The Africa Channel is expanding its September programming with the premiere of two new titles, the one-hour gospel special How Sweet the Sound and the pan-African wildlife magazine series Wild Africa, on 1 September 2026.
Both programmes will debut on The Africa Channel, with each title also scheduled to become available for streaming on Demand Africa at a later date. Based in Los Angeles, The Africa Channel focuses on African and Black culture, entertainment, history and contemporary stories, reaching audiences across North America and the Caribbean. Demand Africa extends the network’s programming to viewers through web, mobile and connected devices.
How Sweet the Sound celebrates the musical traditions and cultural heritage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), aligning with September’s National HBCU Week observance. The special centres on a gospel choir competition featuring choirs from Florida A&M University, Tennessee State University and Virginia State University.
Hosted by Grammy Award-winning gospel producer and artist Donald Lawrence, the programme also features performances by gospel artists Jonathan McReynolds and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. The special forms part of the wider How Sweet the Sound platform, which has placed HBCU gospel choirs at the heart of its competition and programming.
The three featured choirs are previous participants in the national How Sweet the Sound HBCU competition. Tennessee State University’s New Direction Gospel Choir won the inaugural Best HBCU Choir title in May 2025, beating finalists from Florida A&M University and Virginia State University. The choir also secured the People’s Choice Award and a combined $11,000 in prize money.
The television special follows the broader expansion of How Sweet the Sound in 2026. The programme was syndicated nationally across the United States in February as part of Black History Month programming, featuring the same three HBCU choirs alongside gospel performers including J.J. Hairston, Jekalyn Carr, Jonathan McReynolds, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Ricky Dillard and Vincent Bohanan.
Meanwhile, Wild Africa will showcase the continent from a different perspective, focusing on wildlife, natural environments and conservation.
The Pan-African magazine series features three presenters from across the continent: South African freediver and ocean advocate Zandile Ndhlovu, Zimbabwean broadcaster Rumbi Takawira and Nigerian veterinarian and The Africa Channel host Dr Mark Ofua.
The presenters travel into the field with celebrity guests to explore Africa’s wildlife and diverse ecosystems. Beyond showcasing the continent’s natural beauty, the series highlights conservation efforts and profiles individuals and organisations working to protect wildlife and threatened species.
Wild Africa also builds on The Africa Channel’s existing commitment to wildlife and environmental programming, having previously highlighted conservation initiatives and wildlife-related stories.
The two premieres reflect The Africa Channel’s broader programming strategy of combining entertainment and cultural content with stories that connect audiences to African heritage, identity and contemporary life. While How Sweet the Sound explores the intersection of gospel music, HBCU culture and Black American history, Wild Africa turns the spotlight to Africa’s natural heritage and conservation efforts.
Following their television premieres on 1 September, both programmes will subsequently be made available through Demand Africa, giving audiences additional opportunities to access the content beyond the linear television schedule.
