Kenya's first Netflix series "Country Queen" - Entertaining audiences and opening doors | All media content | DW | 07.09.2022
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Moving pictures, changing perspectives

Kenya's first Netflix series "Country Queen" - Entertaining audiences and opening doors

"Country Queen" has been an important step for the country, both in training filmmakers and in creating exposure for Kenya's creative sector. Let's celebrate these accomplishments!

  • Film still of Akisa in Country Queen

    A David and Goliath story

    The "Country Queen" plot centers around Akisa, who left her village years ago to move to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Yet when tragedy strikes, she must return home. Once there, she discovers that an exploitative mining company has moved in and her village is under threat. She now has to decide whether to return to her life in the city or face her past and fight for her village.

  • Crew from the set of “Country Queen”

    A first for the region

    It took 80 actors, 87 crew members and over 250 extras to film the six episodes of the first season. The series was released on Netflix on July 15, 2022, becoming the first Kenyan series on the streaming platform. For three weeks, it was the top-streamed series in Kenya. The project was supported by DW Akademie and the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

  • Film | Country Queen

    Creating a vocabulary for change

    The drama series deals with land grabbing, child labor, corruption and other challenges currently facing Kenyans. "I know that our issues in our country cannot be solved overnight, but our story brings a vocabulary so people can talk about [the issues] and hopefully create a lasting solution," said producer Kamau Wandung'u.

  • Film still from the series Country Queen

    Melissa Kiplagat, Actor (Akisa)

    "What I like about the series is it doesn't show the stereotypical view of Africans, especially Africans in the village. [Productions] are always kind of showing us as very backward and wanting to go to the city and all of this, but the [series] shows really strong, passionate, fiery people in the village. And they're just as strong in terms of their character as the people in the city."

  • Director Vincent Mbaya watches a replay on the set of Country Queen

    Vincent Mbaya, Director

    "Our country is at a critical transitory stage politically, socially and economically. Kenyans are at a point where they need introspection […]: How much control should global corporations have on our mining and agriculture? And how much is corruption affecting us? These are conversations that should and are being had. 'Country Queen' is adding a strong voice to this."

  • film still of Anna holding baby socks from Country Queen

    Sheila Munyiva, Actor (Anna)

    "This story is not only personal to me because I'm Kenyan but because it goes down to my local tribe, which is Kamba, and I get to speak my language in this show. That gives me great pride and it gives me great joy that I was able to contribute to my local language. I would call my grandmother to help me even translate the difficult words for the people and writers on set."

  • Second Assistant Camera Nash Wangai on the set of Country Queen

    Nashreen Wangai, Second Assistant Camera

    "I achieved my full potential on the production of 'Country Queen'. The producers and my department head were able to see in me what I was yet to see in myself […] I am currently doing [first assistant camera] jobs and this is all thanks to the skills I acquired on the 'Country Queen' set, working as a second assistant camera. I am hoping to become the next best female [director of photography]."

  • Film still of Mwalimu from Country Queen

    Raymond Olufa, Actor (Mwalimu)

    Good Karma Fiction acted as executive producers and, with Tililiz Productions, also led trainings at various levels, including acting. "With 'Country Queen', and the Good Karma Fiction and DW Akademie team, the standards for good, successful productions were set up in a completely new way, and with respect for the film artists. That was a game changer," said Raymond Olufa.

  • Photo from the set of Country Queen

    Nini Wacera, Actor (Vivienne)

    Nini has worked in the industry for 24 years. The workshops, she said, "raised the bar of acting because we now demand more from ourselves as actors. And what I continue to gain is the idea that you never stop learning about techniques and skills. As an actor, you've never reached a point where you can be like, 'yeah, I know it all' or 'I've learned enough'."


  • Film still of Akisa in Country Queen

    A David and Goliath story

    The "Country Queen" plot centers around Akisa, who left her village years ago to move to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Yet when tragedy strikes, she must return home. Once there, she discovers that an exploitative mining company has moved in and her village is under threat. She now has to decide whether to return to her life in the city or face her past and fight for her village.

  • Crew from the set of “Country Queen”

    A first for the region

    It took 80 actors, 87 crew members and over 250 extras to film the six episodes of the first season. The series was released on Netflix on July 15, 2022, becoming the first Kenyan series on the streaming platform. For three weeks, it was the top-streamed series in Kenya. The project was supported by DW Akademie and the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

  • Film | Country Queen

    Creating a vocabulary for change

    The drama series deals with land grabbing, child labor, corruption and other challenges currently facing Kenyans. "I know that our issues in our country cannot be solved overnight, but our story brings a vocabulary so people can talk about [the issues] and hopefully create a lasting solution," said producer Kamau Wandung'u.

  • Film still from the series Country Queen

    Melissa Kiplagat, Actor (Akisa)

    "What I like about the series is it doesn't show the stereotypical view of Africans, especially Africans in the village. [Productions] are always kind of showing us as very backward and wanting to go to the city and all of this, but the [series] shows really strong, passionate, fiery people in the village. And they're just as strong in terms of their character as the people in the city."

  • Director Vincent Mbaya watches a replay on the set of Country Queen

    Vincent Mbaya, Director

    "Our country is at a critical transitory stage politically, socially and economically. Kenyans are at a point where they need introspection […]: How much control should global corporations have on our mining and agriculture? And how much is corruption affecting us? These are conversations that should and are being had. 'Country Queen' is adding a strong voice to this."

  • film still of Anna holding baby socks from Country Queen

    Sheila Munyiva, Actor (Anna)

    "This story is not only personal to me because I'm Kenyan but because it goes down to my local tribe, which is Kamba, and I get to speak my language in this show. That gives me great pride and it gives me great joy that I was able to contribute to my local language. I would call my grandmother to help me even translate the difficult words for the people and writers on set."

  • Second Assistant Camera Nash Wangai on the set of Country Queen

    Nashreen Wangai, Second Assistant Camera

    "I achieved my full potential on the production of 'Country Queen'. The producers and my department head were able to see in me what I was yet to see in myself […] I am currently doing [first assistant camera] jobs and this is all thanks to the skills I acquired on the 'Country Queen' set, working as a second assistant camera. I am hoping to become the next best female [director of photography]."

  • Film still of Mwalimu from Country Queen

    Raymond Olufa, Actor (Mwalimu)

    Good Karma Fiction acted as executive producers and, with Tililiz Productions, also led trainings at various levels, including acting. "With 'Country Queen', and the Good Karma Fiction and DW Akademie team, the standards for good, successful productions were set up in a completely new way, and with respect for the film artists. That was a game changer," said Raymond Olufa.

  • Photo from the set of Country Queen

    Nini Wacera, Actor (Vivienne)

    Nini has worked in the industry for 24 years. The workshops, she said, "raised the bar of acting because we now demand more from ourselves as actors. And what I continue to gain is the idea that you never stop learning about techniques and skills. As an actor, you've never reached a point where you can be like, 'yeah, I know it all' or 'I've learned enough'."