By Jennifer Ochieng
Published January 14, 2024
With hits like Kenya’s The Real Housewives of Nairobi, South Africa’s Adulting, Nigeria’s Wura and Ghana’s The Billionaire’s Wife, 2023 was a big year for Showmax in Africa. In Kenya alone, the African streamer launched a record seven Original titles in 2023, kicking off with season 2 of Single Kiasi in January, season 1 of The Real Housewives of Nairobi in February, season 2 of reality series Kyallo Kulture in May, seasin 1 of the crime drama Faithless in June, seasons 1 and 2 of the telenovela Second Family in March and September respectively, the animated series Twende and second-ever Kenyan Christmas feature A Merry X-Mess in December.
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Viewing statistics for 2023 released by Showmax proved once again that local is king, and that local content can co-exist alongside international hits like 2024 Golden Globe’s Best TV Drama winner Succession, and The Last of Us, which are also the two most-nominated shows overall at the Emmys next week.
In February 2023, Showmax launched The Real Housewives of Nairobi S1, which is now the biggest Showmax Original in Kenya yet. Apart from claiming the top spot on Showmax’s Top 10 most-watched the moment it launched; The Real Housewives of Nairobi also broke streaming records, making its first episode the most-watched launch episode ever for any title on Showmax in Kenya.
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Kenya earned a record 17 nominations at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) – the highest yet for the country at the prestigious film and TV awards.
Launched in March 2023, Second Family is the first Showmax Original telenovela in Kenya. The first season introduced us to the power struggles, boardroom politics, family strife and all the chaos that erupt after the untimely death of millionaire Leo Lang’at (Ian Mbugua). The second season, which premiered in September, upped the ante with the surprising return of Leo from “the dead”.
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In December 2023, Showmax launched Twende, its first Original 2D animation series, which
kicked off with rave reviews from critics. Twende follows a boda-boda-riding pangolin of the same name, with Junior Nyong’o voicing the titular character. The all-Kenyan cast also includes Kalasha Awards nominee Elsaphan Njora (Super Sema, Kati Kati), Charles Ouda (Crime and Justice), Mkamzee Mwatela (Mali), Kalasha winner Nyokabi Macharia (Super Sema), Joyce Musoke (Second Family) and Khaemba W Edward (Ogas at the Top, The XYZ Show).
Finally, here is the list of the 10 most watched titles arranged in alphabetical order:
Local
- Crime and Justice (series)
- Faithless (series)
- Igiza (series)
- Kina (series)
- Kyallo Kulture (series)
- Njoro wa Uba (series)
- Pepeta (series)
- Second Family (series)
- Single Kiasi (series)
- The Real Housewives of Nairobi (series).
International
- Bel-Air (series)
- Black Light (movie)
- Game of Thrones (series)
- Run the World (series)
- Shotgun Wedding (movie)
- Succession (series)
- The Cleaning Lady (series)
- The Last of Us (series)
- The Rookie (series)
- Wrath of Man (movie).