What to Watch in West Africa This October

‘Hijack 93’ (Nigeria)

In Hijack 93, four men hijack a plane in a bid to use the passengers onboard as leverage to dismantle their military government. Based on the 1993 Nigerian Airways flight hijack, this new feature from Charles Okpaleke, who has made a name for himself by remaking old Nollywood films and giving them modern updos, is another commitment to exploring fresh ideas through film. Promising to be a gripping, intense drama that tactfully sheds light on a lesser-known part of Nigerian history, Hijack 93 stars Nancy Isime (Blood Sisters, Shanty Town), Jemima Osunde (Beyond The Veil), Idia Aisien (Nneka The Pretty Serpent) and Sharon Ooja (Glamour Girls, Skinny Girl In Transit).

‘Inside Life’ (Nigeria)

Shifting gears from directing stunning music videos, Clarence Peters is set to release a supernatural thriller titled Inside Life. The film follows the lives of various people desperately navigating the country’s brutal prison system. With storylines intersecting and characters crossing paths in unlikely ways, Inside Life trains a sharp, sensitive eye to the growing decay in the system, using a man’s journey towards survival, a sister’s devoted fight for justice and a woman’s ambitions set side by side with her personal struggles, to build a web of suspense, supernatural elements, dark, mystical twists and an intelligently observed reframing of Lagos. The series stars Gabriel Afolayan (Blood Sisters, Ijogbon, Coming from Insanity), Scarlett Gomez (Wura) and Meg Otanwa (For Maria: Ebun Pataki, Payday, The Wait).

Where to watch: Netflix, October 11.

‘The Storm’ (Ghana)

Twisted, unpredictable and deliciously surprising, The Storm, the latest thriller from Ben Owusu (Afua’s Diary), packs a punch and ushers in a refreshing phase for Ghanaian films in recent years. The story follows Detective Danso, who after single-handedly stopping a major bank robbery, is charged with an even bigger task of finding children who have been kidnapped. Despite his success, Danso is forced to contend with various adversaries, including a human rights activist whose niece is killed as part of the kidnapping, a powerful criminal underworld hell-bent on getting their way and a country growing increasingly distrustful of the police and the government. The Storm stars legendary Ghanaian actor Adjetey Anang ( Keteke, Potato Potahto, The Perfect Picture), Ama K. Abebrese (Sinking Sands, Ties That Bind, The Burial of Kojo) and Edward Agyekum Kufour (When Love Comes Around, Sidechic Gang).

Where to watch: Now showing in Ghanaian theaters.

‘I Was Here’ (Ghana)

In I Was Here, Ashley Gardner’s life takes an unprecedented turn when, at the height of her career, she finds out she has breast cancer. Directed by Cleveland Harris and Justice Ornan Abadah, I Was Here follows Gardner as she leans on her closest friends and family for support, unraveling a devastating secret in the process. This is a story about trying to make the best of a fleeting life, but also the life-altering power of love and the indelible mark it leaves. I Was Here stars a mix of established and emerging acts in the Ghanaian film scene, including Nadia Buari (Mummy’s Daughter, Darkness of Sorrow, The Return of Beyonce), Dela Seade (Kinda Complicated, Eno) and Majid Michel (Tokunbo, A Taste of Sin, Crime to Christ).

Where to watch: In theaters from October 18.

‘The Smart Money Woman’ Season 2 (Nigeria)

The first season of Arese Ugwu’s hit drama series The Smart Money Woman was a successful execution of experimental television — combining and transforming the actionable points from her financial guide book of the same name into a striking drama that still managed to sell its ideas. In the second season, the ladies return for a series of events that shape their lives in unpredictable ways. Flashier, funnier and even more insightful, the new season returns with Osas Ighodaro, Eby Eno, Ini-Dima Okojie, Toni Tones and Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju.

Where To Watch: YouTube, this October.

‘Sira’ (Burkina Faso)

Apolline Traoré’s Sira is a story of resistance and unflinching bravery in the eye of unimaginable challenges. In Sira, a young Fulani nomad and her tribe brave a journey across the Sahelian desert to reach the village where her fiance Jean-Sidi is. The plan is derailed by the brutal massacre of the men of her tribe and the kidnapping and enslavement of the young girls. After being left for dead, the titular character, Sira, finds the strength to keep going, her eyes razor-set on avenging the death of her people and saving the enslaved girls.

Where to watch: Now showing in theaters in Ivory Coast.