African Women's Films on NETFLIX

African Women's Films on NETFLIX

Films by and about African women are attracting larger audiences enhanced by Netflix broadcast. The 2023 release of the docuseries African Queens: Njinga, executive produced by Jada Pinket Smith and written by Peres Owino and NneNne Iwuji, highlights NetFlix's interest in focusing attention on the accomplishments of African women sheroes, having noted the success of The Woman King. 

A few examples of Netflix releases span a diverse range of themes and genres: A coming of age story, Divine, by Houda Benyamina, received the Caméra d'Or Award at Cannes in 2016. The film also won French Cesar awards for Best First film, Best Supporting Actress, Most Promising Actress. The animated series Mama K's Team 4, written by Malenga Mulendema of Zambia, follows the futuristic adventures of four teen girls out to save the world. Just in Time, a comedy drama shot in Nairobi, was written, directed and co-produced by Nigerian filmmaker Dolapo "LowlaDee" Adeleke, premiered on Netflix in March 2021. It features Kenyan actress, Sarah Hassan who is the producer. Also a comedy, Omoni Oboli's Love is War, follows the experiences of a loving couple whose marriage is tested by their decision to run against each other as state governor. Blood and Water by South African Nosipho Dumisa-Ngoasheng recounts the dramatic turn of events during the friendship of Puleng and Fiks.

As evident from above, there is a growing list of Nollywood films by women included in the Netflix releases. 

Though no longer available on Netflix, Chika Anadu's B For Boy reflects the range of themes in its selection. A contemporary drama set in Nigeria, the film reveals a woman's desperate need for a male child, revealing the cultural and religious discrimination that women face. Similarly, Fanta Nacro's harrowing film The Night of Truth, featured on Netflix in 2015, uncovers the terrible barbarities committed by the two warring ethnic groups who attempt at reconciliation as they celebrate a peace agreement.

Some releases were not without controversy. The U.S.-made controversy was self-induced by Netflix itself, choosing to promote the U.S. release of Cuties, the English title of the French-language film by Franco-Senegalese filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, with a poster of the young protagonists scantily-clothed in sexually provocative poses, very different from the French one, Mignonnes. It was in fact Maïmouna Doucouré's objective to highlight the sexualization of young girls and the manner in which they internalize these representations.

Notes by Beti Ellerson, update January 2023

The African Women in Cinema Blog attempts to keep abreast of announcements of Netflix releases, following are a selection of Blog posts, with ongoing updates.

Netflix docuseries African Queens: Njinga, executive-produced by Jada Pinkett Smith

https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2023/01/netflix-docuseries-african-queens-njinga.html

Nosipho Dumisa-Ngoasheng: Blood & Water

https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2022/11/nosipho-dumisa-ngoasheng-blood-water.html

Dolapo Adelekes' Just in Time
https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2021/02/dolapo-adelekes-just-in-time-on-netflix.html

B for Boy by Chika Anadu on Netflix

https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2015/09/b-for-boy-by-chika-anadu-on-netflix.html

Houda Benyamina : Caméra d'Or Winner “Divines” Coming To Netflix Globally | « Divines » Caméra d'or à Cannes, bientôt diffusé dans le monde entier sur Netflix
https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2016/06/houda-benyamina-camera-dor-winner.html

Mama K’s Team 4, animated series/série animée by/de Malenga Mulendema
https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2019/04/netflix-mama-ks-team-4-animated.html

Omoni Oboli's "Love is War" on Netflix
https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2020/06/omoni-obolis-love-is-war-on-netflix.html

Maïmouna Doucouré talks about her film Mignonnes | Cuties
https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2020/09/maimouna-doucoure-talks-about-her-film.html