Showmax launches first-ever Kiswahili interface
Showmax, Africa’s leading homegrown streaming service, has become the first streaming platform to offer an interface in Kiswahili for Tanzanian subscribers.
This marks a significant milestone in Showmax’s mission to become Africa’s leading streaming service and follows several other continental firsts – such as the first to launch offline viewing, a mobile-only plan, and a standalone Premier League mobile offering.
Offering a Kiswahili interface was a key focus for Showmax, as according to UNESCO, Kiswahili is the most widely spoken African language in sub-Saharan Africa.
It is also one of the 10 most widely spoken languages globally, with more than 230 million speakers.
The new Showmax Kiswahili interface will therefore enhance the overall user experience for a significant portion of Showmax subscribers.
Local content thrives on Showmax
The latest development follows Showmax relaunching in South Africa in February 2024 as part of a partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky, running on a completely new app powered by Peacock.
It has since rolled out localised relaunches in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania, prioritising local content and accessibility through easy payment solutions.
Showmax’s parent company, MultiChoice, is the single biggest producer of African content in the world, investing in local storytelling across languages such as Kiswahili, isiZulu, Hausa, Yoruba, and Afrikaans.
Showmax has continued to build on this heritage, with recent Originals and hit series in local languages including:
- isiZulu – Adulting
- IsiXhosa – Soft Life
- IsiZulu, isiXhosa, Sepedi and Sesotho – Youngins
- Afrikaans – Koek
- Yoruba – Wura
- Kiswahili – Pepeta
“Local content and offerings in local languages continue to resonate strongly across the continent,” says Byron du Plessis, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.
“Nine of the 10 most-streamed titles on Showmax last year were local, because our audiences want to see content that relates to their local cultures.”
“Adding Kiswahili as a navigation option makes Showmax even more accessible and personal to a large market segment in Africa.”
February releases
Showmax is not just making African content more accessible. It is also curating a diverse mix of the best local and international entertainment.
Exciting content releases in February include:
- South Africa’s The Mommy Club S3 (15 Feb) – The record-breaking reality series
- The White Lotus S3 (17 Feb) – The highly anticipated global hit
- Suits: LA (24 Feb) – The spinoff of 2023’s most-streamed series
- Tanzania’s Salaam Dar (14 Feb) – A must-watch music and dance film
- Nairobi Bachelor (Fridays) – Kenya’s most talked-about dating show
By expanding its language offerings and reinforcing its local-first approach, Showmax is cementing its position as a leading Pan-African streaming service.
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