BET UK has announced its upcoming docuseries ‘Mission Motherland,’ set to premiere between 20th–23rd January 2026 on Channel 5’s streaming service and the BET International YouTube channel.
The four-part series follows Clara Amfo, AJ Tracey, Jimmy Akingbola and Alesha Dixon as they trace their family ancestry across the African and Caribbean diaspora. More than a journey of rediscovery, each episode centres on a personal “mission” to honour their roots and give back to the communities they uncover along the way.
Broadcaster Clara Amfo travels to Ghana with her brother Chris, questioning identity, belonging and whether building roots in Ghana could shape her future. Along the way, she’s introduced to a modern “Ghana 2.0” while reconnecting with her ancestral past.
The rapper AJ Tracey also heads to Trinidad & Tobago to explore his paternal heritage. Immersing himself in steel pan and calypso culture, AJ uncovers stories about his grandfather and great-grandmother as he reflects on what it truly means to be half-Trinidadian.
Jimmy Akingbola, raised by white foster parents in East London, journeys to Nigeria with his brother Sola to reconnect with their roots. The trip reveals hidden truths about their father and an unexpected artistic lineage, turning the experience into a powerful exploration of inheritance and identity.
Alesha Dixon, who travels to Jamaica with her brothers Adrian and Jeroame, Dixon uncovers a striking family history — including ancestors who owned and defended 82 acres of land against British colonials. As she navigates silences in her family story, she explores Kingston in search of the musical DNA that transforms history into legacy.
Mission Motherland is produced by Big Deal Films (Dreaming Whilst Black), with executive producers Dhanny Joshi, Thomas Stogdon, Shurwin Beckford (showrunner), Deep Sehgal (WPP Media Motion Entertainment), and Cicelia Deane (BET UK). Marketing and digital strategy is led by Portia Clarke and Kerrianne Taylor.
Cicelia Deane, Editorial & Commissioning Executive at BET UK, said the series “celebrates the richness of Black British identity and the privilege of belonging to more than one place,” adding that it strengthens connections to heritage while keeping cultural knowledge alive across generations “in a way that feels joyful and relevant.”
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