She is a spy with a dead mother’s secrets, a talent for combat and a lot of attitude. Queen Sono, played by Pearl Thusi, works for a secret South African agency fighting threats across the continent. When Queen Sono premiered in February 2020, it was the first original series Netflix had commissioned from Africa.
The story and Pearl Thusi
Queen Sono is a highly trained agent for the Special Operations Group, a secret agency. She investigates the murder of her mother, a revolutionary, while facing a criminal organisation with powerful backers. Pearl Thusi, a South African actress and presenter, had appeared in American series such as Quantico. Queen Sono gave her a leading role on a global platform.
Lediga, locations and cancellation
The series was created by Kagiso Lediga, a South African comedian and filmmaker, who directed episodes. He wanted to make an action series rooted in African history and politics.
The series was filmed in South Africa, Kenya, Zanzibar and Nigeria, reflecting its pan-African ambitions. Critics praised its ambition, African setting and lead performance. Some criticised its pacing and plot. It found audiences in several countries. Netflix renewed the series for a second season, but in late 2020 it was cancelled, with challenges linked to the COVID-19 pandemic cited.
A milestone for representation
Despite its short run, Queen Sono marked Netflix’s entry into African original series. It was followed by Blood & Water, Savage Beauty and Nigerian productions. The series presented a Black African woman as a capable action hero, a rare image on global screens at the time. Thusi continued acting and presenting, and remained one of South Africa’s best-known personalities.
The show drew on the history of liberation movements and their secret networks, giving the spy genre an African backstory.
Action, cast and soundtrack
The series featured fight scenes and chases shot on location, an ambitious approach for an African television production. Thusi trained for the action sequences, and reviewers praised her physical performance. The cast included Vuyo Dabula, Sechaba Morojele and Chi Mhende, a mix of established and emerging African actors. The series used African music to set its scenes, adding to its pan-African feel.
Queen Sono lasted one season. Its real legacy is the line of African originals that followed once Netflix had made the first one.
