Telecom
MultiChoice Expands Hyperlocal Offering to Angola & Mozambique
MultiChoice, Pan-African entertainment company, has further expanded its hyperlocal offering with the launch of two new TV channels – Maningue Magic and Kwenda Magic – for audiences in Mozambique and Angola respectively.
The group’s long-established hyperlocal strategy is a multi-pronged, hybrid approach combining local content acquisition, local production, and the development of local content through international production partnerships.
The new Portuguese-language channels will show dramas, telenovelas, local versions of hit reality shows, hilarious comedies, dubbed international content and homegrown music on DStv and GOtv platforms when the channels go live on Monday, 17 January.
“These channel launches are an exciting milestone for MultiChoice, and our hyperlocal strategy,” says Joao Ribeiro, Channel Head for both Kwenda Magic and Maningue Magic. “MultiChoice’s mission is to showcase Africa’s diverse, rich culture through our continent’s deep storytelling history.
“To have two new 24-hour channels in local languages, featuring locally produced content, provides an incredibly powerful platform to do this.”
Over the past 18 months, MultiChoice has grown its local content offering through several channel launches including Pearl Magic Prime, Akwaaba Magic and Abol TV in Uganda, Ghana, and Ethiopia, as well as hit international co-productions like Reyka and ongoing local productions like the ever-popular Big Brother Naija.
Local content remains a core part of the group’s differentiation strategy. The group produced an additional 2 692 hours of local content in 2021 (41% YoY growth). The combined MultiChoice local content library is now approaching 66 000 hours and represents 45% of total general entertainment content spend.
Despite this proportion being in line with local-content targets, the group plans to increase local-content investment even further. Ribeiro says the new channels are already proving a significant boost to the production industries in both countries.
“Until now, independent producers had few outlets for their work and had to act on many levels, struggling to get budgets, and to have their content shown,” says Ribeiro. “With our channels requiring content 24 hours a day, we can now invite local producers to pitch ideas, to commission and develop projects, and to pay fair, market-related rates for work.”
“By investing in the industry, we are creating opportunities for local talent, telling local stories, and adding to the stability of the industry. We are committed to growing the industry in countries where we operate, and to deliver content that resonates with our viewers,” says Ribeiro.
Ribeiro says that in the months MultiChoice has spent setting up the channel, broadcast professionals in both countries have been exposed to many new opportunities. Content workers now have more options and are less likely to leave the sector due to a shortage of work.
“We are commissioning work from established producers as well as smaller companies across the continent while also creating opportunities for alumni of the MultiChoice Talent Factory,” says Ribeiro.
Speaking on the ongoing hyperlocalisation and production of content across Africa, Fhulufhelo Badugela, ceo, MultiChoice Africa, said, “When we develop local channels or produce local content, we aim to create a platform that reflects local culture, so audiences see themselves represented in the content they watch.
“Localisation goes beyond simply duplicating popular formats in a different language or with a different cast,” says Badugela. “It’s about incorporating a country’s social, gender and religious conventions, as well pop-culture trends like music, influencers and celebrities into stories. This is what makes our hyperlocal strategy unique and exciting.”
Highlights of the offerings on Maningue Magic include the telenovela Maida, about a naïve teenager who leaves the countryside for the big city; proudly Mozambican music show Estação do Boss; Date My Family Moçambique, a local version of the hit reality dating show.
The Influencer, an Mozambican original series will tell the story of a girl pursuing a dream to be an Digital Influencer who end on a network of drugs and prostitution. Top+, will showcase famous’s artists and personalities from Mozambique and Africa who are attracting attention on social networks. Txunado, a magazine show about Mozambican fashion, arts and lifestyle.
On Kwenda Magic, flagship shows include O Rio, an Angolan adaptation of popular 1Magic telenovela The River; Makongo, a new drama about a young man’s life in Luanda; and Salão de Beleza, a sitcom about a Luanda establishment and its diverse, dramatic customers.
MTN Nigeria has partnered with CardCentre Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Chams HoldCo, to introduce eco-friendly SIM cards made entirely from biodegradable materials.
The launch, which took place in Lagos, targets the reduction of plastic waste across Nigeria and the wider West African region.
According to the statement releasedy, the new SIM cards are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and produced using recyclable components and energy-efficient manufacturing processes.
“They meet global sustainability standards while maintaining the performance expected by telecom users,” the statement said.
It added that Tobe Okigbo, chief Corporate Services and Sustainability officer at MTN Nigeria, stated, that ”the partnership underscores our commitment to sustainability and innovation, while also supporting local businesses and economic growth through strategic alliances.”
In his remarks, Lekan Latona, chief executive officer, CardCentre, said: “We are proud to collaborate with MTN Nigeria on this project. Our biodegradable SIM cards mark an important step toward a greener future for telecommunications.”
Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) has commemorated its 25th anniversary with a landmark breakfast meeting that spotlighted the transformative power of media in fostering bilateral ties.
Held under the theme “Media as a Bridge: Strengthening Nigeria-South Africa Ties through the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP)”, the event drew a dynamic mix of business leaders, academics, and media professionals.
Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Nigeria, described the MIP as a strategic tool for diplomacy, designed to dismantle stereotypes and misinformation.
He emphasized the value of the programme’s study tour in South Africa, which offers Nigerian journalists immersive exposure. “If Nigeria and South Africa can get their act together, the rest of the continent will follow,” Okigbo remarked, hinting at MTN’s plans to scale the initiative across Africa.
Dr. Ije Jidenma, Chairperson of NSACC, hailed the MIP as a tangible example of innovation in action. She underscored the media’s role as a “catalyst for development,” especially in shaping public discourse and cross-border partnerships.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean of the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, stressed the need for rigorous training in journalism. He praised the collaboration between academia and industry, noting that ethical and contextual reporting is essential for meaningful impact.
A highlight of the event was a panel featuring MIP fellows—Amarachi Ubani (Channels TV), Oluwadunsin Sanya (BellaNaija), Nifemi Oguntoye (TVC News), and Akinkunmi Obakeye (CNBC Africa)—who shared how the programme reshaped their understanding of South Africa. Their stories revealed a shift from stereotypes to shared values and deeper connections.
The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of NSACC’s 25th anniversary logo, symbolizing a renewed commitment to growth, collaboration, and opportunity for its members.
As NSACC enters its next chapter, the Chamber reaffirmed its dedication to leveraging media as a bridge between Nigeria and South Africa—two powerhouses whose unity could redefine the African narrative
Telecom
MTN Nigeria, WWF/NCF, and UNDP Launch 2025 PachiPanda Challenge to Drive Youth-Led Environmental Innovation
In a bold move to tackle Nigeria’s pressing environmental challenges, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, in partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, has officially launched the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge.
Part of the continental Africa PachiPanda Challenge, this initiative calls on young Nigerians aged 18–35 and youth-led SMEs to develop groundbreaking solutions addressing pollution, climate change, and community conservation. With the theme “Nourishing Tomorrow: Innovations for Food, Energy, and Water Security,” the challenge aims to empower eco-visionaries to reshape Nigeria’s environmental future.
Ten finalists will be selected for a transformative 3-day sprint event, featuring human-centered design workshops, masterclasses, and a high-stakes pitch session before a panel of industry experts. Winners will advance to the continental stage, representing Nigeria in the Africa-wide competition.
Tobe Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, described the challenge as “a green opportunity” for youth to channel creativity into impactful change.
Dr. Joseph Onoja of NCF emphasized the power of collaboration, while UNDP’s Dr. William Tsuma highlighted the challenge’s alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
More than a competition, the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is a movement—one that seeks to ignite innovation, foster sustainability, and amplify youth voices in shaping a resilient future.
Applications close on October 3, 2025.
Interested participants can apply at: www.mtn.com/pachipanda-challenge
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