“Queen Sono” is the first Netflix original Africa series, and is set to be released globally on the 28 of February.
The commissioning of the series by Netflix is part of an effort by the streaming service to increase its appeal to viewers in Africa, analysts say.
Netflix seeks to expand in Africa as it nears “a saturation point” for subscriptions in many developed markets, says Constantinos Papavassilopoulos, an associate director at market research firm IHS Markit.
“Queen Sono” is “a kaleidoscope of expression of African artistry” says Dorothy Ghettuba, head of International Originals for Africa at Netflix. “It showcases an African aesthetic onscreen that the rest of the world has never had a chance to see … exploring the origins of contemporary trends through African eyes and the breadth of ideas that this vast continent has to offer.”
The lead character is “a female African hero for the times,” says Kagiso Lediga, the show’s South African creator.
The series is designed to be a pan-African thriller that’s an entertaining and smart political drama, Lediga says.
“If it appeals to all Africans, it appeals to the world,” he says. “Those people and stories have always been there but never seen as viable for a global audience.”
