5 Award-winning African original films that are a must watch this Africa Day

Africa Day is a day to celebrate unity in the continent. It’s also a time to celebrate the diversity of our cultures and the stories that bring us together.

As we commemorate this day, here are awarding-winning stories from across the continent that are a must-watch;

Njoro wa Uba 

A first-time nominee at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs), Njoro wa Uba won Best Original Comedy at the award ceremony held in Lagos, giving Kenya its first-ever award in this category. 

The Kenyan comedy series follows Joe Kinyua in the titular role of Njoro, a man who navigates the unpredictable taxi business in Nairobi while also dealing with drama in his personal life.

Now in its thirteenth season, Njoro wa Uba has been praised by fans as the most relatable Kenyan comedy and the most realistic portrayal of what taxi drivers in Nairobi go through. 

“Njoro’s life is a reflection of our struggles. We struggle with love, finances, injustice, friendships, insecurities, basically everything. But even at our lowest, as Kenyans, we have a way of finding humour in most situations. It is important to have our audience relate with Njoro’s experiences, but also to find a light moment where they could also find some humour in their own situations,” said producer Lucy Mwangi

Crime and Justice

Crime and Justice Lagos won two of the awards it was nominated for at the 2023 AMVCAs on Saturday - Best TV Series and Best Picture Editor. 

Adapted from Kenya’s Crime and Justice, Crime and Justice Lagos stars Folu Storms as Superintendent Kelechi ‘KC’ Farasin and Jammal Ibrahim as Superintendent Danladi Dikko, lead detectives at the Serious and Special Crimes Unit (SSCU). 

Set against the backdrop of the biggest and most densely populated city in Africa, the police procedural explores the activities of the elite detective team at the fictional SSCU as they investigate various crimes across Lagos, from child kidnappings to ritual murders. 

Mpali

Winner of Best Original Telenovela at 2023 AMVCAs, Zambian telenovela Mpali is a story that revolves around a rich polygamist named Nguzu who has six wives.

His home appears to be peaceful until he marries another woman named Tamara, his sixth and youngest wife. Nguzu’s wives are taken by surprise when Zungu introduces them to Tamara, and all hell starts to break loose.

Reyka 

A 2022 International Emmy nominee for Best TV Drama and Best Actress (for lead Kim Engelbrecht), South African crime drama Reyka is the first African drama series to be nominated for the award in more than a decade. And only the third ever, after Home Affairs in 2007 and 2008, and Sokhulu and Partners in 2009.  

The series follows criminal profiler Reyka Gama (Engelbrecht) as she investigates a string of brutal murders committed by a serial killer in the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal.  

At the 2022 SAFTAs (South African Film and Television Awards), Reyka won Best Actress in a TV Drama for Engelbrecht, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Scriptwriting and Best Achievement in Directing. 

The Billionaire’s Wife

Adepa (newcomer Andriana Akua Amegbor) is a 19-year-old woman from the slums of Ashaiman who marries an old billionaire (Kingsley Yamoah) with the aim of turning her fortunes around, only to find out that being a billionaire’s wife is the toughest thing she’s ever done. 

Directed and produced respectively by Ad-Visors duo Danny Adotey and Collins Amlalo, The Billionaire’s Wife is now the most-watched title in history on Showmax in Ghana, having topped the charts in Ghana every week during its run.