By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Kava, a new streaming platform for Nollywood and African content, is set to launch in August 2025.
The platform is a collaborative effort between InkBlot Studios and Filmhouse Group, with a focus on showcasing African stories and creativity to global audiences.
Over 30 premium Nollywood titles will be available at launch, with fresh releases weekly. Kava will feature a diverse range of content, including movies in different languages and identities. The platform aims to deliver high-quality content at scale to audiences worldwide.
Kava’s co-CEOs, Kene Okwuosa and Chinaza Onuzo, believe that African stories can be a global streaming staple and a sustainable business.
Okwuosa said, “We’re building a platform that doesn’t just stream films—it fuels careers, drives innovation, and connects African creativity to audiences around the world.”
Despite Nollywood’s increasing popularity, previous attempts to create a global streaming platform for African content have faced challenges. IrokoTV, a pioneering platform, exited the Nigerian market after struggling to achieve sustainability. However, Kava’s co-founders are optimistic about the platform’s potential, citing the growing penetration of broadband networking and the increasing popularity of streaming services.
Kava has secured initial investments from a “family and friends” round and financiers like Vested World and TLG Capital. The platform plans to raise more funding for rapid expansion across Africa and into Europe, particularly the UK. Kava aims to capitalize on the existing global consumption of Nigerian content. Onuzo said, “One of the things that the streaming era showed us was that our content is consumed all over the world. I don’t know how many Nigerians are in Brazil, or Argentina, but you find that our content trots well and people engage it.”
The platform’s Head of Content Acquisition, Ladun Awobokun, said, “Kava will champion African music, movies, fashion, culture, and voices, creating a space where creators across Nigeria and the diaspora can shine.”
Kava’s co-CEOs believe that the platform can deliver African stories to global audiences and create a sustainable business. Onuzo said, “When we’re able to deliver content at scale to audiences that are not just us, they will understand and fall in love with the stories that we have. They just don’t know it yet, but they will fall in love with us.”
