Origins & Empires

Welcome to Origins & Empires — a history channel exploring the people, migrations, cultures, kingdoms, conflicts and family stories that shaped southern Africa.

From humanity’s earliest origins and ancient societies to the VOC, German settlers, colonial expansion, genealogy and the modern South African diaspora, we uncover how the past continues to shape the present.

Our documentaries explore questions such as:

* How did South Africa come to be?
* Why is southern Africa so culturally diverse?
* Where did different communities and family lines originate?
* How did migration, trade, conquest and empire reshape the region?
* Why are South Africans now spread across the world?

Expect carefully researched documentaries on archaeology, genealogy, migration, cultural history, forgotten events, kingdoms, empires and southern Africa’s connections to the wider world.

Origins & Empires
Discover the Past. Understand the Present.

Subscribe and explore the stories that made us.