Where to watch
About HISTORY
The HISTORY® Channel Africa, a division of A+E Networks Africa, is a premiere channel for historical storytelling. The channel’s slate of original international programming features some of the biggest Hollywood stars. This includes the documentary series Great Escapes with Morgan Freeman, History’s Greatest Mysteries narrated by Laurence Fishburne and The UnXplained hosted by fan-favourite William Shatner.
The HISTORY® Channel Africa has worked with local big names to share stories that matter. Seasoned journalist John Robbie was the host of two local documentary shows Great African Mysteries and Great African Escapes. Other well-known South Africans that have worked with the channel include human rights lawyer George Bizos and football legend Lucas Radebe – who was the face of the History of Football pop-up channel on DStv. In marking 100 years since the end of WWII, the channel also staged another dedicated pop-up channel on DStv, 100 Years of War.
The channel increasingly has a local voice through the inclusion of top-quality local content. The HISTORY® Channel Africa documentary special Your People My People which took four South Africans on a quest to trace their ancestry was nominated for a South African Film and Television Award. Another local documentary, The History of Football in Africa, explored the origins of the beautiful game on the African continent. In 2023 the channel produced two documentaries aimed at recognising and recording South African stories of historical significance. Great African Mysteries looked at the secrets of Africa’s past, while Great African Escapes investigated some of the most daring escapes in local history.
Also in 2023, the channel produced the My History Moments, a poignant short-form series, in which notable South Africans shared pivotal moments from their lives that have historical significance. Some of the well-known South Africans who shared their moments - from groundbreaking events to personal triumphs - included global business speaker Vusi Thembekwayo, economist Dawie Roodt, broadcasters, David O’ Sullivan and Malcom Gooding and singer and songwriter, Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
You can find the HISTORY® Channel Africa on DStv 186, YouTube and on social media.