In a move that signals a bold new chapter for local music television, TRACE, in partnership with Canal+ and MultiChoice, officially unveiled the rebrand of TRACE AFRICA to TRACE NGOMA at a launch event held in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The announcement also introduced Trace Plus, further expanding the group’s offering to South African audiences.

The name says it all. Ngoma — meaning drumbeat, celebration, unity, and heritage, anchors the channel’s identity in something deeply, unmistakably South African. Now live on DStv Channel 326, TRACE NGOMA has become the home of homegrown music culture, from the townships to the airwaves.

A Channel That Speaks South Africa’s Language

Where TRACE AFRICA cast a broad continental net, TRACE NGOMA sharpens its lens squarely on South Africa — its sounds, its stories, its people. The channel carries the full spectrum of the country’s rich musical DNA: amapiano, Afro-pop, maskandi, hip-hop, gqom, lekompo, and urban gospel, among others.

 “Our customers want to see themselves reflected on screen – their music, their languages, their culture. TRACE NGOMA brings that to life in a powerful way. This rebrand aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver meaningful local entertainment that celebrates who we are as South Africans.” affirmed Willington Ngwepe, CEO at MultiChoice, the broadcasting service licensee entity.

With an expanded slate of programmes and renewed local focus, TRACE NGOMA will spotlight rising talent, honour genre legends, and highlight grassroots cultural movements across the country.

Olivier Laouchez, Co Founder & CEO Trace added “TRACE NGOMA is where music meets identity. It amplifies the rhythms and stories that define South African culture and gives young people a space to connect and feel seen.”

Local Shows, Local Talent, Local Stories

The channel’s programming slate is built around South Africa’s most beloved genres and the artists driving them. Shows currently on air include:

• Amapiano Plz — dedicated to the genre that took the world by storm
• Maskandi Vibes — honouring the Zulu folk tradition
• Ke Hip Hop Dawg! — a celebration of local rap culture
• Lekompo Fela — spotlighting the fast-rising township sound
• Top 10 Afropop — weekly charting of the biggest Afropop hits
• Gospel Kickstarter — faith-inspired music in full force

Beyond the shows, viewers can expect live performances, DJ sets, docu-stories, and coverage of the grassroots cultural movements shaping South Africa’s music scene today.

Now Streaming on DStv Channel 326

TRACE NGOMA is live and available now on DStv Channel 326. For MultiChoice subscribers, it represents a significant upgrade in culturally relevant local content — a channel built not just for South African audiences, but from them.

With the simultaneous introduction of Trace Plus, the group has clearly positioned itself for deeper roots in the local market, putting homegrown talent and authentic storytelling at the centre of its offering.

The drumbeat has dropped. TRACE NGOMA is here.