Pan-Africanism isn’t just for political summits and history books; it can also be heart-eyes and stolen glances across Jollof pots and Cape Town skylines. Nelson Mandela and Nnamdi Azikiwe would probably high-five over some of these love stories.
We have seen African collaborations give us afrobeats bangers and gripping thrillers, but every now and then, they bless us with something softer: love across borders. Here are five times film reminded us that romance can be truly continental.
‘Soft Love’
After being dumped on her wedding day, Zandi Jele (played by Blood & Water’s Cindy Mahlangu) is over love. But then she meets Edward (Efa Iwara), a Nigerian photographer who slowly melts her icy heart. With Holmes Awa directing and Paballo Molingoane writing, ‘Soft Love’ is a meet-cute that hops over borders.
‘Plan B’
When Kenyan fashion stylist Lisa (Sarah Hassan) wakes up next to a stranger after a wild New Year’s Eve, she doesn’t expect that stranger to be a Nigerian CEO (Daniel Etim Effiong). Directed and written by Dolapo Adeleke (a.k.a. LowlaDee), ‘Plan B’ is short, sharp, and deliciously fun. A Kenya-Nigeria blend with just the right spice, this romcom gave us an unexpected love story that had us smiling like fools at our screens.
‘Potato Potahto’
OC Ukeje and Joselyn Dumas play a divorced couple who decide to cohabitate in their former home. The plan? Live civilly. The result? Chaos, flirtation, and unresolved feelings. Directed by Ghanaian-Nigerian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso, this romcom leans into post-love tension with humour and a pan-African cast. It’s the kind of story that proves even in heartbreak, love can find its way back, sometimes with a different accent.
‘Disconnect: The Wedding Planner’
When a destination wedding scam threatens to ruin his business, Otis (Pascal Tokodi) scrambles to fix everything. As he tries to salvage the chaos, his interactions with his team, including a firecracker played by Nigeria’s Wale Ojo and Meg Otanwa, spark romantic entanglements. Directed by David ‘Tosh’ Gitonga and written by Brian Ghettuba, ‘Disconnect: The Wedding Planner’ mixes Kenyan heart with Nigerian flavour and a sprinkle of chaos. Because sometimes, romance blooms under pressure.
These films show us that love doesn’t care where your passport is from, just whether your heart is open. Pan-African romance on screen is more than just representation; it’s a celebration of shared cultures, languages, and heartbeats. And if the filmmakers keep serving us stories like these, we will keep falling in love. Over and over again.
