The U.S. BET channel has joined CBC in acquiring the mini-series The Book of Negroes from Conquering Lion Pictures and Out Of Africa Entertainment.

The TV adaptation, based on Canadian writer Lawrence Hill’s novel of the same name, will begin shooting in South Africa in the fall as a Canadian-South co-production.

Clement Virgo will direct after writing the script for the mini-series with Hill.

The Book of Negroes portrays an African woman who is kidnapped by slave traders in West Africa, enslaved in South Carolina, before finding refuge in Nova Scotia at the dawn of the 19th century.

“BET are launching The Book of Negroes as their first “event” mini-series, adding this first rate show to their growing slate of original scripted programming,” said executive producer Damon D’Oliveira of Conquering Lion.

He will share executive producer credits with Virgo, Lance Samuels, Daniel Iron, Michael Levine, Carrie Stein and Bill Niven, who serves as the Nova Scotia co-producer.

Entertainment One handles the worldwide rights to the mini-series in all media.