Entertainment platform Showmax has announced new shows that will be available this August in Kenya on their video on demand service.
The shows and movies include Sauti Sol’s new reality TV show Sol Family, Life With Kelly Khumalo, Big Brother Naija and Dada Sphere, a women empowerment show by Valentine Njoroge. Kenyan content on the platform includes new weekly episodes of Selina, Kina, Kovu and Pete.
There are also shows for kids such as PAW Patrol Mighty Pups Movie, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles S1, Good Witch S5-6, Corn and Peg S1, and The Addams Family (2019).
Sol Family – Starts 10 August with a double bill, weekly episodes after they air on Maisha Magic
This new reality series will give viewers the front seat to the behind the scenes and bring to the forefront the people and the work that goes behind the hit-making machine that is Sauti Sol and Sol Generation. The show will explore the lives of band members Bienaime Baraza, Willis Chimano, Polycarp Otieno, Savara Mudigi as well as the stars of Sol Generation; Nviiri and Bensoul and the team behind their management that makes the magic happen. The show delves deep into the music-making process as well as the elements of their personal lives that make them tick.
Reckoning S1 | First on Showmax, binge from 1 August
When an infamous serial killer who has gone dormant for years is believed to have killed again, two families in a quiet, suburban neighbourhood are put on a dangerous collision course. Homicide Detective Mike Serrato (Aden Young, Rectify) and high school guidance counsellor Leo Doyle (Sam Trammell, True Blood) have struggled for years to do what is best for the people they love and the families they are desperate to protect. But when old obsessions begin to possess them, the murder of a local teenager sets Mike and Leo on a course of mutual destruction that will emanate through every facet of their lives.
Briarpatch S1 | Mondays from 3 August
Senator’s aide Allegra Dill (Rosario Dawson, Sin City) returns to her border-town Texas home to investigate the death of her sister – a local cop killed by a car bomb. What begins as a search for a killer turns into an all-consuming fight to bring her corrupt hometown to its knees.
Love Life S1 | 21 August | First on Showmax
Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air, Pitch Perfect) stars as Darby in this eight-episode HBO romcom anthology series that traces the journey from first love to lasting love, and how the people we’re with along the way make us into who we are when we finally end up with someone forever.
I May Destroy You | Wednesdays at 22:30 from 26 August, same day as 1Magic
I May Destroy You centres on Arabella (Michaela Coel, Chewing Gum), a carefree, self-assured Londoner with a group of great friends, a boyfriend in Italy, and a burgeoning writing career. But when her drink is spiked with a date-rape drug, she questions every element of her life.
What We Do In The Shadows S2 | First on Showmax | Binge from 1 August
From multiple Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) and 2020 Oscar winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), the hit mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows is a look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of three vampires who’ve lived together in New York for over 100 years – plenty of time to get on each other’s nerves.
Vida S3 | First on Showmax | Binge from 1 August
The bar the Hernandez sisters inherited is booming and their love lives are actually flourishing — until they discover another long-buried family secret, which leaves them wondering if they can continue together as a family or if they should each move on alone — for good this time.
Future Man S3 | First on Showmax | Binge from 1 August
Four-time Teen Choice winner Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) stars as Josh Futturman, a janitor by day, gamer by night, who is recruited by mysterious visitors to travel through time in order to prevent the extinction of humanity at the hands of an imminent super-race invasion.
Seth Rogen plays Susan and is also a director and executive producer on the series, but the real stars are Eliza Coupe (Casual) and Derek Wilson (Rectify) as fan favourites Tiger and Wolf.
The Walking Dead S10 | Binge from 1 August
The Walking Dead is the definitive zombie show, having won 77 awards globally.
In Season 10, Norman Reedus and Danai Gurira returns Daryl and Michonne, as does Melissa McBride as Carol. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is also still alive as Negan, but the bigger threat this season is two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (Harlots, Minority Report) as Alpha, the leader of the Whisperers, who wear the skins of zombies, and live among them…
My Brilliant Friend S2: The Story of a New Name | 22 August | Same day as M-Net
Set in Naples and based on Elena Ferrante’s bestselling novels, My Brilliant Friend is the story of a friendship spanning 60 years. Season 2, based on the second novel in Ferrante’s series, sees Lila stuck in a brutal marriage to the wealthy Stefano Caracci, while Elena dallies with suitor Antonio Cappuccio and explores her growing attraction to the magnetic Nino Sarratore.
Bombshell (2019) | 10 August Express after M-Net Sunday Night
Based on the true story, this blockbuster drama is superbly led by Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman, and Oscar nominee Margot Robbie, all three of whom, Rolling Stone says, “come out blazing in this tale of how the women of Fox News brought down a predatory CEO,” adding, “It’s explosive entertainment that means to make a difference.“
Ma (2019) | 6 August
Starring Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures), this psychological thriller centres on a group of teens who luck out when middle-aged singleton Sue Ann (aka Ma) offers them her basement to hang out and party in. But just as it seems things couldn’t get sweeter, they begin to suspect there’s something a little off about Ma…
Destroyer (2018) | 13 August
Destroyer is a heavy-weight, neo-noir crime drama starring Oscar winner Nicole Kidman in a 2019 Golden Globe-nominated performance as a damaged ex-LAPD cop with a score to settle, some wrongs to right, and a history to set straight.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) | 20 August
Based on the memoir The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy, penned by Bundy’s former girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall, this biographical crime thriller stars Zac Efron as Ted Bundy, one of America’s most notorious serial killers.
Hunter Killer | 31 August
SAFTA-winning South African director Donovan Marsh (iNumber Number) makes his Hollywood directorial debut with this high-tension action thriller about an American submarine Captain Joe Glass, who is searching for a vessel in distress when he accidentally stumbles upon an attempted Russian coup, plunging him into a high-stakes rescue mission with an elite squad of Navy Seals in a bid to prevent WWIII. Hunter Killer stars Gerard Butler (300), Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) and rapper/actor Common (Selma).
Love Island UK S6 | 5 eps every Saturday from 8 August
For fans dying to see the latest season of the BAFTA-winning reality show Love Island UK, the long wait is finally over. And it’s all the more delicious because this is the season that was filmed at a villa in Cape Town, South Africa.
Laura Whitmore of Strictly Come Dancing fame is this season’s new host for the drama-packed reality show that sees single hopefuls complete tasks, couple up and get voted out week by week.
You can also watch Binge Love Island UK S1-5, plus Love Island Australia S1-2 and Love Island USA.
The Addams Family (2019) | Express after M-Net, Sunday 23 August
The world’s kookiest family is coming to town, and this poor, little New Jersey suburb has no idea what’s about to hit it. When Wednesday Addams befriends the daughter of reality TV host Margaux Needler, who’s hell-bent on building the perfect planned community, the Addams family find themselves way out of their league when it comes to “Assimilation”. The movie features an all-star voice cast, including Charlize Theron and Oscar Isaac (Star Wars).
Corn and Peg S1 | 1 August
Let’s do good with Corn and Peg! Corn and Peg follows a unicorn and a pegasus as they help their friends and neighbors in the community of Galloping Grove by doing nice things. Along the way, young fans will pick up skills such as simple counting, colour identification, following directions, and life skills.
Good Witch S5-6 | 10 August
Starring Catherine Bell (JAG) as beloved witch Cassie Nightingale, the feel-good Hallmark franchise is the ultimate in wholesome family viewing. James Denton (Desperate Housewives’ Mike) co-stars as Dr Sam Radford, alongside Bailee Madison (The Fosters) as Cassie’s daughter Grace and Rhys Matthew Bond (Heartland, Ties that Bind) as troublesome teen Nick Radford.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles S1 | 13 August
The award-winning Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise delivers non-stop, explosive ninja action in its latest reimagining. Keep an ear out for celebrity guest voice cameos from the likes of John Cena (Bumblebee), Lena Heady (Game of Thrones), Seth Green (Robot Chicken, Austin Powers) and mega maths boffin Danica McKellar (Project Mc², The Wonder Years).
PAW Patrol Mighty Pups Movie | 20 August
This mini-movie special spin-off of the hugely popular PAW Patrol series is sure to delight little ones in search of high adventure. Mighty Pups sees our favourite PAW Patrol pups gain superpowers after a meteor crashes to Earth – but will their new abilities be enough to defeat the nefarious Mayor Humdinger and his nephew Harold? Marshall and the team have saved Adventure Bay before – now it’s up to the pups to save the world as this mighty adventure unfolds!
Big Brother Naija S5: Lockdown | Every day, all day LIVE on Showmax
The big news this season is that Showmax has a 24-hour live stream for superfans who love to watch online. Don’t miss a second of the drama, Diary Room confessions, steamy shower moments, Friday night games and Saturday party rocking. Keep a browser window open on your desktop while you work so you don’t miss a minute of BBNaija Lockdown.
Love Come Back S1 | Starts 2 Aug
Everybody has that one person who got away. Adapted from the South African hit reality show, Love Come Back is a relationship show that gives people a chance to try to get a former lover back into their lives with a grand gesture. Hosted by Ibrahim Suleiman.
Life With Kelly Khumalo S1 | First and Only on Showmax | Binge from 6 August
A household name by 21, Kelly Khumalo is one of South Africa’s biggest music stars. But in recent years, her stardom has been dogged by controversies, from her turbulent relationship with her son’s father, hip hop star Jub Jub, and the conspiracy theories surrounding the death of her daughter’s father, Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, to her recent “divorce” from her sister, Zandie.
Life With Kelly Khumalo offers an intimate glimpse of the woman behind the headlines: a single mother of two, juggling parenting with the build-up to the release of not just her new album, Undithatha Kancinci, but also her first gin, appropriately titled Controversy – both threatened by South Africa’s unprecedented Covid-19 lockdown.
AKA Orchestra on the Square | 17 August
In March 2019, BET Awards nominee and multiple SAMA and SA Hip Hop Awards winner, rapper Kiernan Forbes, aka AKA, staged a historic performance at the Sun Arena at Pretoria’s Times Square, accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra. The concert breathes new life into the artist’s best loved hits as he shares the spotlight not only with the accomplished musicians of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, but also guest artists Nasty C, Sho Madjozi, A-Reece, DJ Speedsta, Team Mosha, Ayanda MVP and 2Lee Stark.
When you’re done, check out the Making Of documentary, also on Showmax from 17 August.
The Train of Salt and Sugar | 20 August
The Train of Salt and Sugar was Mozambique’s Oscar submission for Best Foreign Film in 2018 and is set in northern Mozambique in the 1980s, the story follows a train transporting passengers and goods 500 miles through guerrilla-held territory during the Mozambican civil war. As rivalries form between the soldiers of the train’s military guard and friendships are forged between the passengers, violence threatens both on board and from the rebels. And with the threat of battle looming, romance blossoms against the stunning backdrop of the African bush.