What To Stream in West Africa This Month

OkayAfrica’s inaugural monthly streaming guide for West Africa features exciting and must-watch television series and films showing in the region. This month, the guide includes an original YouTube series that touches on Senegal’s caste system, a new Netflix Nigeria series that expands on Kunle Afolayan’s major hit Anikulapo, an epic Ghanaian film that draws from Ghana’s rich cultural history.

Get into our selection of the best things to stream from across West Africa:

'Breaking of The Bush' (Liberia)

In this stellar and gripping film directed by Frank Artus, who also plays the lead character, a poor father finds himself torn between sending his only daughter to an expensive school, and fighting against traditions that are oppressive to women. The film is a tender portrayal of a parent’s expansive love for their child, set in the backdrop of rural Monrovia, Liberia and touching on topical issues such as female genital mutilation, traditions with complicated histories and life-altering implications and child marriage. Liberia’s film industry is slowly finding its rhythm, after years of relative inactivity. Frank Artus, who is Liberian but made a name for himself in the Ghanaian and Nigerian film industries, is one of the creatives leading this cultural movement.

Watch Breaking Of The Bush here:

BREAKING OF THE BUSH #FastStudios #liberianmovieyoutu.be

'A Green Fever' (Nigeria)

Taiwo Egunjobi, the filmmaker behind All Na Vibes and In Ibadan, has released his latest work A Green Fever. The film follows a man and his daughter who seek refuge in a strange mansion and find mind-numbing secrets inside it. A Green Fever finds the pair on a quest to make it out alive. The film is a stellar feast of cinematography, with compelling acting from William Chinoyenem, Temilolu Fosudo, Darasimi Nadi.

Watch A Green Fever now on Prime Video.

'The Queen of Akra' (Ghana)

The Queen Of Akra follows the powerful journey of Dode Akaibi, a Ga legend. The film reimagines what is known of the queen who brought many cultural changes to the traditional ruling methods in Ghana. She is credited with bringing the tradition of adorning royalty with precious jewels and was revered for her commitment to helping women and imposing harsh punishments for men who mistreated women. The film is made by William Kojo Agbeti and features great acting from some of Ghana’s brightest talents including Adjetey Anan, Melissa Nortey and Jasmine Baroudi among others. The Queen Of Akra is set to premiere on Ghana’s Independence Day, March 6 on DSTV and GOTV.

'Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre' (Nigeria)

When Kunle Afolayan released Anikulapo in 2022, the film quickly became a massive hit, so it is no surprise that the Nigerian filmmaker has now released a series based on the film. Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, builds on the characters, storylines and thematic concerns of the original film, detailing an expansive world where more is at stake for everyone involved. The series delves deeper into Yoruba mythology and spiritual traditions, ideas that were only slightly highlighted in the film. The new series explores ideas of the afterlife, reincarnation, and the classic tussle between good and evil. Actors from the original film, Bimbo Ademoye, Kunle Remi and Sola Sobowale all reprise their well-loved roles in the new series. A number of new faces also make memorable appearances.

Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre is streaming now on Netflix.

'Bété-Bété' (Senegal)

Bété-Bété explores the system of caste in Senegal, unspooling the lives of young people whose love is put to the test due to their differing backgrounds. The widely popular series introduces viewers to a fraught but necessary social subject and its generational effects. In a bid to preserve blood legacies, factions are drawn, enemies made, and love not always being enough.

Watch Bété-Bété here:

BÉTÉ BÉTÉ - Saison 1 - Episode 1 **VOSTFR**youtu.be