The Story⚡
Nigerians are waiting for the local release of “Lasgidi Cops: Special Crimes Unit”, a Canal+ original series that has already premiered in French-speaking Africa after five years in production.
Tell Me More
Lasgidi Cops: Special Crimes Unit, a gripping Nigerian crime drama, takes a surprising turn with its French-language debut on Canal+ Afrique, a strategic choice to tap into Africa’s Francophone markets and beyond.
Produced by Asake Productions and directed by Ola, the series follows a specialized crime unit, led by Chief Prosecutor Ore Fadeyi, played by Bimbo Akintola, as they battle a shadowy cabal aiming to destabilize Lagos’ financial system. The cast includes Nollywood heavyweights Joke Silva, Femi Branch, and Wole Ojo, delivering intense performances that anchor the show’s high-stakes narrative.
Originally launched as a TV series on Africa Magic in 2016, Lasgidi Cops has been reimagined for a 2025 audience with updated production values and a focus on universal themes like justice and corruption. The series’ Lagos setting, paired with its French dialogue, creates a unique fusion that celebrates Nigerian storytelling while embracing a broader African identity.
Why French? Industry watchers speculate that Asake Productions and Canal+ Afrique aimed to tap into the vast Francophone African market, where countries like Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon represent millions of viewers eager for premium content.
“The French version feels kind of sexy,” Yemisi Wada, reflecting excitement for the linguistic twist that adds a fresh allure to the series. The French debut broadens the show’s appeal, showcasing Lagos’ chaotic energy through a new cultural lens.
But why wasn’t the series released in English first, given its Nigerian origins and original 2016 run in English on Africa Magic?
Could this be tied to an exclusive partnership with Canal+ Afrique, prioritizing dubbing and distribution in French-speaking regions to capture untapped viewers before expanding elsewhere?
Or does it reflect broader Nollywood trends, where content is tailored for specific linguistic markets to maximize reach, leaving English-speaking audiences— including in Nigeria and the diaspora—waiting for a later rollout?
What role do production deals or market saturation in English-language platforms play in delaying the original version’s revival?
Possible reasons could be an exclusive distribution deal with Canal+ Afrique that required prioritizing French dubbing to secure funding or co-production support from French media entities, allowing the series to penetrate untapped markets before facing saturation in English-speaking platforms.
Additionally, logistical factors such as faster dubbing turnaround times for French or targeted marketing campaigns in Francophone regions could play a role, alongside efforts to foster pan-African cultural exchanges that favour linguistic adaptations for wider accessibility.
However, without official statements from Asake Productions or Canal+ Afrique, we really cannot know the precise motivations behind this decision. In an era of global streaming, does prioritizing linguistic adaptations like this enrich pan-African storytelling, or does it risk fragmenting the continent’s shared cultural narratives?
Key Background
Yemisi Wada, the driving force behind Lasgidi Cops: Special Crimes Unit, is a multifaceted Nigerian lawyer, businesswoman, and film producer whose passion for advocacy shapes her creative ventures. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990, Wada began her career at the law firm Sofunde Ogundipe Osakwe and Belgore before diversifying into business and entertainment. As the founder of Asake Productions, she has over 30 years of experience in law and media, producing projects that blend storytelling with social impact.
Her activism, particularly through the Haven for the Nigerian Child Foundation, focuses on supporting street children, a mission that inspired her early film, Oluranlowo Mi (My Benefactor), a drama-documentary about their lives. Wada’s commitment to portraying societal issues, like the idealized role of the police in Lasgidi Cops, stems from her desire to reshape narratives through film.
In Summary
Lasgidi Cops: Special Crimes Unit launched on Canal+ Afrique on July 20th, 2025, with its French-language release offering a fresh take on Nollywood’s crime drama.
But is this inquisitive spotlight on a French-first strategy truly probing untapped opportunities, or does it underscore changing distribution dynamics in African entertainment?
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