Showmax. If you are a lover of Kenyan films, then you are about to experience the thrill that Showmax is bringing your way.

Not long ago Showmax announced that they were gearing up for new Kenyan originals this year.

On May 23, 2022, Igiza, one of the originals, will be premiering. In Igiza, you will experience a high-stakes drama, and the thrill revenge story of twin sisters Nicole and Linda.

The Kenyan original is set against the silhouette of the revolving Nairobi Fashion scene and money laundering business.

Nicole breaks out of Prison after serving a 12 years jail term. After serving, she comes out and wants to take the place of her twin sister, Linda, who was the reason why she was imprisoned. Nicole wants to take back what her sister took from her. But there is a setback; Linda’s life that looks all glamorous has secrets that may destroy her.

The 30-second teaser reveals that something big is about to go down as we’re introduced to the two sides of Serah Ndanu in the dual role of the twin sisters – the inmate Nicole and Linda, a top fashion designer who runs a successful fashion house. Both their lives are about to change when Nicole sets her revenge plan into motion. In Igiza, we meet Kenya’s veteran actor Ainea Ojiambo of Kina who plays Musa, a prison warden who is bedeviled with Nicole and Sheila Ndanu of Maria who plays Salome, a top dog serving a life sentence who’s also Nicole’s ally in prison.

Other actors starring in the 13-part series are Kevin Samuel (Mali), Blessing Lung’aho (Zora), Emmanuel Mugo (Pillow Talk),Keith Chuaga (Famous), Torome Sision (Monica), and Eddie Mbugua (You Again). Igiza is helmed by Abdi Shuria (known for his works as a cinematographer for 2021’s hit Nafsi and upcoming feature Ayaanle), King Muriuki (The XYZ Show) and Abu Melita under their company Yare Productions.

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QUEEN SONO

Queen Sono is a film about a secret agent from South Africa who is searching for the truth and facts about her mother’s murder. It is the first original African series on Netflix.

BLOOD AND WATER

Blood and water is a South African Netflix original web series. It is a about a teen who sets out to find out whether a swimming star in a private school is her sister who was abducted at birth.

TSOTSI

Tsotsi is a South African film that won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and also got nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006. It is about a young street thug called Tsotsi. He steals a car only to discover a baby in the back seat.

LUCKY

Lucky is a fim about a South African orphan who leaves his Zulu village to start his life in the city. An Indian woman later becomes his a pillar of hope.

HALF OF THE YELLOW SUN

It is a 2013 Nigerian Historical fiction drama film based on a novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The film is about two sisters who are caught up in the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War.

FIFTY

This is a Nollywood drama set in Lagos, Nigeria. It revolves around four women who fight for their peace in their careers, love and relationships despite the pull of African traditions and cultural obligations.

AYANDA

Ayanda is a 2015 South African film about a young woman who is forced to work as a mechanic in order to keep her father’s business running after he unexpectedly pops his clogs.

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The film which is written, directed and co-produced by a claimed Nigerian filmmaker Dolapo Adeleke is set to debut on Netflix in March 2021. The filmmaker is known for movies such as This is it and Plan B

The film was shot in Nairobi in 2019 and is produced by award-winning Kenyan actress and producer Sarah Hassan, who also stars in a lead role in the movie. The movie also stars top Ghanaian actor Mawuli Gavor, well-known for his works in Nollywood and Ghallywood films (Devil in the detail and Sugar rush), Kenyan child actress and presenter Stycie Waweru (Supa Modo), and Kenyan actress and DJ, Pierra Makena.

Other Kenyan actors featuring in the film include Eve D’Souza, Martin Githinji, Lydia Gitachu, Kagwe Mungai, Jazz Mistri, Blessing Lung’aho, Andreo Kamau, and Fidel Maithya.

Just in time has joined the list of Kenyan films on Netflix though the others are limited to Netflix Africa. Poacher, an award-winning Kenyan film, was the first local production to be carried on the streaming platform. The 29-minute action-packed movie was shot and produced over six days at the Tsavo West National Park and released in August 2018. The film stars local talents Brian Ogola, Lenny Juma, and Davina Leonard and won Best Short Film at the eighth Kalasha and TV Awards held in Nairobi in November 2018.

Sincerely Daisy and Disconnect, both directed by Kenyan actor Nick Mutuma, also premiered on Netflix on October 9 and 16 October 2020.

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The film revolves around the life of Daisy (played by Ella Maina),a fresh ambitious high school graduate.Her father has promised to send her to study in China, and she is so excited about it.

Back at home, mom and dad are fighting because they are in a financial crisis; they do not have the money to take her to China to advance her studies.

They argue on whether they should sell their piece of land or not. She eavesdrops on them and it is here that things seem to fall apart.

She auditions for a lead role in a Television Soap alongside his boyfriend and best friend. She is hoping that she will get the job and so help with paying for her fees.

She fails to secure the lead role and Amina, her best friends get it. She even goes ahead to sleep with Daisy’s Boyfriend Collins, and this, in addition to the situation at home, tears her apart.

In all honesty, this movie is a modern-day problem-solution film. It showcases how teens are always in a constant struggle to do stuff, and their parents being so mean and inconsiderate.

For the case of Daisy, it is clear that she is young, barely 19. However, she is passing through a hard phase of life, that of thinking she is a burden to her parents (they want to sell a piece of land for her studies) and feeling as if she is not good enough(the boyfriend choosing her boyfriend over her.)

Her mother, just like any mother out there, is brought out as being so strict and overprotective. She sternly advises her to get a boyfriend after college. Even when she comes home late and drank and the dad asks her mother to talk to her, she is judgy and angry.

But what happens when she decides to listen to her daughter without judging her harshly and pointing fingers? She understands that Daisy is 18 years old, an adult if you may.

Even when she goes out on a date with a poet she met during the rehearsals, the mother allows it. She comes to the understanding that if you listen to your kid, you will understand them and thus advise accordingly without mouthing or forming your own opinions.

The father has been perceived as being lenient which could be dangerous sometimes. But it is love. It is making her daughter feel loved. It is making her believe she has a home in her parent(s).

Some of the things that parents can do to listen to their children include, avoiding lectures, sparing time to talk about stuff like anger, depression, being present during conversations both physically and mentally, not getting angry or irritated when he/she does something wrong but listening actively and working as a team to solve it.

On the other side, children, especially teenagers, should understand that their parent’s protective nature is out of love. They should be happy that they care. But, in case they do something that is frowned upon, they should talk openly to their parents, to get their perspective.

Finally, Sincerely Daisy is not only loved because it is a Kenyan movie that has premiered on Netflix but the fact that it is purely Kenyan. Its originality can be seen in the almost 70% Swahili. There is also Kikuyu in it. So while it is entertaining, I feel the greatest lessons of all is parenting.

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Blood and Water is the second African Original series on Netflix after Queen Sono.

Season one has only 6 episodes which has made people yearn for season two and eager to know whether Puleng (Ama Qamata) will find out the truth about Fikile (Khosi Ngema) being her real sister.

Will Puleng and KB (Thabang Molaba) break up in season 2? Will Wade and Tahira start dating? Is Mr. Molapa connected to Puleng’s sister’s abduction? These are just some of the puzzles that were left for viewers to ponder on, but the big question is, will there be season two of Blood and Water?

Season one Stars Ama Qamata (Puleng), Khosi Ngema (Fikile), Thabang Molaba (KB), Dillon Windvogel (Wade), Arno Greef (Chris), Ryle de Morny (Chad), Natasha Mathys (Tahira), Cindy Mahlangu (Zama), and Duane Williams (Mark).

In June 2020, Netflix renewed the series for a second season. The announcement was made by Nosipho Dumisa, the show’s director.

Season 2 is set to premier on 24th September 2021.

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LUPITA NYONG’O

Lupita is a Kenyan-Mexican actress and daughter of Anyang’ Nyong’o. She began her career in Hollywood as a production assistant. She has acted in East River (2008), Shuga (2009-2012), 12 years a slave (2013), Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015-2019), Black Panther (2018), Us (2019).

EDI GATHEGI

Edi was born in Nairobi, Kenya and grew up in Albany, California. He appeared in the television series House as Dr. Jeffrey Cole, as Laurent in Twilight Saga: New Moon, as Darwin in X-Men: First Class as Matias Solomon in The Blacklist and as Cheese Gone Baby Gone. He also featured in Into the Badlands as Baron Jacobee.

RAYMOND OFULA

Raymond is a Kenyan actor who has mad appearances in films such as To Walk With Lions (1999), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle Of Life (2003), The White Masai (2005), Winterreise (2006), The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019) and Queen Sono. He also acted in Makutano Junction (2007) and Mali (2011-2015).

CHARLES GITONGA MAINA

He is a Kenyan-born actor famously known for his starring role in The Air Up There (1994) and SeaQuest 2032 (1993).

MARY OYAYA

She was born in Mombasa, Kenya and has lived kn various places including Canada, Sweden and Australia. She has acted in Farscape (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002).

LENNY JUMA

He is well known for his appearances in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), The Constant Gardener (2005), and Arthur and the Invisibles (2006).

BENJAMIN A. ONYANGO

Benjamin Alfred Onyango Ochieng was born in Nairobi Kenya. He is known for Tears of the Sun (2003), God’s Not Dead (2014) and Beautifully Broken (2018).

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