By Oluthando Keteyi l IOL
KUDI Maradzika is a visionary, award-winning Zimbabwean screenwriter, director, producer, performer, and creative entrepreneur. She is dedicated to redefining the future of African storytelling.
She is the creator, executive producer, and head writer of Netflix Original Series “Bad Influencer”.
“Bad Influencer” is a seven-part crime drama series that balances high-stakes survival with the glossy illusions of influencer culture.
At its heart is BK (Jo-Anne Reyneke), a street-smart single mom whose greatest hustle is protecting her son. Destiny puts her in the path of Pinky (Cindy Mahlangu), a rising influencer with flair and chaos to spare.
Maradzika shared with IOL that she used to be a micro-influencer and attended brand events. Although she didn’t stay long, she thought it was an interesting world.
“I didn’t stay in it, but what I kept was an interesting story which I pitched and we turned it into an idea through 18 months of development, working with my company Lincoln Green Media, also working with Gambit, who are incredible producers, to put something together that is unique and fresh for an audience.”
On “Bad Influencer,” BK and Pinky descend into Jo’burg’s counterfeit economy, selling fake luxury handbags. Fame and fraud become indistinguishable, likes and lies trade places, and instinct demands they walk the knife-edge between heart and hustle.
The series takes a look at the different social issues that come with the world of influencers. Maradzika explained that she chose to tackle this because there are many layers to the story.
“There’s so many layers to influencer culture, but I think what’s important with the story is that it’s not judging in any way. It’s just telling a story of two women, women who are women before their influences, or a mother, and I think that’s what people all relate to most.”
Maradzika has been in the industry for about 11 years and has worked as a development executive at Paramount Viacom. Her work has reached global audiences through Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Showmax, MTV, BET, and Comedy Central.
