Subscription video-on-demand service (SVOD), Kwesé iflix, has announced its plans to invest in huge original African content tent-poles starting in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria.
The bold slate of original programming comprises of African scripted drama, raw docu-series, pan-regional alternative news and live coverage. And it is a slate that encompasses many firsts for African entertainment, the SVOD player has said.
The announcement follows the premiere of its first Kwesé iflix Original series in Kenya, “Nganya.” The thirteen-part drama series, “Nganya” is immediately available for streaming and download by users across Africa.
The Assignments Studios production is a gritty Swahili drama centred around the matatu business in Nairobi’s Eastlands. In a criminal underworld teeming with shady characters, the hapless matatu team soon find themselves tangled in a web of corruption and deceit.
Kwesé iflix says users can enjoy four episodes each week for free while paid subscribers with VIP passes can binge-watch all 13 episodes immediately.
Tanzanian telenovela “Nyavu,” a love story filled with drama, deceit and traditions will follow in December, and a docu-series in Nigeria early next year.
Kwesé iflix also said it had greenlit a number of projects which are yet to be unveiled.
‘Our new original content offering underlines Kwesé iflix’s ambition to lead an entertainment revolution in the markets we serve in Africa. Deeply relevant, action-packed and with a local antagonists, our original slate pushes the limits. We are thrilled to work with top tier industry players to offer our users some of the region’s best entertainment franchises. We want to grow and establish Kwesé iflix as the new home for Africa’s most talented producers and actors,’ said Kwesé iflix CEO, Mayur Patel.
Kwese iflix is a service stemming from a joint venture between African media company, Econet Media and emerging market mobile video-on-demand service, iflix. This move comes after majority stakeholders, Econet Media, announced that it had reviewed its strategy to focus on three core services; Kwesé Free Sports (KFS), Kwesé iflix and Kwesé Play.
Nigerians having a high preference for Nollywood content. Iit would be interesting to see if ‘Nganya’ will significantly grow Kwese iflix usage in Nigeria.
