How the Showmax relaunch went down in a star-studded affair at Sankara [Photos]

On Wednesday night, African streamer Showmax celebrated its stars and the stories they tell at an exclusive star-studded event at Sankara, Nairobi, hosted by Lotan.

In attendance were Showmax GM in East Africa, Emma Gichonge, MultiChoice Kenya MD, Nzola Miranda, key industry stakeholders, celebrities and the main stars of the night: the cast of The Real Housewives of Nairobi S2, Big Girl Small World, and Untying Kantai, as well as the producers of Nilichoma.

The four titles are part of Showmax’s ramped-up content strategy in Kenya as it officially kicks off the ambitious Streaming for Africa in Kenya, a product of the strategic partnership between MultiChoice and Comcast announced last year that gave rise to the new Showmax.

Kicking off its highly anticipated second season on Friday, 10 May, The Real Housewives of Nairobi has added three new Housewives – Zena Nyambu, Farah Ismail and Reja Keji Ladu – who join Season 1 cast Minne Kariuki, Vera Sidika and Dr Catherine Masitsa.

Big Girl Small World, which premiere on 8 May, follows newcomer June Njenga as a plus-size woman fighting to be seen in a world that is determined to shrink her.

From Philit Productions, Untying Kantai, which premiered today, 9 May, follows a man who stumbles on a lucrative but illegal business opportunity, and dives headfirst into a world of danger and deceit.

On 28 May, Showmax will also release its first-ever Original docuseries in Kenya, Nilichoma.

“Other than the ground-breaking Showmax Premier League in your pocket and global blockbusters from the world's best studios, we are equally committed to our African content slate. This year, there will be more than 1 300 hours of Showmax Originals produced, representing a significant 150% increase in production output compared to the year before,” said Showmax GM Gichonge in her speech.

Acknowledging the four Kenyan titles releasing in May, Gichonge added, “We are very proud of this content because it directly demonstrates the skill and talent of our Kenyan film and TV community, many of whom are in the audience today.”

MultiChoice Kenya MD, Nzola Miranda, said, “Tonight we are revolutionising Streaming for Africa. We are supercharging the opportunities that come with the power of content in our hands. We are supercharging an exhilarating journey that has embraced the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and boundless possibilities. Together, we have the power to transform the way Africa experiences entertainment.”

Showmax also lined up a few surprises for the night, including performances by Nikita Kering and Okello Max, and the unveiling of the Kenyan May content slate pods, which allowed guests to experience the content as they interacted with the stars of the night.