Matchmaking mayhem: Laugh at ‘A Naija Christmas’ online now
‘Tis the season for rom-coms and feel-good movies about the holidays. A Naija Christmas is the latest in Nigerian movies to make its way to the popular U.S. streaming platform. It looks like Nollywood is coming to Netflix for Christmas.
A Naija Christmas follows the story of a Christmas wish gone wrong for a mother just trying to get her sons married. In typical rom-com fashion, chaos ensues and nothing goes as planned.
Nollywood movies have a knack for high-drama & questionable special effects. This might be the first time many viewers see their more festive side. How will audiences react to A Naija Christmas?
Wish gone wrong
A Nigerian mother makes a Christmas wish for her sons to get married in A Naija Christmas. Her friends tease her because she’s not a grandmother yet. The holidays are coming and she doesn’t have a big family with whom to celebrate.
The chaos starts when she shares this wish with her sons. They immediately feel pressured to make her happy. The problem? None of them have anyone to bring home for the holidays.
A Naija Christmas is basically a fierce holiday competition between three sons trying to make their mother happy first. They hilariously scramble to find dates. Meanwhile, their mother is going all out to make the celebrations especially meaningful.
Cast
Director Kunle Afolayan is no stranger to working with writer Kemi Adesoye. Before making merry with A Naija Christmas, the two worked together on the 2009 supernatural thriller The Figurine: Araromire.
The cast is made up of seasoned acting veterans & newcomers alike. Kunle Remi, Efa Iwara, and Abayomi Alvin bring the hilarity as the three brothers. Linda Osifo & Segilola Ogidan are among the gorgeous women the brothers try to convince to go out with them.
Other notable cast members of A Naija Christmas include Mercy Johnson Okojie, Ade Laoye, Carol King, Lateef Adedimeji, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, and Jude Chukwuka. Unfortunately, veteran Nigerian actress Rachel Oniga, passed earlier this year.
Naija & Netflix
A Naija Christmas isn’t the only product of Nollywood to find a home on Netflix. Rather, it’s part of a wave of Nollywood projects partnering with Netflix for global accessibility.
If you’re in the mood for comedies, look no further than One Lagos Night starring Frank Donga, Gold Ikponmwosa, and Ali Nuhu. If you’re in the mood for something more dramatic, Okey Oku questions society in Black Rose.
It’s almost hard to believe there was once hardly any Nollywood movies on Netflix. The Nigerian movie industry has been growing & establishing itself for years. Global audiences are finally gaining access to their already established success.
Streaming Nollywood
Netflix is one of many streaming platforms to pick up Nigerian content like A Naija Christmas. In fact, Nollywood has its own platform in Nollyland. For $6 per month, viewers can enjoy thousands of movies & TV shows from Naija – the colloquial nickname for Nigeria.
IrokoTV is one of the first streaming platforms in Africa. It’s a testament to the growth & success of Nigerian movies. IrokoTV offers paid-for movies-on-demand. While it’s central to Africa, it’s accessible for anyone with access to an Android or iPhone.
Other streaming platforms include Showmax, FilmHouse, and, of course, YouTube. More people want to see Nigerian movies & TV shows. As the demand grows, so does the streaming ability to meet it.
A Naija Christmas promises to be a heartwarming tale of family, celebration, and honoring one’s elders. It also promises to show the world how Nigerian families bring in the holidays. Sometimes this means making one’s mom happy. Other times, it means three stressed-out brothers fighting in Santa suits. At least they’re together!
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Are you excited for A Naija Christmas? Are you familiar with Nollywood movies? Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
