The Africa Channel (TAC), the largest broadcaster and producer of African-themed content in North America, announced today that it will premiere its first-ever animated kids programming on Saturday, April 7. The shows will air as part of a weekly kids block running from 7am-9am ET.   
 
The two-animated series are “Jabu’s Jungle” (back-to-back half-hour episodes starting at 7am ET) and “The Magic Cellar” (one half-hour episode at 8am ET).
 
In Jabu’s Jungle, kids can follow the adventures of Jabu, an intrepid nine-year-old, and his Magic Talking Drum. Jabu explores the jungle, helping animals in need and meeting plenty of friends who join in the fun– but always on the lookout for naughty Van the Vulture!
 
“The Magic Cellar” follows Pula and her friends through their everyday lives as they encounter social issues and moral dilemmas. Mr. Zee offers them guidance or advice in the form of a folk tale illustrating their problem and guiding their thinking processes toward a solution. In the end, they are able to draw their own conclusions on how to approach their problems and find resolutions.
 
Karen Juve, TAC’s VP Programming & Acquisitions, said, “Kids have few choices when it comes to multicultural shows. We aim to help fill that void with our Saturday morning programming block so that kids of color can wake up each weekend to a reflection of themselves on morning television.”
 
Rounding out the block is the returning live-action series “Siyaya- Come Wild with Us,” with a half-hour episode at 8:30am ET. The series offers a fast-paced youthful adventure through some of South Africa’s most fascinating national parks, where up-close wildlife encounters endear the kids to the importance of conservation.