Beloved West African Romcoms, “Isoken” and “Potato Potahto” Leaving Netflix

Two beloved West African romantic comedies, Jade Osiberu’s Isoken and the Ghanaian-Nigerian collaboration Potato Potahto, are bidding farewell to Netflix on January 17, marking the end of their six-year streaming journey since their 2017 releases.

Isoken stands as a jewel in Nollywood’s limited romantic comedy catalog. The film, produced by Tribe85 Productions and distributed by Silverbird Distributions in Nigeria and Evrit Film in the U.K., masterfully weaves themes of family bonds, cultural expectations, and racial stereotypes. Its departure feels particularly poignant given Osiberu’s venture into another romance film, A Christmas in Lagos, in December 2023. It drew mixed reactions from audiences who measured it against her established track record.

Potato Potahto, helmed by Ghanaian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong Manso, exemplifies the collaborative spirit of West African cinema. It screened at prestigious venues including the Cannes Film Festival, Durban International Film Festival, and the British Urban Film Festival. The film follows two ex-partners navigating the challenges of living under the same roof after their divorce.

You may be wondering why movies leave Netflix. It’s simple—licenses expire, and contracts come to an end. Streaming platforms also need to refresh their catalog by making space for new content. As these films prepare to exit Netflix’s library, they leave behind a legacy highlighting West African cinema’s rich storytelling tradition.