Explore OkayAfrica’s curated list of diverse new African films and series — from psychological thrillers to action-dramas and Ramadan mosalsalat — set to make waves this month.
OkayAfrica StaffOkayAfricaStaff
Kabelo is a drama partly set in Lesotho’s mountainous highlands.by Kabelo (Pty) Ltd
March 2026 is set to be a significant month not just for women, but also for African cinema and series, with a diverse slate of new releases and festival screenings from across the continent. Packed full of psychological thrillers, action-packed dramas, critically acclaimed festival fare, and the latest Ramadan mosalsalat, this curated list highlights the must-watch films and shows emerging from East, North, and Southern Africa. Get ready to stream, watch, and be captivated by the stories making waves this month.
Red Brenda and Raymond Karago star in Stream, the Kenyan psychological-thriller short film by Andrew Evans Odera and Gregory Kiwo.from Stream on YouTube
At first glance, the Kenyan short film Stream plays like a simple third-date setup: Mia and Daniel meet at his apartment and settle into an easy night in. But there’s a twist Daniel doesn’t see coming: Mia is secretly live-streaming the evening to a hidden online audience. Directed by Andrew Evans Odera and Gregory Kiwo, the psychological thriller is available on YouTube and has been quietly gaining traction on social media as more viewers share clips and reactions.
A poster for Nabwana I.G.G.’s upcoming film, Eaten Alive in Uganda.from YouTube
It’s been a couple of years since Uganda’s famed Wakaliwood dropped one of its signature, no-holds-barred releases. Director Nabwana I.G.G., whose cult favorite Crazy World screened at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019, has been called Uganda’s Quentin Tarantino. Now he is back with his latest film, Eaten Alive in Uganda. From what the trailer suggests, this one leans hard into the grotesque: a blood-soaked mystery laced with suspense, horror, and — yes — cannibalism!
Where to watch: Available soon on Streameastfilms.com
West Africa — Nelson C.J.
Mothers of Chibok (Nigeria)
“Mothers of Chibok highlights the spirit of resilience that has kept these women going.”from Mothers of Chibok/YouTube
In this heart-stirring documentary directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson, the strength and perseverance of motherhood are put at the center. The story follows a group of mothers as they struggle to survive and rebuild following the aftermath of the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014. Hailed as powerful and necessary, Mothers of Chibok highlights the spirit of resilience that has sustained these women. From their fight to educate their children, their commitment to community, their work in farming, and their bravery in the face of blinding grief, this story offers a strong reminder that tucked far from sight beyond the numbers, there are people. People who have to fight to move on while dealing with an aggressively warped reality.
Where to watch: In Nigerian cinemas nationwide
La Mémoire du Manguier (Sénégal)
“La Mémoire du Manguier is a moving tale of community, love, and collective loss.”from the trailer of La Mémoire du Manguier/NICISS Group/YouTube
For years, Imam Habibi was an unshakable pillar of wisdom and comfort in the Cité Imbécile, until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This situation changes the dynamic he shared with his community, who band together to be there for him in the ways he’s been there for them. Directed by Nicolas Sawalo Cissé (The Hope Of Green), this film focuses on the power of hope, community, and intergenerational bonds.
Where to watch: Pathé Cinema Senegal
North Africa — Amuna Wagner
Ein Sehreya (Magic Eye) (Egypt)
Egyptian star Wegz provided the official soundtrack for Ein Sehreya.from Wegz - Ain Sehreya (Official Audio) | ويجز - عين سحرية /YouTube
In one of the most lauded mosalsalat of this year’s Ramadan season, Adel (Essam Omar) is a young man from a working-class family who installs surveillance cameras to provide for his mother and younger brother. Struggling to make ends meet, he agrees against his better judgment to secretly plant cameras for a wealthy lady - and witnesses a murder. Trying to hide his involvement, he meets lawyer Zaki Ghanem (Bassem Samra), who drags him into a dark web of corruption. This thriller was written by Hisham Hilal and directed by Al Sadeer Massoud.
Where to watch: ON, Yango Play
Chkoune Kan Igoul (Who Would’ve Thought) (Morocco)
While the region generally spends Ramadan watching Egyptian shows, other North African countries have their own production of Ramadan series.from شكون كان يقول - Chkoune Kane Igoul - EP01/YouTube
In the Moroccan Ramadan mosalsal Chkoune Kan Igoul by Safaa Baraka, Marwa grows up in an orphanage amongst other children who have shared a similar loss. When influential man Si Amer arrives and takes a special interest in her, her life changes completely, and she glimpses hope of a way out. However, rather than finding more stability, Marwa gets sucked into unexpected complications and a new reality of domestic violence.
Where to watch: Al Aoula TV, YouTube
We Nensa Ele Kan (And We Forget What Was) (Egypt)
This show examines the cost of fame in the digital age.from الإعلان التشويقي لمسلسل وننسى اللي كان | حصرياً | MBC Shahid/YouTube
We Nensa Ele Kan (And We Forget What Was) is one of Egypt’s most successful exports this season - people are watching it from Morocco to Bahrain. Written by Amr Mahmoud Yassin and directed by Mahmoud El-Khibry, this action-filled romance tells the story of Galila (Yasmin Abdulaziz), an artist at the height of her stardom. She is protected by Badr (Karim Fahmy), an ex-MMA fighter who quickly becomes more than just her bodyguard.
Where to watch: MBC Masr, Shahid
Southern Africa — Tšeliso Monaheng
Variations On A Theme (South Africa)
The film follows an elderly goat herder in the mountains of Namaqualand, South Africa.from IFFR
Variations On A Theme is a South African drama directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar. The film follows an elderly goat herder in the mountains of Namaqualand, South Africa, who becomes the target of a scam promising long-overdue reparations for her father’s service in World War II. Hope for payment that will never come shapes her days. As her 80th birthday nears, small disruptions threaten her independence and daily routines. The story is structured as a series of visual variations that return to the same moments with subtle shifts. Each recurrence reveals deeper textures of endurance. The film is screening at the Joburg Film Festival, giving audiences a chance to see this lyrical, intimate work on the big screen.
Where to Watch: Joburg Film Festival
Kabelo (Lesotho/South Africa)
Kabelo is a drama partly set in Lesotho’s mountainous highlands.by Kabelo (Pty) Ltd
Kabelo is a compelling adventure-drama that follows a shepherd from the Lesotho highlands who dreams of a life beyond his isolated existence. He is seduced by promises of mentorship and a ticket to Johannesburg upon meeting Master, a South African fugitive hiding out in the village. What begins as a transactional deal evolves into a fragile bond between two men from vastly different worlds, each searching for belonging in a world that feels too vast and unforgiving. Directed by Carl Houston McMillan,led by powerful Warren Masemola as Master, and Lebohang Ntsane as Kabelo, Kabelo paints an intimate portrait of the unlikely companionship that can emerge in the most remote corners of life. The film is part of the official lineup at the 8th Joburg Film Festival, happening from 3-8 March 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Where to Watch: Joburg Film Festival
Fatal Seduction: Season 3 (South Africa)
Season 3 of Netflix’s gripping South African thriller, Fatal Seduction, returns this March.courtesy of Netflix
Three years after painstakingly rebuilding her life, Nandi Mahlati finds herself at a crossroads in Season 3 of Netflix’s gripping South African thriller, Fatal Seduction. As Nandi navigates the fragile peace she’s fought so hard to secure, she’s once again pulled toward the intoxicating allure of forbidden love, a pull that threatens to unravel everything she has worked to restore. The series continues to blend steamy passion with psychological intrigue, following characters whose lives are tangled in dangerous choices. Season 3 retains its signature mix of character-driven storytelling and suspense that has captivated audiences worldwide.
