Netflix drops trailer, confirms ‘Blood Sisters’ is first Nigerian original series

Netflix has released the trailer (see below) for its first original TV show out of Nigeria, ‘Blood Sisters’. Produced by leading Nigerian production company EbonyLife Studios, founded by Mo Abudu, the four-part crime thriller directed by Biyi Bandele and Kenneth Gyang will launch globally on the streaming service on May 5. The show is Abudu’s latest project for Netflix as part of her multi-title deal with the platform.

Initial Twitter reactions asked Netflix about the miniseries, as prior to the trailer Kemi Adetiba’s ‘King of Boys’ series was believed to be the streamer’s first Nigerian original series. Reacting to curious Twitter users, Abudu took to her official Instagram post with a statement: “Today, Netflix and EbonyLife Studios announce our pulsating limited series that will launch globally and exclusively on Netflix on the 5th of May 2022. This is officially Netflix’s First Nigerian Original Series as per the press release issued by Netflix today.”

Netflix’s Manager, Content for Africa, Dorothy Ghettuba also confirmed the streamer’s stance in an Instagram post. She shared: “From @moabudu and her outstanding team at @ebonylifestudios comes our first Nigerian Original series BLOOD SISTERS. What is it about? Glad you asked. It is about two friends, a dark secret and an unforgiving family. It is crazy y’all!”

Set in Lagos, ‘Blood Sisters’ follows a Nigerian wedding where the bride — who is fed up of being beaten up by her partner — accidentally kills the groom the night before their big day. The show tackles themes of intra-family relationships, physical and substance abuse, love, commitment and relationships. Watch trailer below:

An official description bills ‘Blood Sisters’ as “an ode to life in the city [of Lagos] as it brilliantly juxtaposes the various socio-economic divides in Africa’s most famous commercial and social hub.”

EbonyLife Studios CEO Abudu said: “‘Blood Sisters’ is a crime thriller, which is a new genre for us, so the prospect was challenging but very exciting! It was also a particularly unique and intense experience as we shot during the pandemic, but we remained committed to the vision we share with Netflix — to tell authentic and exciting African stories with superb production values.”

Abudu’s titles with Netflix include the movie ‘Òlòturé’, which has already been released, and a highly anticipated adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’.