Queen Sono: Netflix ordered its first South African original series, starring Pearl Thusi

The drama tells the story of a secret agent who fights crime while dealing with personal crises in her life.

Pearl Thusi shared the news on Twitter on 10 December. In her words, it’s going to be a “thrilling story about a kickass female spy.” It will go down in history is Africa’s first Netflix Original.

Thusi described Queen Sono as a game changer for every artist on this continent and was excited to be the first to share this news. She added through the tears:

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, the team […] has worked so hard to make this happen. Thank you to Netflix for believing in this idea. I cannot wait for every young woman, every woman on this continent, actually every woman on this planet, to meet Queen Sono.”

Also part of the team is director Kagiso Lediga and Tamsin Andersson in the role of executive producer. Netflix’s vice president of international original, Erik Barmack, told IOL Entertainment that he is excited “to be working with Kagiso and Pearl, to bring the story of Queen Sono to life,” and expressed his hopes that the show will be embraced by South African and global audiences. 

“Over time our roots will get deeper in Africa and South Africa, and we’re moving pretty quickly to that now, and plan to invest more in local content.” Erik Barmack

Netflix to produce more African content

Just a week ago, Barmack said at an event in London that the streaming giant would begin commissioning original content in African for 2019, and viewers are glad to see his words coming to fruition.

A Twitter user known only as A Rose In Hillbrow congratulated Thusi on the show, and said “it’s an incredible achievement,” while Kenny added that “it’s about time Netflix produced local content.”

Another user added that “like Black Panther, it better be good, if it’s a game changer for the entire continent,” while Nonhlanhla said Thusi is an “example to all young girls and women that hard work and following your dream does pay off.” She added:

“You have put SA woman on the map and super proud, keep shinning and slay girl. #Queengoals.”