Prime Video orders ‘Ebuka Turns Up Africa’ & seeks Nigerian unscripted

Ebuka Turns Up Africa

Prime Video has announced Ebuka Turns Up Africa, a travel-reality show following Nigerian TV personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu as he and five friends take a VIP tour across Africa.

The show was unveiled on a panel at MIPCOM in Cannes this morning, with Ned Mitchell, head of originals for Africa & Middle East, for Amazon MGM Studios, revealing that Amazon is making a “long-term investment” in Africa and sees Nigeria and South Africa as “fertile” countries from which to expand into the continent.

Ebuka Turns Up Africa is produced by Rapid Blue Productions, and executive produced by Ziyanda Ngcaba and Erika Klopper, and will debut next year.

“Nigeria and South Africa are both unique, special places, and homes for storytelling with incredible talent,” said Mitchell. “Just in the past year alone, Gangs Of Lagos was our sort of signature opening hello to the world for Nigeria,” he added of Amazon streamer Prime Video’s first African original, the crime drama feature that debuted in April.

Joining Mitchell on the panel was Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, head of Nigerian originals at Amazon Studios, who revealed that she is particularly looking for unscripted content that is localised for the audience, as she works to build the slate. “Don’t try to do Hollywood in Nigeria, do Nigeria for Nigeria,” said Mba-Uzoukwu.

Mitchell added that, more generally, Amazon was looking for shows with “buzziness, explosiveness, addictive watching and special access.” Speaking to the audience, he asked producers to consider working in Africa to help “break new ground” in the continent.