Netflix Buys ‘Mokalik,’ Kunle Afolayan’s Yoruba Movie

American streaming giant Netflix has bought an indigenous movie from Nigerian esteemed movie producer and director, Kunle Afolayan.

Afolayan announced this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday at the venue of the French-Nigerian Cinema Days which held from July 2-3 at the Alliance Francoise, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“I wish to inform you that Netflix has acquired Mokalik and some other of my films,” he said.

Although, the prized movie director did not disclose the value paid for the movie, he explained that the company has not disclosed when the films will be released on the platform.

The purchase emphasises Netflix’s ongoing aggressive interest for Africa motion picture industry as there are many untapped talents and contents.

The company had reportedly signalled that it planned to get serious about ordering/acquiring original series and films from the African continent, created by Africans.

At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2018), the streamer had acquired Nigerian drama “Lion heart,” the directorial debut of Nollywood veteran actress Genevieve Nnaji. It was also picked as a Netflix Original movie and was released worldwide on January 4, 2019.

The new movie, Mokalik features singer Simisola Ogunleye, also known as Simi, in her debut acting role and Big Brother Naija ex-housemate, Tobi Bakre among others.

Other stars in the all-Yoruba cast movie include Femi Adebayo, Ayo Adesanya, Faithia Williams and Lateef Oladimeji.

Comic actors, including Wale Akorede (Okunu), Ayo Ogunshina (Papa Lolo) and Dayo Akinpelu (Alabi Yellow), also starred in the movie.

Written by Tunde Babalola and directed by Kunle Afolayan, Mokalik is set in an automobile repair workshop (mechanic village).

The plot follows the story of an 11-year-old boy, Jaiye, from the middle-class suburbs, who decides to find his path in life as an apprentice at a mechanic workshop.

When his father arrives to take him home, Jaiye has to make up his mind if he wants to return to school or take on his apprenticeship full time.

“Visiting the mechanic workshop after about 15 years opened my eyes to a lot of things that I believe the world should know about our local auto car repairs industry,” Afolayan had said of the movie.

Also Read: Genevieve Reportedly Sold ‘Lionheart’ To Netflix For $3.8 million