KENYAN FILM PRODUCER WANURI KAHIU DIRECTS HOLLYWOOD SERIES WASHINGTON BLACK

Award-winning Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu has added another milestone to her illustrious career, directing the upcoming Hulu original series Washington Black, an adaptation of Esi Edugyan’s bestselling novel. 

The eight-part series, set to premiere on July 23, 2025, follows the gripping journey of an eleven-year-old boy escaping slavery in 19th-century Barbados, under the mentorship of a Black refugee in Nova Scotia.

Kahiu, celebrated for her work and excitement about the project, “Still pinching myself!!! What an incredible honour to be a director of this beautiful, bold show surrounded by the most inspiring cast and crew. I’m so proud of what we’ve made. Can’t wait to share it with you all this summer!”

The series boasts a stellar international cast, including: Ernest Kingsley Jr. as the young protagonist, Washington “Wash” Black, Sterling K. Brown as Medwin Harris, a former Black refugee guiding Wash, Tom Ellis, Iola Evans, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Billy Boyd, and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine in pivotal roles

Kahiu is a celebrated Kenyan film director, producer, and author, renowned as one of Africa’s most aspiring filmmakers and a leading voice in contemporary African culture. She won Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture at the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards for her film From a Whisper. She is also the co-founder of Afrobubblegum, a media collective dedicated to promoting African art for its own sake. In January 2025, she was named a juror for the Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Dramatic competition, alongside Ava Cahen and Daniel Kaluuya.