The Best African Films and Shows To Watch This Month
Our October guide spans everything from historical dramas to coming-of-age stories and relatable rom-coms.
OkayAfrica StaffOkayAfricaStaff
When overachieving perfectionist Mmabatho Nkomo meets her fiancé’s traditional Indian family for the first time, her desperate attempt to impress backfires when she accidentally exposes her future father-in-law’s secret affair.Courtesy Of Netflix
As usual, our What to Watch guide this month takes you on a cinematic journey across the continent. This list features a cross-cultural rom-com, a new instalment of a South African fan-favorite franchise, and a curation of films honoring the legacy of a celebrated Egyptian filmmaker.
This curation of films honors the legacy and continuous impact of one of the world’s greatest directors.from YOUSSEF CHAHINE: SON OF THE NILE | Hand-picked by MUBI on YouTube
Youssef Chahine (1926-2008) is widely considered to have been the Arab World’s most significant and influential film director. In honor of the centennial of his birth, several institutions in Cairo have been celebrating his extraordinary body of work, placing Chahine’s cinema within a global context and a broader political and cultural landscape, and exploring how his work engaged with the defining questions of its time. The third installment of the retrospective, What Now, My Love?, brings together eight Chahine films that embody a formal and thematic courage that clearly distinguishes them from what came before. From The Choice (1971) to Alexandria Again and Forever (1989), these films show Chahine at the height of his energy and imaginative abilities.
Where to watch: Zawya Cinema in Cairo until October 17
Mira (Morocco, Saudi Arabia)
In this long-awaited film, three generations embark on a journey of self-discovery to assert themselves in a culture torn between tradition and modernity.from Mira trailer | PÖFF29 on YouTube.
The long-awaited Saudi-Moroccan co-production Mira is starting its festival run at the 31st edition of the Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival (October 3 -10). Written and directed by Nour Eddine Lakhmari, the story follows Mira (Safaa Khatami), a 13-year old Moroccan girl who lives in the Middle Atlas and works to free birds caught in hunters’ traps in the forest. Alongside a group of immigrants living in her community, she is figuring out her place and freedom. Mira is guided by her grandmother Zainab (Fatima Attif) and her teacher Lamia (Zainab Ajli), who face similar but sometimes conflicting inner struggles: one wants to protect Mira from the consequences of her choices while the other teaches her that no fear should prevent her from following her path.
Where to watch: Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival, Morocco
Southern Africa — Tšeliso Monaheng
How To Ruin Diwali: Meet the Parents (South Africa)
When overachieving perfectionist Mmabatho Nkomo meets her fiancé’s traditional Indian family for the first time, her desperate attempt to impress backfires when she accidentally exposes her future father-in-law’s secret affair.Courtesy Of Netflix
How To Ruin Diwali: Meet the Parents is the newest instalment in Netflix's fan-favourite How To Ruin franchise. The story centres on Mmabatho (Rosemary Zimu-Mnguni), a perfectionist ready to take the next step in her relationship with Varshen (Kyle Clark). When he introduces her to his parents over Diwali weekend, an already awkward meeting spirals into a full-blown family mess. The clash of personalities and cultures only intensifies with the arrival of Mmabatho's own parents, Penelope and Mandla, played by Sonia Mbele and Meshack Mavuso respectively.
Where to watch: Netflix
Auntie Jenny (Zimbabwe)
'Auntie Jenny' follows the life of a 42-year-old maid who lives and works in Harare.from YouTube.
Filmed in Zimbabwe, Aunty Jenny follows a 42-year-old white maid whose very existence challenges stereotypes. Her arrival at the Moyo family home draws mixed reactions: the wife is unsure how to treat her or how to behave around her. The family initially mistakes her for a potential investor and is shocked to learn she is the maid. Through humour, Aunty Jenny interrogates social constructs and breaks down barriers.
Where to watch: YouTube
Seriously Single Too (South Africa)
Dineo and Noni are back, but their long-standing friendship is put to the ultimate test.Courtesy of Netflix
Six years after Seriously Single debuted, best friends Dineo (Fulu Mugovhani) and Noni (Tumi Morake) return for another chapter of friendship, romance, chaos and questionable decisions. This time, the duo trade the comforts of Johannesburg for Cape Town and what promises to be an unforgettable bachelorette weekend. The getaway quickly spirals into a string of disasters.
Where to watch: Netflix
East Africa — Paula Adhis
East West Love (Kenya/Nigeria)
A still from 'East West Love' shows Tito and Juma sharing an intimate moment by the water in Mombasa.from YouTube.
Directed by Tanzanian filmmaker Seko Shamte, East West Love is a cross-cultural romantic comedy set between Lagos and Mombasa. Tito (Sunshine Rosman) is a Nigerian event planner whose romantic getaway falls apart after she discovers her boyfriend is cheating. Rather than cancel the trip, she heads to Mombasa with her best friend, where she meets Juma, a charming hotel manager played by Brian Abajah.
Where to watch: In Kenyan cinemas from October 9, 2026, with Tanzania and Uganda releases to follow.
Ben’Imana (Rwanda)
A still from 'Ben’Imana' shows Veneranda standing before members of her community.from YouTube.
Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo’s Ben’Imana follows Veneranda, a survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi whose work is rooted in reconciliation and community healing. When her teenage daughter becomes pregnant, painful memories and unresolved family tensions rise to the surface, forcing her to question the limits of forgiveness. After premiering at Cannes earlier this year, the film opens the 2026 Nairobi (NBO) Film Festival this month.
Where to watch: Screening at the NBO Film Festival on October 15 at Prestige Cinemas, with additional festival screenings during the run.
Call Me Queen (International/Kenya)
A still from 'Call Me Queen' shows the lead character leading a protest.from YouTube.
Acclaimed French Iranian filmmaker Emily Atef’s Call Me Queen is a Nairobi-set drama about friendship, activism and unequal access to healthcare. Set during the HIV/AIDS crisis of the late 1990s, it follows Queen (Eliane Umuhire), a Rwandan refugee and single mother who forms an unlikely bond with Irish journalist Anna (Denise Gough), as they challenge the barriers keeping life-saving treatment out of reach. Shot in Kenya with a largely Kenyan crew, the film will make its Kenyan debut as part of the 2026 Nairobi (NBO) Film Festival.
Where to watch:NBO Film Festival on October 17, before opening in cinemas across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda on October 30, 2026.
West Africa — Nelson C.J
Dear Ajayi (Nigeria)
“Beautifully shot and deeply contemplative, the film premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and won two honours.”from YouTube.
In Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi, two estranged sisters are forced to cohabit while caring for their ailing mother and reconsidering the scales of their relationship. Set in 1990s Nigeria, the story tackles the weight of familial wounds as the sisters Ade (Bimbo Akintola) and Titi (Tosin Adeyemi) confront their vast dissimilarities. Ade is a devout Christian while Titi is an aspiring singer. In confronting their past, both women are also faced with social pressures, duty, and unending resentment. Beautifully shot and deeply contemplative, the film premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and won two honours, including the Bisato d'Oro Award for Best Cast & Performances and the CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Prize.
