Across the globe people, especially women, are buzzing about a new web series called “An African City.”  Not only is the series about a group of five Ghanaian women, professionals who worked internationally and have returned home to Ghana to start anew. The series follows their trials and tribulations of readjusting to life in Ghana, including working, dating, and being an upwardly mobile woman in Africa.

It’s been called the African “Sex And The City.” But it’s much more than that.  Created by Nicole Amarteifio, the web series shows an unexpected and familiar side of modern-day life in Ghana. The scenes from the series can easily be replicated across other African cities. That explains why every modern-day women in Africa and in the diaspora is following each episode with such religious zeal.

Amarteifo herself could be one of her characters. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in African Studies from Brandeis University, she worked internationally in production before returning home to re-establish her roots.

Amarteifio tells AFKInsider about how the show came to be.

AFKInsider: What inspired the show?

Nicole Amarteifio: I am a big fan of “Sex and the City” and wanted to see an adaptation of the show for an African audience….specifically something that could be comedic and relatable to African women that I know.

AFKInsider: There have been lots of comparison to “Sex And The City” and “Girlfriends,” are these accurate descriptions in your mind?

Nicole Amarteifio: I don’t mind those comparisons at all, but one day hopefully it won’t need to be compared to anything…one day hopefully people will just recognize the show for its own unique voice.

AFKInsider: Are women the main viewers?

Nicole Amarteifio: Yes, from our YouTube analytics we see that women are about 70 percent of our viewership…and from the commentary and the emails it appears that African  and African-American women are the ones most touched by the show.

AFKInsider: Why the Internet?

Nicole Amarteifio: There are no bottlenecks with the Internet.  Once you have your content, there is a free platform such as YouTube that gives you control of distribution and you have access to all these resourceful analytics.  And then you have more free platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest that can also help in the distribution of your content.  Also, I wasn’t sure what the right network would be if I wanted to reach both women on the African continent as well as women in the African Diaspora; YouTube allowed me to do that.

AFKInsider: What has the response been within Ghana?

Nicole Amarteifio: In Ghana, women now stop me in restaurants and other functions to say thank you; they say they are not used to seeing themselves on screen.

AFKInsider: How are you funding the production?

Nicole Amarteifio: Some funding came from my savings (it was that important for me to get this done), other funding came from family and friends and private investors.

AFKInsider: Where you surprised at the international response?

Nicole Amarteifio: I’m glad that the show became globally visible.  I want there to be people so use to just hearing one narrative of the African woman, that they then watch the show and are completely shocked; I want to have their eyes opened to another narrative of the African woman.

AFKInsider: What are some of the obstacles you have faced in creating the show?

Nicole Amarteifio: With a small budget and a small team, there is only so much you can do.  I was writing, I was calling designers, musicians.  The other executive producer Millie Monyo and I were even running around for food pick-ups and transporting wardrobe all while trying to supervise the scripts etc.  I was exhausted and I still am.  But, I am hoping that we can draw the attention of investors for a season two, as a bigger budget will then mean a bigger team.  But, yes, if you want your dream to be realized, you will probably have to be the one to put in all the work at the beginning.  But keep pressing forward!

AFKInsider: Most people hear about Nigerian and South African film production, what is Ghana’s like?

Nicole Amarteifio: I would like Ghana to make a mark in film production.  I think film makers need to come together to figure out how to take the local industry to the next level.  I am especially looking to local networks to meet best practices, there is a reason Ghanaian film makers keep taking their content to Nigeria and South Africa.  From what I can tell so far, Nigeria and South Africa have better offerings.

AFKInsider: What have been some challenges being a women entrepreneur in Ghana’s entertainment industry?

Nicole Amarteifio: I think it’s hard to raise money in a male-dominated society.  Sometimes pitching for investments can be misinterpreted by men. Also, sometimes I think women are just not taken as seriously.  Still trying to figure out if I have misinterpreted the society in which I live in; we’ll see.

AFKInsider: Do you see more of an interest in African culture and business from outside of Africa now?

Nicole Amarteifio: I think the fashion in the show has really made a significant difference.  Now there are hundreds of online viewers asking for the names of designers…African designers.  Music too.  Hundreds of on-line viewers asking for the names of songs and artists in various episodes.  That’s important to me.  This project was not just another TV project, it was supposed to be a platform for all up-and-coming African creatives from fashion (Christie Brown, Ameyo, AfroModTrends, etc) to music (Jayso, Maurice Kirya, Paapa) to art (Aniekan) to home decor (DAAR Living).

AFKInsider: Do you think it is important for African entrepreneurs who have lived outside of the continent to come back to Africa?

Nicole Amarteifio: Yes!  In episode 2, when the cheap date and entrepreneur George says “coming home is the best thing I could’ve done,” that was me channeling Marcus Garvey.  For those on the fence about whether or not to return to the continent, my hope was that that line would resonate with some.

AFKInsider: What do you think are some of them of the misperceptions about  the African entrainment industry?

Nicole Amarteifio: For so long we have been putting out movies with poor production quality, but that does not have to be the norm any more.  In terms of production values, Ghanaian movies and TV shows can be globally competitive.

AFKInsider: What is your ultimate goal with the series?

Nicole Amarteifio: Well, I want to continue to see African women tuning in to watch the show.  I want to see dynamic online conversations. And, networks have approached us and that would be the natural transition – but it would have to be right.  I like the fact that African women throughout the world currently have access to the show, I wouldn’t want the geography of the potential network to inhibit that.

AFKInsider: What’s next for you?

Nicole Amarteifio: I am too exhausted to think about what’s next.  Right now it’s just about season 1 of “An African City,” with hopes of better season 2 down the line!