African movies have garnered significant praise, elevating the global movie scene and establishing themselves among the best filmmakers in the cinematic industry. African cinema offers a diverse range of comedic stories that reflect the continent's rich culture and humour is universal. African comedies often blend humour with relatable situations, offering sharp commentary on family, relationships, societal norms, and even political issues. We have undoubtedly come a long way in our movie production, casting of African actors, scripting, and overall movie distribution.
We have carefully selected a list of iconic African movies that we believe you should add to your watchlist either for a spark of nostalgia, for fun, or to understand better that African movie scenes have been meeting the bars set by Hollywood and many other worldwide movie industries, breaking records, staking a claim in the international movie industry, and winning awards. These movies stuck to their roots basked in their culture and depicted it just as it is.
Here are some of the funniest African movies to watch for a good laugh:
- The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
- Osuofia in London
- Mr. Ibu series
- The Wedding Party
- Coming to America
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Let's delve into some of these iconic films:
The Gods Must Be Crazy
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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a South African movie production that saw the love and demand for African movies in the world. Released in the 1980s, you could wonder why a film this old is on the list. The Gods Must Be Crazy is a slapstick comedy movie that was produced ahead of its time because it never fails to make its viewers laugh.
The journey of the film begins with a bottle of Coca-Cola landing in the Kalahari desert; it had been dropped by a pilot who was flying over the desert. Nǃxau ǂToma picks up the strange item and takes it with him to his tribe. It quickly becomes an object of desire as everyone covets it for themselves.
Osuofia in London
Nollywood retakes the spotlight as one of Africa’s leading movie industries with this comedy Osuofia in London. The movie sees Osuofia (Nkem Owoh) as an Eastern (Igbo) man who becomes the beneficiary of his late brother, Donatus’ inheritance. Osuofia is called to London, where he navigates life, though comically, in a strange country with different rules and lifestyles compared to his village back in Nigeria.
Osuofia in London is highly praised for its rib-cracking humorous content as Nkem Owoh delivers effortlessly in what is now referred to as a legendary comedy Nigerian movie. Osuofia is forced to travel to Europe and claim his inheritance due to his enormous debts in Nigeria.
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Mr. Ibu Series
Mr. Ibu (John Okafwor) is famous for his humor in the many series of Mr. Ibu films, which leave viewers with infectious chortle. Humor yourself with Mr. Ibu’s many comedies including Keziah, 9 wives, Mr. Ibu in London, Police Recruit, Mr. Ibu and His Son. The list is endless, and so is the laughter.
The Wedding Party
Nollywood is a force to be reckoned with when releasing comedic, refreshing, and exciting movies. The Wedding Party is no exception as it catapults the success of Nigerian films worldwide. The movie stars the talented singer-songwriter Banky W playing Dozie Onwuka, a young man about to marry Dunnie Coker, who Adesuwa Etomi plays. The two actors not only get married in this hilarious movie but are also married in real life.
Wedding Party navigates the experience of the couples before their wedding, clashing with exes, family members, friends, and so many more. It features many skilled actors, such as Sola Shobowale, RMD, Zainab Balogun, and Ireti Doyle.
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Coming to America
Although this movie isn’t entirely African like the rest above, it falls on our list of iconic African films because of its theme, black casts, and imitation of African culture. Coming to America is a comedy and romance genre that stars Eddie Murphy as Prince Akeem, a spoiled crown prince of marriage age. He refuses to marry the bride his parents have chosen for him and goes to America in search of a woman who will truly love him for who he is rather than his title and royalty.
His eyes fall upon the beautiful Lisa (Shari Headley), the daughter of a restaurateur.
Additional Recommendations
Here are some other African comedy movies that you might enjoy:
- Everybody Loves Jenifa
- Catching Feelings
- The Razz Guy
- My Village People
- White Wedding
These films showcase the diversity and creativity of African cinema, offering a mix of slapstick, satire, and heartwarming stories.
Conclusion
From slapstick humor to witty social commentary, African comedy movies offer a unique and entertaining viewing experience. Whether you're looking for a lighthearted escape or a thought-provoking story, there's an African comedy out there for you. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to laugh!
