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  • History's Greatest Mysteries with Laurence Fishburne S5

    Saturdays 20h15

    In this latest season of History’s Greatest Mysteries Emmy Award® winner Laurence Fishburne investigates some of the greatest mysteries of all time. Among the topics he delves into are the Lost Fortune of the Knights Templar, the mystery of Machu Picchu and even who killed King Tutankhamun.

  • Great Escapes with Morgan Freeman S2

    Tuesdays 19h25

    Hosted by Morgan Freeman, star of The Shawshank Redemption, this series profiles history’s greatest escape masterminds and their plans, from inspiration to execution through to the thrilling manhunts that followed. In the new season of Great Escapes with Morgan Freeman famous escapes at Devil’s Island, during the Vietnam War, and at Sobibor Death Camp during WWII, as well as other prison locations, are recreated to place Freeman at the site of the action.

  • Beyond Skinwalker Ranch S2

    Fridays 20h15

    Ex-CIA agent Andy Bustamante and investigative journalist Paul Beban return in season 2 to again investigate a flurry of new and disturbing
    activity in their mission to research areas of high strangeness beyond the borders of Skinwalker Ranch. While deploying the Skinwalker team’s roster of experts along with some of their own, the shocking results they obtain are changing the game at Skinwalker Ranch and beyond.

  • Great African Crimes with Mandy Wiener

    22 October 21h05

    Dive into the gripping world of Great African Crimes with host Mandy Wiener. Join us as we unravel the chilling tales of deceit, betrayal, and intrigue. From the notorious case of Daisy de Melker, whose story echoes with dark secrets and unanswered questions, to the daring Krugersdorp bank robbery that shocked the nation, and the brazen shooting of the legendary racehorse Sea Cottage, witness the crime
    narratives that have gripped South Africa’s collective imagination.

  • Curse of Skinwalker Ranch S4

    Fridays 19h25

    While most look to the stars for extraterrestrial life, one group of researchers is doing the opposite: they’re looking underground. For more than 200 years, Utah’s ‘Skinwalker Ranch ‘has been the site of hundreds of paranormal and UFO activities.

  • Greatest Prison Escapes with Billy Hayes

    Tuesdays 20h15

    Billy Hayes’ legendary escape from a Turkish prison was the basis for the Oscar-winning movie Midnight Express. Now, with his unique first-hand experience Billy takes us into the world of great prison escapes. Through enactments, we’ll experience audacious jail and prison breaks in dramatic form. We’ll meet the prisoners and hear intriguing interviews with the survivors, witnesses, historians, and law enforcement of each event.

  • American Godfathers: The Five Families

    Mondays 19h25

    American Godfathers: The Five Families is a three-part documentary series that explores the creation, rise and fall of New York City’s five mafia families who over a fifty-plus-year period had a hand in every facet of organised crime in America from bootlegging and drug trafficking to
    extortion and gambling.

  • The Mafia and Britain

    Wednesdays 19h25

    Goodfellas, Gomorrah, the Godfather trilogy - for most of us the ‘mafia’ is no more than a fantasy world in movies and series. For years it’s been assumed that Britain has no connection with the mafia, but the truth is far more sinister… incredibly mafia bosses, capo’s and hitmen have lived all over the UK – from caravan parks to shoe shops and newsagents.

Where to watch

About HISTORY

The HISTORY® Channel Africa, a division of Hearst 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 such as Great Escapes with Morgan Freeman, Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan, History’s Greatest Mysteries narrated by Laurence Fishburne and The UnXplained hosted by fan-favourite William Shatner.

The HISTORY® Channel Africa has also worked with local big names to share African 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 the build-up to the 2018 FIFA World cup, the HISTORY Channel Africa launched a dedicated 24/7 14-day pop-up channel, History of Football. Then, 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 – in the form of both documentaries and short-form pieces. The HISTORY® Channel Africa documentary special Your People My People took four South Africans on a quest to trace their ancestry and 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 with John Robbie explored three of the biggest mysteries in South Africa, while Great African Escapes with John Robbie investigated some of the most daring escapes in local history. 

Also in 2023, the channel also produced 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 with the channel - from groundbreaking events to personal triumphs - included global business speaker Vusi Thembekwayo, economist Dawie Roodt, broadcasters, David O’ Sullivan and Malcom Gooding, singer and songwriter, Yvonne Chaka Chaka as well as artist and poet Professor Pitika Ntuli.

You can find the HISTORY® Channel Africa on DStv 186, on YouTube and on social media. 

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