The African film industry is a thriving space for its producers and consumers because of the kind of great content it produces. The ideas behind the movies are always well thought out and driven by some personal or societal influence. For both movie makers and fans, there are certain story ideas that are catchy and easy to buy within the African movie space.
In today’s article, we would be discussing some of the most popular story ideas that drive the African film industry. These ideas have been curated from thorough research and observance of the African film industry.
If you are a fan of African movies and you are curious to know some of the most popular story ideas that make the African cinematic space as entertaining and intriguing as it is, this is for you.
Most Popular Story Ideas that drive the African Movie Market.
You may have had an idea of the kind of stories that movie makers would develop or movie fans would prefer to watch but there are just some general storylines that are making waves in the industry.
Below is a curated list of some popular story ideas that drive the African Movie Market.
Family Drama and Comedy
This is probably the most common storyline in the industry. Africans are big on family values and morals, so it is no surprise that it would be a top choice for both movie makers and movie fans. Most of the home movies that are shown as daily series reflect the importance of putting family first, its values and the importance of upholding the family names. African family movies are almost always dramatic, with different characters or instances that viewers can relate to. Movies like this are usually intended to teach lessons and make people laugh, hence its popularity and acceptance. Some notable movies in this category are “Introducing the Kujus” and “Meet the Khumalos”.
Love
Who doesn’t like a good love story! I mean, we all love Love right? It gets better when the Love story is between people from different social class or it is a love between two unexpected persons. Love storylines make up to 50% or more of the African movie market and it sure drives engagement. A major reason for this is because we all love happy endings, so whatever would bring that is highly appreciated. The African movie market has benefited largely from movies revolving around love. The acceptance is evident in high-grossing movies in cinemas and great numbers on streaming platforms. The attention movies like “The Wedding Party” and “Umjolo” got proves us right.
Supernatural Stories
Oh Yes! Africans definitely hold strong beliefs in the supernatural. This doesn’t translate to evil rituals though. Africans have always been traditional beings who have deep and direct connections with the supernatural realm, so it is not weird that they would like movies that reflect that. The supernatural realm is something African movie makers and fans like to explore because the African history and culture is deeply rooted in it. Movies like “Jagun Jagun” and “Anikulapo” are fine examples.
Village People and their Drama
Have you met your village people? Pray not to meet them! You can enjoy watching them play them out on your screen but not in real life because their drama is too much! In African movies, Village people are the ones that don’t want you to succeed. They are the ones that won’t let you drink water and drop cup. They are the same people that won’t even let you make money. Just call them witches and wizards if you like but they should not hear you or you’ll be in for more rides. This is a popular story idea in African films because Africans really believe they exist and they follow them around. A good example is “My Village people”.
Royal Drama
The Princess hasn’t fallen in love with a lowly villager yet? Is that even an African movie. Or The Queen Mother is not at loggerhead with the other Queens yet? Better still, isn’t the Prince set to marry yet, so the town crier can make an announcement for all the eligible maidens to come out and dance so he can choose his wife? How would you know the importance of royalty in the African culture if royalty isn’t embedded in the movies? How would you see the beautiful display of culture and the rich history of Africa and its ancient monarchical system without buying into a royal drama? Africa adores the beauty of its culture, so there’s no escaping this one. These kinds of movies are prominent on YouTube.
Myths and Folklores
Another one of the most popular story ideas that drive the African movie market is movies that are based on myths and folklores. Considering how rich the African culture is, the inclusion and retelling of myths and folklore stories is not surprising. Most of them are usually retold with little or no addition to broadly explain history. Movies like this are always symbolic to teach morals, values and history. Stories like this easily drive the African movie market because of the knowledge that can be gained from it and because it is a physical way to represent stories that are not well known. “African Folklores Reimagined” is an anthology of short films based on myths and folklores.
Colonial History
Stories of Apartheid, Slave trade, Partitioning of Africa and every other historic fact that has to do with colonization would blow up in cinemas and streaming platforms because they hold a strong place in the hearts of Africans. As long as the story has some prickling facts about colonization, it is sure to make waves. Most African countries were colonized and the effect still ripples across generations till date, so reliving the times through movies is both a form of remembrance and empowerment. Africans want to know exactly how it happened, why it happened and what can be done to avoid repetition, especially for the generations that didn’t witness it firsthand. Movies like “October” and “The Woman King” are examples of these kind of movies.
Corruption
Corruption has eaten deep into many African nations and as the economy rises and falls every day, Africans are earnestly seeking solutions to permanently erase it. One of the solutions is by digging deep to find out basic causes of corruption and extinguishing it. This is where movies around this theme comes in because any movie that is corruption-themed would win hearts. It could be for different reasons though. One could be the sheer need to discuss the endless possibilities of erasing bad government (and not actually being able to) and another could be to actually point hands to the cause of the problems and how it really plays out, considering it has been reenacted on a screen. “King of Boys” clearly shows this storyline.
Religiosity
Africans are very religious people and I mean religious, not spiritual, so don’t be surprised that movies surrounding religiosity would make a popular story idea that drives the African movie market. You don’t go to church or mosque or any form of religious gathering? How do you want to associate yourself as an African? You just have to belong somewhere, so you understand faith, doctrines and other teachings or better still, so you can understand some African movies because there is almost always the belief in a higher God. Movies with themes of religiosity thrive fast in the African movie market because both the viewers and the makers respect religion a lot. A good example is “Man of God”.
Popular African Novels Adaptation
One of the most interesting story ideas that drive the African movie market is the reenactment of popular African novels. This is common in all movie industries across the world but it is fast becoming a thing that is well embraced in the African movie industry in recent times. Thanks to great writers like Wole Soyinka and Chimamanda Adichie, movies like “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Elesin Oba” are great examples that have won the hearts of African movie lovers.
There are so many story ideas that drive the African film industry because the industry is big on diversity and inclusion. We have only listed some of the most popular ones that both viewers and movie makers would easily jump on.
As the times evolve, new ideas are popping up here and there and as entertaining and creative as the African movie industry is, these ideas would be incorporated into movies. One of such new storylines is the wave of migration and emigration, popularly known as “Japa” and “Japada”.
Let’s wrap this up!
Tell me a new story idea you would like to see in upcoming African movies. I’ll be reading in the comment section.