Change heralds new shows
DSTV’S Africa Magic Urban Movies (channel 153) will ring the changes from noon today when it expands from offering only contemporary movies to also feature short-format content, including sitcoms, soaps, magazine and reality shows.
The change will also see the channel take a new name, simply Africa Magic Urban.
According to regional director of M-Net (West) Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, the change is part of Africa Magic’s ongoing development strategy, as the brand continues to enhance viewer experience, while ensuring its channels are clearly defined by content and name.
“At Africa Magic we constantly strive to improve our offering. It is in this vein that the Africa Magic Urban Movies channel is experiencing a change as it expands on its content, while also removing its movies designation,” he added.
“The new Africa Magic Urban channel will be the home of new and exclusive short-format content like soaps, sitcoms, magazine and reality shows, even as it continues to showcase exciting contemporary movies that mirror real life and tell real stories.”
The general entertainment channel, available on the DStv Compact and Premium packages, will also bring to viewers popular shows such as the Emmy Award-nominated Angolan telenovela, Windeck, and Nigerian television series, Gidi Up, among many others.
Windeck, nominated for best telenovela at the 2013 International Emmy Awards, stars Nadia Silva and Eric Santos.
It has been described as an exciting drama with colourful characters involved in a story of seduction and betrayal, survival and redemption.
The plot focuses on DIVO, a famous Angolan advertising agency, where beautiful Victoria, an innocent young woman fresh out of Mexico, seeks fame and fortune, and is willing to stop at nothing to realise her dream. For her, life is nothing more than a game. She is ruthlessly ambitious, her seductive walk, murderous reptilian glare and stunning beauty are used with deadly effect, says the show synopsis.
The plot is said to veer into a passionate examination of the meaning of love and life, and emerges as a celebration of the colour, essence, vibrancy and vitality of Angolan culture, and debate on a plethora of African socio-economic issues.
Gidi Up follows the lives of four young adults (Obi, Tokunbo, Eki and Yvonne) who are pursuing success and independence in the city of Lagos, revealing the challenges they are faced with every step of the way in their quest to achieve their dreams
The title of the series is culled from the popular term, Las Gidi, a nickname for the city of Lagos.
The first season of the series was an eight-part web miniseries, with a length of eight minutes per episode. It used to be broadcast only online.
The second season was converted into a full 30-minute episodal television and web series. Combined with the first season, it was re-edited and aired on television as the pilot episode for season two.
The series, created by Jadesola Osiberu and executively produced by Lola Odedina, stars OC Ukeje, Somkele Iyamah, Adeyemi Okanlawon and Titi Sonuga in lead roles.