DStv has today announced its new and pioneer Pan-African lifestyle channel, HONEY, that will beam across the continent, from 15 February 2021 on DStv Channel 173.
HONEY is set to offer an exciting blend of African lifestyle content, including bold and unscripted shows by African producers and talented personalities for curious and connected African audiences. The content line-up covers lifestyle, food and cooking, relationships and weddings, along with reality shows from various territories throughout the continent.
Fronted by some of Africa’s biggest female voices including household names such as Pearl Umeh (Nigeria), Patricia Kihoro, Foi Wambui (Kenya), Anele Mdoda, Mbali Nkosi and Anele Zondo (South Africa), the channel is unapologetically bold and vibrant.
“HONEY showcases Africans living their best lives, and depicts an honest modern-day view of our diverse countries, cultures, and people. As Africa’s most loved storyteller, DStv continues to be bold in delivering the best content the continent has to offer, while ensuring that we celebrate the way we live. This is a lifestyle channel made in Africa for Africans by Africans,” asserted Joan Semanda Kizza, the PR and Communications Manager, MultiChoice Uganda.
She added that, “We are pleased to have forged a partnership with Media24 television unit who packaged the content and are responsible for the Afrikaans lifestyle channel. With this collaboration we believe both companies’ best qualities, experiences, and knowledge to serve DStv subscribers with a new channel that is familiar, unique and entertaining will be prolific.”
Colin Asiimwe, Head of Marketing at MultiChoice Uganda, noted that, “HONEY which goes live today is part of an ongoing effort to enhance our customers’ viewing experience and deliver diverse content specs to satisfy them. Last week, MultiChoice Uganda launched Pearl Magic Prime (PMP), an equally vamped and exlusively premium lifestyle channel with homegrown
content produced by Ugandans in a bid to broaden the content offering for our Ugandan audiences.”
“Today we are thrilled to yet again be bringing the latest venture in African storytelling to the TV screens of our DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers,” he said.
HONEY will be a go-to channel for authentic African stories and will include the following shows:
Meet the women who keep things together in well-known religious households. This reality series, produced by Sonia Mbele who was also responsible for The Real Housewives of Joburg, features pastors’ wives from across the continent as they do their best for their families and
church communities. Expect opulence and plenty of behind-the-pulpit drama.
Caption: Expect opulence and plenty of drama in Pastors’ wives
. Love swap
This Nigerian reality drama series presents a relationship challenge in which couples swap partners for a home-cooked meal. Each episode will culminate in a joint dinner featuring both couples, during which they share their impressions of each other and what they have learned about their own relationships.
In each episode of this proudly Kenyan series, two food bloggers create a bespoke meal for a popular local eatery, with the restaurateur deciding which dish deserves a space on the menu. Viewers will also enjoy a journey through Nairobi’s cultural attractions and the city’s sights, sounds and traditions as the contestants look for inspiration outside the kitchen.
Caption: Watch two contestants go head-to-head in this Kenyan food programme
Singer and actress Patricia Kihoro and TV and radio host Foi Wambui team up for another Kenyan production. Foi is a celebrated radio host on Hot96 and Radio Jumbo, whose entertaining sketches and self-development and lifestyle-related content have made her a YouTube sensation. Along with her fellow YouTuber and online influencer, Patricia, she helps suitors pop the question in Yes! Ndio! Beeni! The pair act as event planners to design a proposal that not only stays true to the couple’s love story but guarantees a ‘yes!’.
There is more matchmaking in this colourful dating show shot in Zambia, in which a cooking cupid invites two potential love birds to his or her home and cooks them a meal. After the meal, the two decide whether to meet up again at a local eatery. Will they or won’t they find love?
Presented by Mbali Nkosi, this show focuses on personal transformation, with a makeover squad coming to the rescue of someone in need of a new look and a confidence boost to take the next big step in their life. Viewers can look forward to witnessing surprised and deserving contestants undergo dramatic transformations.
Caption: Watch Mbali help deserving contestants undergo a dramatic transformation
A vibrant food culture, particular palates and often curious cultures are put to the test as three teams compete for a prize on this show. Each team is given a chance to show off exactly who they are with a plate of food that they only have an hour to prepare. When they hear the hooter, it’s time to get in the car and move on to the next team’s house.
Anele Mdoda hosts The buzz, a talk show also featuring Pearl Umeh from Nigeria, Rachel Wakesho from Kenya, Zanna Katoka from the DRC, and Davina Mavuwa from Zimbabwe. Sparks fly as these five women, with different personalities and from different cultures, solve a viewer’s dilemma, whether concerning romance, health, side hustle or family and friends.
Caption: Join Anele, Pearl, Rachel, Zanna and Davina as they solve a viewer’s life dilemma on The buzz
From the 19th of March the search is on for Africa’s hottest influencers in The next big trender. Six aspiring social stars from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa go all out to win over the opinionistas.
Watch HONEY’s channel promo here.
