The Africa Channel is expanding its original programming slate, greenlighting a new cooking show and three pilots.
Minjiba Cookey, a Nigerian food blogger, will host the channel’s latest cooking and lifestyle series, “Minjiba Entertains.”
The pilot lineup includes “Shanty Chic,” a design and home improvement show from South Africa’s Forefront Media; “Shadows Unexplained,” a series exploring paranormal phenomenon, mysteries, and myths on the continent from TAC Productions; and “Elements,” a docu-series featuring Kenyan host Ruby Kang’ethe from Amsterdam based Loman Productions.
The indie cable network also renewed four series: “Africa on a Plate,” which combines cooking with travel and culture; “Africa Everywhere,” a Diaspora series from Mosi Films that will feature episodes shot in Chicago, Atlanta and Washington D.C.; “Muziki Ni,” which provides an up-close and personal look at the inspirations that drive artists from Africa and the Diaspora; and “30-Minute Tour,” a travel series that takes viewers on a half-hour journey through a specific country, city or region with local insights.
Narendra Reddy, Africa Channel’s exec VP of content and global operations, has vowed to make 2016 “a breakout year for our network.”
The Africa Channel is a showcase for the African continent’s TV series, specials, documentaries and feature films. Based in Los Angeles, it has a subscriber base of approximately 10 million homes.
