Lights, Camera, Kenya! The Rise of East African TV

African content is getting more attention around the world. While Nigerian films (Nollywood) are already well-known, East Africa—especially Kenya—is starting to shine too.

Kenya is now creating shows that people everywhere want to watch. Companies like D&R Studios are leading the way. They’ve made popular shows like The Real Housewives of Nairobi, Sol Family, This Love, and Being Bahati. They’ve now partnered with Rushlake Media, a company that helps get shows onto international streaming platforms.

Eugene Mbugua, CEO of D&R Studios, says this is a big step for Kenya. “It’s not just about showing our stories to more people,” he says, “It’s about working together to make better content and tell African stories in our own way.”

Philipp Hoffmann, CEO of Rushlake Media, agrees. “We’ve always wanted to work with African content. Kenyan TV now has a chance to reach the world.”

According to a report by PwC, Kenya’s TV subscription revenue reached around $420 million in 2021—a record high. The country’s film and TV industry has grown a lot in the past 20 years and is now worth around $49 million (KES 5.3 billion).

Sarah Hassan, a well-known Kenyan actor, also believes in the industry’s growth. “Kenya’s film scene is growing fast. We have many shows now. There’s still more to do, but we’re going in the right direction,” she said in a recent interview.

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Hoffmann adds, “Kenyan films can reach audiences outside Africa. There’s more to Africa than just the bad news. There are real, beautiful stories that deserve to be seen.”

Mbugua ends with a strong statement, “Kenyan stories belong on the world stage.”