M-Net Launches AfricaMagic Hausa, Yoruba Channels

M-Net has launched two new spin-off channels, AfricaMagic Hausa and AfricaMagic Yoruba, which debuted on March 1.
AfricaMagic Hausa and AfricaMagic Yoruba are now available to DStv subscribers on channels 117 and 118 respectively and will run 12 hours daily. Designed to reflect the cultural diversity of Africa’s most populous nation, the two channels will follow the success of Nollywood based AfricaMagic and the East African focused AfricaMagic Plus channels in providing DStv’s African audiences with even more homegrown African programming.
Biola Alabi, managing director of M-Net Africa, said, “We’re very happy to launch these two new channels. M-Net is very proud that AfricaMagic stays true to its pioneering spirit and is brave enough to explore new programming, create new channels, develop something new and be the first to do it on a continental stage.  There was an opportunity to create these channels and make them suitable for Nigerians but also very relevant for the rest of the continent. We are fortunate that we can do this because our audiences across Africa are so open-minded, willing to see that beyond language and country lie stories that are engaging and relevant across borders.”
She added: “M-Net is also very pleased that we have been able to strengthen our relationships with our content suppliers and partners to create AfricaMagic Hausa and AfricaMagic Yoruba. These are film production visionaries who understand that through their collaboration with M-Net, their work can and will be seen on a wider stage.”
AfricaMagic which was launched in December 2003 has grown over the years to become the primary source for viewing the best of Nollywood movies and other local content from West Africa. Recognizing the need to broaden its content, M-Net then launched a spin-off channel, AfricaMagic Plus in 2008 to focus on programming from East and Southern Africa.
Joseph Hundah, managing director of MultiChoice Nigeria, the subscription management company of DStv, also notes that “the channels will appeal to viewers beyond the shores of Nigeria, because Yoruba is the native tongue of over 60 million people spread across Nigeria, Togo and Benin and the Hausa language is spoken by over 40 million people, including natives of other African countries like Sudan, Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Chad.”
Highlights on both channels include a mix of romance, family drama, action among many others. On AfricaMagic Hausa in March, Kannywood stars, Ali Nuhu and Sani Musa Danja, will thrill subscribers with a number of their movies including Zulumin So, Rabuwa (a.k.a. Separation), Tambaya (a.k.a. Query), Kashe Ahu (a.k.a. What Goes Around Comes Around), Gidauniya (a.k.a. Endowment), Budurwa (a.k.a. The Maiden), Tagwayen Mata and Maidakina (a.k.a My Wife), among others.
Meanwhile on AfricaMagic Yoruba in March, it is a festival of movies from Faithia Balogun including Omidan Olaitan, Ile Agbara (a.k.a. Power House), Mase Iyemeji (a.k.a. Procrastination), Iyawo Aremo, Ounje Oga and Farayola. Movies like Akuko Ija, Oju Awo (a.k.a. Point Blank), Awodi ‘o Mo, Ebe (a.k.a. Apology), Omodara and Omo Meji (a.k.a. Twins) will be starring Femi Branch, another popular Yoruba Nollywood actor.