Netflix is collaborating with Archewell Productions, a media company owned by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – to release a documentary centred on the story of Uganda’s Masaka Kids Africana, the dance group that has become a global internet sensation.
The documentary short titled Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within will be premiered later this year though Netflix has not provided a release date.
The project is a collaboration between Campfire Studios in association with Wontanara Productions and Archewell Productions. Directed by David Vieira Lopez and Moses Bwayo (who co-directed Bobi Wine: Ghetto President), the documentary tells the story behind the Uganda-based YouTube dance sensations who have endured devastating personal loss from famine and war, and use the power of dance and song to overcome hardship.
It was produced by Ross M. Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans for Campfire Studios, along with David Vieira Lopez, Geeta Gandbhir; Prince Harry and Meghan, and Chanel Pysnik for Archewell Productions.
The logline for the docu reads.. “In the heart of Uganda’s Masaka region, where the shadows of the HIV/AIDS crisis linger, a small orphanage becomes a beacon of hope. Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within goes beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging, and the promise of a brighter future.”
In August, Netflix announced it had extended its creative partnership with Archewell Productions, with a multi-year, first look deal for all its film and television projects.
Archewell Productions’ collaboration with Netflix began in 2020, producing documentaries, scripted series, films, sports, and lifestyle programming. To date, Archewell Productions has released Polo; With Love, Meghan; Heart of Invictus; Harry & Meghan and Live to Lead. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Netflix have also partnered on the lifestyle brand, As ever.
Harry & Meghan, the 2022 documentary that covers the couple’s relationship from their early courtship to their decision to step back as working members of the British royal family and their subsequent activities, debuted on Netflix in December of 2022 with a total of 23.4M views, making it the the most viewed documentary ever through its first 4 days, and reached the English Top 10 TV list in 85 countries. The show is Netflix’s fifth most popular documentary series of all time.
Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within was announced to be among Archewell Productions’ upcoming projects lined for this year, alongside Meet Me at the Lake, a romance feature adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name by Carley Fortune.
Founded in 2020 by Prince Harry and Meghan, Archewell Productions “is dedicated to illuminating thought-provoking and diverse narratives that underscore our common humanity and celebrate community – through scripted and non-scripted TV, film, documentaries, and podcasting.”
The production house has so far released three nonfiction series including Heart of Invictus, Harry & Meghan, and Live to Lead.
“We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As ever brand. My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision,“ Meghan said.
Harry and Meghan’s interest in Masaka Kids
Back in 2020 at the height of the Covid lockdown that brought the entire world to a halt, with millions of people stuck at home, something unexpected was happening online. In the middle of a pandemic, joy was still finding its way through. And sometimes it came in the form of music, rhythm, and dance. For millions of people across the globe, one particular group stood out – Masaka Kids Africana, a group of kids based in Uganda who were churning out well choreographed videos while at the same time depicting life in Uganda.
Their energy was infectious and somehow, they managed to make those dark days in the pandemic feel a little brighter. Millions of people watched, shared, and celebrated them. Their videos spread like wildfire across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and later TikTok. At a time when most of us were sitting in sweatpants, slouched over Zoom calls, and doom-scrolling the news, here were kids halfway across the world reminding us that happiness could be found even in the darkest times.
The virality that the internet had handed to Masaka Kids found its way in Montecito, California (U.S.) where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were building their new life after stepping back from Royal duties. The contagious videos by Masaka Kids won the heart of a young boy named Archie Mountbatton Windsor (Prince Archie), the son of Harry and Meghan.
According to Harry and Megan’s publicist, watching the Masaka Kids became a regular lockdown routine in their household. Archie loved their videos and his parents loved seeing him light up as he watched. It is likely, for Archie (as is the case with all other toddlers), the videos prompted claps and giggles or maybe he even tried to imitate the dance moves.
For Harry and Megan, who were navigating their own challenges, from stepping away from the royal family to carving out a new identity, to managing the pressures of global attention, those moments must have felt precious.
But it wasn’t just about the entertainment. Harry and Megan were struck by something deeper. They saw beyond the viral clips and started learning more about the children, the charity behind them, and the mission that was driving it all.
The Masaka Kids Africana is composed of Ugandan children from age 2 and up, many of whom have lost one or both parents through the devastation of war, famine and disease. According to the organization’s website, Masaka Kids “represent all the children of a continent and they demonstrate the potential of African children to become strong leaders for a better future in their land”.
“In spite of the tragedy that has marred their young lives, the children are radiant with hope, musically gifted and wonderfully entertaining.”
The organization founded in 2013 by Hassan Suuna, himself a former street kid, relies on the generosity of kind people to be able to educate, feed, clothe and support the more than 200 children in villages in Masaka where the NGO is based.
Fast forward a few years, and when the opportunity came to be part of a documentary about the Masaka Kids, Archwell Productions didn’t hesitate. As Harry and Meghan publicist put it, when the Duke and Duchess were made aware of the documentary short, they quickly recognized the kids from their viral videos and fell in love with their deepest stories.
Harry’s connection to Uganda
For Prince Harry, Uganda isn’t just another country on the map. It is a place tied to his heart through the memory of a dear friend, Henry Van Strabenzee. Henry was one of Harry’s closest friends who tragically died in a car accident in 2002 at age 18. He had planned to volunteer in Uganda and after his death, a memorial fund was set up in his name.
Until 2023 when the charity closed, the Henry Van Strabenzee Memorial Fund educated thousands of Ugandan children through the 51 schools (15 nursery, 30 Primary and 6 Secondary) located in Kamuli, Buikwe, Bugweri, Jinja and Namayingo districts. Both Princes Harry and William served as patrons to the Henry Van Strabenzee Memorial Fund for years. They became friends with Henry when they attended Ludgrove Preparatory School in Berkshire in the 1990s. Prince Harry and Henry studied in the same class.
In his 2023 memoir – Spare – Prince Harry mentions Henry (Henners) many times, referring to him as his best mate at Ludgrove with whom he roamed the school grounds. How it was with Henry that the pair had drunk two six-packs of Smirnoff Ice till they passed out. How they were so close that people referred to them as Jack and Russell. And speaking at an event to raise money for Henry’s charity sometime in 2013.
“Soon after, I visited Henners. A weekend in Edinburgh. Autumn 2002. We went to a restaurant and I told him all about it (Harry’s plan to volunteer in Africa to support the fight against AIDS as homage to his late mother, Princess Diana). Good for you, Haz! (Henry called Harry Haz). He was taking a gap year as well, in East Africa. Uganda, as I recall. Working in a rural school,” Harry recollects in his book.
So when you put it all together, Archie’s love for the Masaka Kids, Harry’s personal bond with Uganda, Meghan’s commitment to uplifting diverse voices, you can see why this project is more than just another Netflix release. It’s layered, it’s meaningful, and it’s deeply personal.
Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within will introduce millions to a movement that began in a small Ugandan orphanage in Masaka and grew into an international symbol of joy. The documentary shows that these performances are more than entertainment. They are expressions of endurance, cultural pride, and the promise of a brighter future.
Internet virality
They have won acclamation from celebrities such as Janet Jackson, Drake and Jermaine Dupri among others. In 2022, they collaborated with global deejaying sensation, David Guetta, on his remix of the hit song Ameno. Guetta who has over 50 million record sales globally, with more than 10 billion streams, posted the video of Masaka Kids on his Instagram page followed by over 11million people, the post fetching close to 200,000 likes as of today.
The same year, Canadian rapper, Drake, shared on his Instagram a challenge of the Masaka Kids dancing to his song Tossie Slide. This after the rapper had seen their video gain traction on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter. As a result of the mileage from Drake’s post, in a couple of days, Masaka Kids’ Instagram had grown by 120,000 followers in addition to donations to the organization.
In 2024, the group raised their bar when they performed at Estadi Olimpic Lluís Companys in Spain during a La Liga football game played between FC Barcelona and FC Valencia.
On YouTube, their channel has upwards of 4 million subscribers, one of the most followed channels in Uganda. Their most popular performance on YouTube was of them dancing to Jerusalema in October 2020. The video has raked in 107 million views so far.
The video titled Back to School posted on YouTube at the start of 2022 has so far amassed 96 million views.
