It’s been just over a year since M-Net and DSTV launched Mzansi Magic. In that time the channel has impressed me, especially with the broadcast of rare and historical South African content.
I have seen some of the most compelling stories on Mzansi Magic, documentaries about politics, sports, celebrities, music, culture and tradition. Retrospective countdowns take viewers back as far as the late 1970′s, playing videos from South Africa’s disco and emerging “bubblegum” scenes.
Although the more current content isn’t my favorite it is still interesting to see local films, which are often independently produced. A series of short films produced by AFDA (one of South Africa’s premiere film schools) has had some airplay, showing just how comprehensive a view the channel provides.
The word mzansi, which is a colloquial term for South African is often irrelevantly put in front of a name, to make it more South African. This certainly isn’t the case for the Mzansi in “Mzansi Magic” as the channel has shown a dedication to commissioning and screening local content, which in effect is a boost for the industry.