What to Watch in East Africa This Month

‘Mvera’ (Kenya)

Mvera, which was Kenya's official selection for the Oscars, is now streaming on Netflix. The 2023 film follows lead character, Mvera (Linah Sande), who embarks on a crusade against corrupt leadership in her coastal community when she uncovers an organ trafficking ring luring its victims with promises of work abroad. Directed by Daudi Anguka, the film was a top winner at Kenya’s Kalasha International Film and TV Awards.

Where to Watch: Netflix

‘Tse’dal’ (Ethiopia)

Created and directed by Ethiopian filmmakers Tigist Mezgebu and Sewmehon Yismaw, Tse’dal is a 10-part miniseries that follows a woman trying to navigate the dissatisfaction in her life and marriage. Though it was released on YouTube earlier this year, the series has gained new traction after rave reviews for its cinematography and plotline went viral on social media.

Where to Watch: YouTube

‘Dark Side of Glory: Death in the Heartlands’ (Kenya)

Dark Side of Glory is a new true crime documentary series about shocking cases of murder in the world of sports. Directed by Arianna Perretta and produced by award-winning CMG Productions, the documentary series premieres with an in-depth look at former South African U20 rugby star Joseph Ntshongwana, who killed four men with an axe. The second episode, Death in the Heartlands, investigates the murder of three female runners in Kenya in 2021: Edith Muthoni, a day later Agnes Tirop and six months later Damaris Muthee Mutua. All had allegedly been killed by the men closest to them – their partners or coaches.

Two of the murders happened in the elite running community of Iten, known as the Home of Champions. Tirop, an Olympian and two-time World Athletic Championships medalist, was found stabbed to death in her home there — soon after clinching a 10,000m world record in Germany. She would have been a favorite at the Paris Olympics. Since the tragic murder, Kenyan women have established the Tirop's Angels foundation to support victims of gender based violence.

‘Family Vacation’ (Kenya)

A social media-famous couple, desperate to get one another to confront their marital struggles, take a turbulent trip down memory lane with a family holiday. Written by Voline Ogutu, and co-directed by Ogutu and Edwin Kamau Miring’u, Family Vacation will premiere on Netflix with a cast that includes Sarah Hassan, Lenana Kariba, Angel Atieno.

Where to Watch: Netflix, from August 9

‘The Real Housewives of Nairobi - Reunion’ (Kenya)

The two-part reunion of The Real Housewives of Nairobi will be an opportunity for the fiery cast to address all the drama that has taken place in the second season of this hit reality show from Showmax. The second season brought back OGs Dr. Catherine Masitsa, Vera Sidika and Minne Kariuki alongside newcomers Farah Esmail,Zena Nyambu and Reja Keji Lada.

The award-winning first season of The Real Housewives of Nairobi broke first-day streaming records in Kenya when it launched in 2023, and was the most-watched show on Showmax in Kenya in 2023.

Where to Watch: Showmax from August 16 and 23