The Zimbabwean-South African filmmaker Kudi Maradzika discusses the making of Bad Influencer, the creative process behind its satirical edge, and why authenticity remains central to her storytelling.
Kudi Maradzika on Bringing Crime Drama “Bad Influencer” to Life
Kudi Maradzika is a filmmaker championing a new era of African storytelling. As the founder of Lincoln Green Media, her latest Netflix original, Bad Influencer, dives into the absurdities of social media and South African identity.
A Zimbabwean-South African storyteller, Maradzika’s work sits at the intersection of social commentary and narrative. As a writer and director, she gravitates toward stories about underdogs and quiet acts of rebellion stories that reclaim power. Her creative vision has earned acclaim across platforms such as Netflix, Showmax, and Amazon Prime.
Through Lincoln Green Media, Maradzika leads a wave of African storytelling that centers agency, specificity, and cultural truth across film, television, and digital spaces.
Her latest series, Bad Influencer, is a Netflix original crime drama that fuses the chaos of social media with the complexities of South African culture.
“Bad Influencer was inspired by my brief stint in the influencer world and the absurd pressure, performance, and identity politics within it,” she explains. “I wanted to explore the darker, funnier, high-stakes undercurrent beneath the gloss.”
The journey from concept to global release was far from simple. Maradzika first developed the series through the Realness Episodic Lab, then advanced it under her company, Lincoln Green Media. She served as Executive Producer, while Gambit Films handled production.
“The process was rigorous and collaborative,” she says. “From the Realness-Netflix Lab to the writers’ room and production with Gambit, it was important to maintain the show’s tone—dark comedy with sharp social commentary. Seeing the project evolve from scribbled notes to a Netflix original has been surreal.”
For Maradzika, casting was about more than finding talent—it was about finding truth. The actors chosen for Bad Influencer brought not just performance, but psychological depth. “They didn’t play stereotypes; they leaned into vulnerability, ego, insecurity, and power,” she says. “Watching them bring humour and nuance to these roles was a gift.”
That commitment to authenticity extended to the show’s neurodivergent storyline, which Maradzika approached with care. “I approached it with research, consultation, and empathy, aiming for dignity and truth over tropes.”
Equally important was grounding the show in South African culture. Rather than chasing international trends, Maradzika focused on exporting a tone that felt distinctly local. “Authenticity was non-negotiable,” she says. “We weren’t trying to mimic the global tone. We wanted to export our own.”
The result is a world that feels stylish, grounded, and unmistakably South African. “South Africa’s cultural rhythms, humour, and contradictions drive the story,” she explains. “The team rooted it in a world that feels real, stylish, and recognisably ours.”
Reflecting on the project, Maradzika shares one of her biggest lessons: “Clarity of vision matters. Hold your voice. Collaborate deeply and trust that audiences are hungry for specificity. They can feel when a world is lived-in, not manufactured.”
That philosophy continues to guide her next chapter.
Right now, Maradzika says she’s rewatching Oldboy by Park Chan-wook and “building with intention” for what’s next. “Writing, incubating new worlds, resting where I can, and building with intention for the next chapter.”
With Bad Influencer now streaming on Netflix and new projects in development, Kudi Maradzika remains one of the most exciting voices shaping the future of African storytelling.