We just might be in the middle of a renaissance, people. With certified hits like Industry, Queen Sugar, Harlem, Blood Sisters and many more, 2022 was a phenomenal year for stories that highlighted black stories, black characters, and the black experience. From new series like Issa Rae’s Rap Sh!t, to shows like Atlanta that came to an incredible close, the year was filled with bangers. Add all the high-production value African content shared globally, and it’s clear that 2023 has a very tough act to follow.
So with studios and streaming services starting to build hype — and Black History Month upon us — what can we expect this year? In no particular order, here’s our list of what to look forward to in the coming months, and what I think will capture the Pan-African zeitgeist in powerful ways.
Blood And Water
What started as a young girl’s journey to find her long-lost sister in a South African private school has morphed into something much bigger and a lot more sinister in its first three seasons. I anticipate that Puleng and her friends will have quite a lot to deal with when this series returns for its fourth outing on Netflix.
Snowfall
In this story of power that corrupts, Damson Idris’ Franklin Saint is about to face a reckoning as the series returns this year for its sixth and final season. With danger and division facing his family and empire, Franklin has no shortage of tough decisions on his plate, and someone’s definitely going to get hurt. Snowfall returns February 22nd on FX and Disney+.
Ahsoka
With Andor re-establishing the high bar for Star Wars shows on Disney+, I have very high expectations for this show that features perhaps the most popular female character in the franchise. Rosario Dawson will reprise her role from The Mandalorian as Ahsoka Tano, prodigy and student of Anakin Skywalker, in this series set to premiere in late 2023.
Ironheart
Keeping with the trend of compelling female characters leading Disney-owned franchises is this new show that will follow Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams in late 2023 as she makes her own claim to fame following her debut in Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Queen Charlotte
No list of anticipated releases would be complete this year without the spin-off to Netflix’s mega-hit Bridgerton, which is rumoured for a May 2023 release. While Golda Rosheuvel will reprise her role as the titular character, India Amarteifo joins the cast as a young Queen Charlotte, setting the people up for the flashback they’ve been craving. Also, that is some seriously good casting.
African Queens: Njinga
This series’ highly anticipated first season takes viewers on the journey of Queen Njinga of Angola as she rises to power against all odds, and is narrated and executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith. It’s a docuseries and will feature not just re-enactments, but interviews with experts.
Shanty Town
This show centers on three hustlers in Lagos, Nigeria and the alliance they form to topple the state’s most vicious and powerful crime syndicate. Originally envisioned as a feature film, Shanty Town started airing as a six-part series on Netflix on January 20th and enlists a star-studded ensemble, including Ini Edo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Regina Daniels, Peter Okoye of P-Square, and Nancy Isime who was exceptional in Blood Sisters. Our review of this one is out already, so be sure to read that next!
Iwájú
Ziki Nelson and Tolu Olowofoyeko’s upcoming animated series is set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria and is a joint production with Kugali Media. The promotional images we’ve seen promise a vibrant art style and its narrative is set to explore what happens when innocence is faced with inequality. Iwájú will be the first series from Walt Disney Animation Studios to premiere as a completely original property, not based on any pre-existing feature films, and I’m very much excited to dive in.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Returning for its second season February 23rd on Peacock, this re-engineered take on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air brought new dramatic and emotional notes to the iconic sitcom. The first season was a hit and left Jabari Banks’ Will in a vulnerable spot, as he prepares for a reunion that’s sure to shake him to his core.
Power Book II: Ghost
Last but not definitely least is Starz’s crown jewel, Power Book II: Ghost, which follows Michael Rainey Jr’s Tariq St. Patrick as he strives to protect his family and carve out his own legacy while learning from his father’s mistakes and facing the consequences of his own. And did I mention he’s also in the middle of earning a college degree? Ghost wowed fans with its explosive second season in late 2021 and early 2022, and will be returning for its third season March 17th.
