Writer, producer, actor, and voice artist, Kudakwashe “Kudi” Maradzika is part of a new generation of African women rewriting the creative playbook. From her upcoming Netflix series, Bad Influencer to her Afro-futuristic comic and video game project, Artemis Elixa, Kudi is fusing imagination, technology, and cultural authenticity to shape a future where African women own their stories and the worlds they create.
Kudi is part of a new wave of African talent redefining how the continent’s stories are told and who gets to tell them. Her latest milestone, Bad Influencer, a Netflix original series premiering on 31 October, peels back the layers of digital culture through a distinctly African lens. But even as she celebrates this moment, Kudi’s gaze is firmly fixed on the future, one she’s helping to build through her newest venture, Artemis Elixa, an Afro-futuristic comic and gaming series that imagines Africa’s heroes of tomorrow.
For Kudi, storytelling isn’t just about visibility, it’s about ownership, innovation, and representation. Here, she opens up about her creative evolution, the power of African futurism, and why women across the continent should never wait for permission to take up space.
Glamour: You’ve worn many hats; writer, actor, producer, voice artist. How did your creative journey begin, and what drives you to keep expanding your craft?
Kudi: I started off performing in school plays and directing short skits in high school. My path was initially to pursue performance, and I was accepted into the UCT Theatre and Performance programme. I remember the lecturer saying on the first day, “Being a starving artist is tough.” When she was done, I stood up and left, I didn’t want that for my life. So, I turned to producing. Over the years, I worked as a freelancer for various production companies, working my way up from intern to production manager, and finally producer. I still do voice and performance from time to time if time allows.
Glamour: What does it mean to you personally and professionally to be redefining the narrative of African women in creative industries?
Kudi: Personally, all I can ever do is my best and hope the stories I tell inspire people. That’s how I redefine my narrative. I’m also fortunate to know trailblazing women who came before me; from my mother, a respected clinical epidemiologist, to my sisters, and creatives like Phumi Morare, Lwazi Mvusi, Karabo Lediga, and Nosipho Ngoasheng.
Glamour: Your new Netflix series, Bad Influencer premieres this month. What inspired the story, and what conversations are you hoping it sparks?
Kudi: I used to be an aspiring influencer and even got as far as being invited to brand events. But as a journalist by background, I started seeing a fascinating world that’s far more layered than people realise. I entered the Realness X Episodic Lab and pitched the idea, then hired writers and spent 18 months creating this world. Bad Influencer explores how social media shapes our identities, our ambitions, and our moral compass, especially in a society obsessed with image.
Glamour: How has working on a global platform like Netflix shaped your approach to storytelling, especially when representing African voices?
Kudi: Netflix has been incredibly supportive of their talent. It’s amazing that my show, which is deeply African with strong local appeal is being backed and has the potential to reach millions globally. It reinforces the idea that our stories are universal, even when they’re rooted in local truth.
Glamour: With Artemis Elixa, you’re blending comic books, gaming, and Afro-futurism. What inspired this project, and what does it represent to you?
Kudi: Artemis Elixa is my company’s first move into creating self-owned IP and a proof-of-concept experiment. It’s an exciting, time-travelling heist set in a future where AI has taken over our lives, a fear many people currently have. The story follows Artemis as she tries to alter the future by changing five pivotal moments in history, not realising her great-great-grandmother; a scientist from the past is her arch-nemesis. It’s fun, complex, and full of female energy.
Glamour: Why was it important to root Artemis Elixa in African futurism, and how do you see this genre evolving on the continent?
Kudi: Afro-futurism and fantasy are still the most untapped storytelling genres in Africa, and the potential is enormous. Platforms like Zebra Comics and Comic Republic have shown there’s a huge appetite for African mythology and sci-fi. We might not yet be at the stage of big-budget live-action projects, but comics allow us to build proof-of-concept stories and grow from there.
Glamour: What kind of African heroine did you feel was missing from mainstream narratives, and how does Artemis fill that gap?
Kudi: Artemis is fun, fierce, and unapologetically herself. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and never asks for permission. I don’t think that kind of character is entirely missing, but the sci-fi genre allows me to take those traits to the extreme. She’s like a mix between Tank Girl and the protagonist from N.K. Jemisin’s Far Sector — smart, bold, and a little chaotic in the best way.
Glamour: You’re not just telling stories, you’re owning them. Why is intellectual property ownership so important to you as a creative?
Kudi: IP ownership is leverage. If you’re thinking long-term, it’s the foundation for something much bigger. Look at Marvel, created by Martin Goodman in the 1930s and eventually sold to Disney for $4 billion. That’s the power of IP. It’s not just about creating art, it’s about creating assets that can sustain industries and generations.
Glamour: You’re carving a path in film and now gaming; two industries where African women remain underrepresented. What has your experience been like navigating these spaces?
Kudi: I’m still new to gaming, but there’s definitely more openness now than there was even five years ago. People are more accepting and curious. In film, the glass ceiling isn’t shattered yet, but it’s cracked. Locally, it’s relatively easier for African women to make films, though funding is always a hurdle. Globally, it’s tougher, but tough doesn’t mean impossible.
Glamour: What advice would you give to other African women who want to break into storytelling, especially in nontraditional formats like comics or gaming?
Kudi: Partner with people who know more than you and be prepared to learn from the ground up. I’m a newbie in the gaming space, but I constantly reach out to experts who can teach me. Collaboration and curiosity are everything.
Glamour: With so much already achieved, what’s next for you creatively?
Kudi: The focus right now is on scaling, both in content production and IP development. I want to build systems that allow more African stories to travel globally.
Glamour: What kind of legacy do you hope to build, not just as a creator, but as a changemaker in Africa’s creative ecosystem?
Kudi: I hope people see me as someone who dared to think differently, who approached the creative ecosystem with strategy, innovation, and courage. I want to build something that lasts, a blazing legacy for African storytelling.
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