MultiChoice powers ahead with localised content including slum-set Kenya drama Pepeta, a funeral reality series in Ghana, Crime & Justice spinoff for Nigeria and a Nollywood psychothriller miniseries.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is powering up its investment in pan-African TV content with the pay-TV company's M-Net and Showmax divisions producing a new funeral reality show from Ghana, a Nollywood psychothriller miniseries, a Crime & Justice spinoff crime procedural for Nigeria, as well as a slum-set Kenyan crime series about an aspiring football player for DStv subscribers.

As it faces more competition from primarily global streaming rivals like Netflix Africa, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, all rapidly expanding across the continent, MultiChoice is pouring millions into the production of localised content for its three biggest African markets - South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya - where the traditional pay-TV operator is experimenting with new formats and continuing to do more localised spinoffs of existing series for different sub-Saharan countries.

"We are increasing our investment in local content and have new shows across the board in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and our Portuguese markets to look forward to," says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO of general entertainment and connected video.

"In Kenya, we have a new crime series called Pepeta which captures the dreams and realities of the youth in Kibera which is one of the largest slums in Africa but also known for creating top football players in Kenya."

Pepeta, which translates as "bounce" and which is produced by CJ3 Entertainment, follows the 17-year-old talented footballer Junior torn between crime and soccer, the unforgiving cop Musa, and Biki an ambitious football coach. Pepeta is loosely based on the real-life story of Harun "Rio" Wathari. 

"We also have a movie, it's called A Familiar Christmas and it's our first-ever Christmas movie for Kenya, produced by the award-winning filmmaker of our telenovela Selina."

"New content coming to Nigeria include Ditche - it is our first limited drama series," says Yolisa Phahle.

"It's a psychological thriller about a young Nollywood actress who discovers her fiancé murdered. We also have Showmax's first and exclusive Nigerian telenovela. This story is set against the backdrop of the gold-mining industry and we're launching it in the last quarter of this fiscal."

"Learning from the success of Crime & Justice in Nairobi, we're making a new series of Crime & Justice but this time it's based in Lagos where two detectives investigate cases that have been ripped from the local news headlines."

"Coming soon for Ghana is a 5-part reality show called My Perfect Funeral. It follows 5 families in Ghana as they prepare to bury their loved-ones."

ALSO READ: MultiChoice's next Big Brother in Africa on DStv will be an all-stars face off in January 2023 between former housemates of Big Brother Mzansi and Big Brother Naija.

MultiChoice's Showmax expands the video streamer's East African content slate with 4 new originals in 2022 including first Kenyan Christmas film.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's video streaming service is expanding its East African programming slate with 4 new originals that will be released in 2022, including its first Kenyan Christmas feature film.

Showmax Kenya's other Showmax Originals include a crime drama series set in Kibera, a political thriller series set in a fictional Kenyan province, and a thriller series starring Serah Ndanu and Blessing Lung'aho.

Showmax's East African investment follows after Kenya's first Showmax Original Crime and Justice which is currently in its second season, Kenya's first Showmax Original film Baba Twins, and the drama series Single Kiasi.

Timothy Okwaro, MultiChoice channel director for East and Southern Africa, says "We have worked with new production houses to expand our genre offering to ensure that our viewers get to see the very best of Kenyan stories told in different facets of life, from thrillers to crime dramas to political thrillers".

"Showmax subscribers can look forward to compelling local stories that will definitely keep you tuned in. This slate speaks to our localisation strategy and the keen focus on working with local producers, both established and upcoming, to ensure we give our viewers what they want."

Here's a run-down of Showmax's East Africa production slate:

Igiza

Currently in production, Igiza is a 13-part thriller series that follows twin sisters, Linda and Nicole, at war after a betrayal that changes their lives forever.

Years later, one of the sisters breaks out of prison and takes over the seemingly wonderful life of her identical twin, with disastrous consequences. Serah Ndanu plays the double role of Linda and Nicole, with Blessing Lung'aho, Kevin Samuel, Emmanuel Mugo, Ainea Ojiambo, Sheila Ndanu and Torome Sision co-starring.

Igiza is helmed by Abdi Shuria, King Muriuki and Abu Melita under their company Yare Productions.

Pepeta

Slated to begin production in April 2022, Pepeta is a crime drama series that captures the dreams and realities of the youth in Kibera, known for churning out top football players in Kenya.

Pepeta follows three intertwining stories of Junior, a 17-year-old talented footballer torn between the thrills of crime and the promises of soccer; Musa, an unforgiving cop with a personal vendetta, determined to rid the streets of criminals; and Biki, an ambitious football coach determined to get Junior and his friends scouted before the barrel of the gun cuts short their dreams.

Loosely based on the real-life story of Harun "Rio" Wathari, Pepeta is being produced by CJ3 Entertainment's James "Draka" Kombo, Mwangi Rurengo and Wanja Mworia, with Damaris Irungu, Charles Ouda and Abigail Arunga as as writers.

County 49

Welcome to the political intrigues of the fictional Bwatele County, Kenya's 49th county and the nation's breadbasket, whose citizens are suffering from the high cost of living and scarce resources, despite the county’s wealth in resources.

Now against the backdrop of great civilian discontent, a disgraced security officer is compelled to save the governor, and her chief of staff, his estranged wife, from a local terrorist group, which has kidnapped them for money and revenge.

County 49 is being produced by Kibanda Pictures, with director Likarion Wainaina, director Brian Munene and producer Millicent Ogutu, and producer and actor Bruce Makau.

Brian Munene also doubles as the show's writer, alongside Voline Ogutu, Mercy Mutisya and Martin Kingondu, with John Sibi-Okumu coming on board as story consultant.

Kenya's first Christmas feature film

This as-yet-untitled project will be Kenya's first-ever Christmas feature film, and will be produced by Reuben Odanga.

Joining Reuben Odanga as the film's writer is Natasha Likimani.