The American online streaming platform Netflix will begin broadcasting its first original series "Made in Africa" on Friday, a spy saga called "Queen Sono" starring South African actress Pearl Thusi.
Directed by South African filmmaker Kagiso Lediga, the six episodes recount the tribulations of intelligence agent Queen Sono, who investigates a dangerous political-criminal network and the murder of her mother.
According to Netflix's head of Africa, Dorothy Ghettuba, the production was filmed in Kenya, Zanzibar (Tanzania), Nigeria, and South Africa. It was presented with great fanfare and a red carpet in Johannesburg on Thursday evening. "This series is exactly what we wanted to do, which is to let Africans tell stories about Africa," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer, at the event. "I've always had the face of a strong African woman," said the lead actress.
"This is nothing new for me, but now I'm playing a character on screen who I believe reflects what all black women in Africa are: strong women," continued Pearl Thusi, known beyond the continent for her role in the American crime series "Quantico." In a globalized cultural world dominated by American productions, Queen Sono's small African window on the world has been greeted with great enthusiasm in South Africa's largest city.
"It shows that we Africans can achieve great things ourselves," said Lufuno Mutheiwana, a 48-year-old saleswoman interviewed by AFP, "we don't need Europeans, Asians or anyone else to tell our story." "It's a moment of great pride. We have so many good, exciting, powerful stories that need to be told," insisted South African actress, model, and singer Gail Mabalane. "I hope this is just the beginning."
According to Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix is already working on other African television series.
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