Africa Magic Igbo Channel Debuts

Fri, Mar 27, 2015

By publisher

4 MIN READ

– 

Multichoice Nigeria has introduced an Igbo language content channel on its Africa Magic platform

|  By Anayo Ezugwu  |  Apr. 6, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT  |

TELEVISION viewers, who love to watch home movies shot in Igbo language, now have cause to smile. At last, Africa Magic has dedicated a channel to showing content in Igbo language. Africa Magic, the continent’s leading provider of African entertainment content, announced the new channel, Africa Magic Igbo in March but the channel will go on air at 19:00 CAT on the April 2, and will be available on DStv channel 159.

The channel was designed to showcase the rich Igbo culture of Nigeria. The 24-hour general entertainment channel follows the successes of the Africa Magic Hausa and Yoruba channels. The launch of Africa Magic Igbo, which brings to eight, the total number of Africa Magic channels, follows the redefinition of the Africa Magic channels in 2014 and the recent refreshing of the Africa Magic Urban channel.

Speaking on the launch, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, director, M-Net (West Africa), said: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of Africa Magic Igbo. Igbo language entertainment content has always played a prominent role in the Nigerian film and television industry and we are glad to offer a platform where this rich content can be showcased to the rest of Africa and the world. Popular Igbo language content like Living in Bondage, Nneka the Pretty Serpent and many others set the trend for the modern Nigerian film and television industry, or Nollywood as it’s called; it is thus only fitting that such content should be given a platform where it is easily accessible by audiences around the continent. With the launch of Africa Magic Igbo, we have once again proven our commitment to providing content made for Africa by Africans.

“The channel will appeal to audiences in and outside Nigeria, as the Igbo language is also spoken in a number of other African countries like Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon. Africa Magic Igbo will also undoubtedly be popular with audiences across the continent as shown by the widespread success of the popular Igbo language movies of the 1990s, and our viewers can expect to see the best from renowned and exciting Igbo talent like Okey Bakassi, Chiwetalu Agu and Dede One Day amongst many others,” Mba-Uzoukwu said.

Harris Chuma, coordinator, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood, congratulated Africa Magic for the establishment of Igbo Channel on its platform. He said the launch of the Igbo Channel will help to boost the Igbo language film industry as well as encourage many into producing Igbo contents which have been on the decline. “We solicit film makers of Igbo extraction to see this medium as a veritable platform to showcase our rich cultural heritage, promote and project our cultural values. We have over the years clamoured for the establishment of an Igbo channel on Africa Magic, now that is a reality, we are hopeful that it will serve as a catalyst towards revitalising the dwindling fortunes of Igbo language films,” he said.

On his part, John Ugbe, managing director, Multichoice Nigeria, said, “For over 20 years, Multichoice has played an active role in the development of the African film and television industry. The Africa Magic channels, which sit on our Dstv and GOtv platforms, continue to display the best of African entertainment content to the world. With the launch of Africa Magic Igbo, we have once again provided a platform for African talent to shine and our viewers can definitely expect to see the best of Igbo culture and talent on display.”

The first Africa Magic channel was launched in 2003 and more than 10 years later, the brand has expanded to include content dedicated to world class African entertainment programming ranging from drama series, music, magazine and reality shows, and movies.

|