Show prizes, respectively, at the 2024 Kalasha Awards.

“As it stands, as MultiChoice, we have over 84,000 hours of local content to showcase on the world stage. We’ve been buying content from all the global giants for decades, but increasingly these relationships are becoming reciprocal as demand for African content grows. Our scale and proven track record make us an ideal partner in Africa for anyone as excited as we are about diversifying the global content mix.”

Philiso highlighted

With its vast library of authentic African narratives and a strategic vision for global distribution, MultiChoice is not just expanding the reach of African stories; it is redefining the global entertainment landscape, one story at a time.