by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice Tanzania has added a new locally produced Swahili telenovela, Karata, that will unspool with three weekly episodes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on the Maisha Magic Bongo (DStv 160) channel.
Produced by veteran filmmaker Aziz Mohamed Ahmed's Big One Entertainment with Aziz Mohamed Ahmed as executive producer, MultiChoice commissioned 130 episodes of the new series which is being made available on Canal+'s cheapest DStv package, DStv Starter.
Karata revolves around the powerful Simba family, filled with succession battles, business rivalries, betrayal, love and how traditions influence personal and business decisions.
"Karata is a flagship drama series produced entirely in Tanzania, by Tanzanian creatives and featuring exceptional local talent both on and off screen," says Sophie Tchatchoua, MultiChoice Tanzania CEO.
Evelyn Byaruhanga, Maisha Magic Bongo channel head, says "Through productions like this, we continue to strengthen our commitment to telling local stories that resonate deeply with audiences in Tanzania and across Africa".
With Karata joining an established weekday slate on Maisha Magic Bongo - which includes long-running hits like Huba, Jua Kali and Mpali - MultiChoice continues to anchor its East African subscriber retention strategy on high-volume, domestic Swahili programming.