Leisure time is a blessing that people want to make the most of. Some focus on going out and meeting people, while others like staying home and sleeping. Among these individuals with different preferences and interests, we have those who want to watch entertainment content online.
Yes. There are many OTT platforms available in various developed countries. But what about places in Africa? As you sit there, assuming there will be a lack of online entertainment options in Africa, we are about to change your mind. Keep reading to find out the options for African entertainment online.
Netflix
Netflix is a giant in the video streaming arena, with hundreds of millions of global subscribers. It’s been operational in Africa since 2016. Currently, Netflix has Africa-centric content available in over 50 African countries. With Netflix, you also get features like subtitles, parental controls, and offline downloads.
TV Series to Watch:
- Blood & Water
- Queen Sono
Movies to Watch:
- The Black Book
- Aníkúlápó.
Showmax
Showmax was launched in 2015, after seeing the rise in Netflix’s popularity. By following a localized strategy of streaming Nollywood (the film industry of Nigeria) and content in African languages, Showmax captured an African-wide audience of 2.1 million subscribers by November 2023. This surpassed Netflix's 1.8 million African subscribers at the same period.
Content to View:
- The Real Housewives of Lagos
- The Crimes of Justice
YouTube
The most accessible platform for viewers and a goldmine for performers, vloggers, podcasters, and other influencers, YouTube offers a variety of African-centric content. The best thing about YouTube, unlike other platforms on this list, is that the content is entirely free.
Channels to Watch:
- Mark Angel Comedy
- Taaoma
- Mr. Macaroni
Amazon Prime Video (Africa)
Competing with Netflix in the global market, Amazon Prime Video also (like Netflix) stepped into the African market in 2016. With time, the platforms started licensing African content from Nollywood, along with co-producing African-based videos to appeal to the African audience.
Content to Watch:
- South Africa – The Land of Hope
- Discovering West Africa: Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon
- African Territory
EbonyLife ON
The Nigerian-based entertainment platform offers a variety of African-wide content for viewers to enjoy. This content on EbonyLife ON includes drama series, talk shows, documentaries, and much more. Notably, EbonyLife ON has signed deals with Netflix to create two original series, Òlòtūré and The Wedding Party. Some other reasons why EbonyLife ON stands out are being a female-led and women-centric organization, along with displaying the modern view of African life, which is rarely shown.
Content to Watch:
- Castle & Castle
- Sons of the Caliphate
- The Governor
Conclusion
These were some of the ideas to delight your appetite for amazing African entertainment online. Explore these OTT platforms and find the one that meets your preferences.
When you’re done with the video-based content and want to explore the latest happenings around Africa, head on over to African Culture TV. It will be your dose of African-related news on what’s happening around the continent.