Billed as "the first supernatural psychological thriller created in South Africa", the next mini-series in SABC1's Thursday 9pm timeslot is called
Ubizo (The Calling), which replaces its hit predecessor
Society.
Ubizo follows the channel's pattern of airing four-part mini-series (or made-for-TV movies that have been converted into mini-series) every Thursday at 21h00.
The first such mini-series was
When We Were Black, which aired in December, followed by Society in January/February, both of which were a resounding success with TVSA readers.
Society in particular caused quite a stir, with three writers blogging about it on TVSA and one calling for it to be made into a full-blown drama series.
It is currently ranked the 9th-best South African show by TVSA readers.
Ubizo is indeed a unique concept - as far we know, at any rate. The show is about an ambitious career-woman on the fast-track to success who finds her meticulously planned life thrown into chaos when she has to choose between the spiritual calling of her ancestors and everything she ever thought she wanted.
Nomathemba is an ambitious microbiologist on the fast-track to success - a Mandela's child living the post-apartheid dream.
She's lost touch with her heritage, her traditions, and her people, but she hasn't lost her link to the ancestors who are calling her through her dreams.
Forces are in motion around her. Unwittingly, Noma is led to her ancestral lands in pursuit of indigenous healing knowledge that she aims to exploit. In the process, she unleashes an ancient evil – the spirit Zondi who has had a long-standing feud with her blood-line.
On the brink of the biggest success of her career, her life implodes when she sees the evil try to attack her beloved daughter, Thandeka, at a function attended by friends, family and business associates.
She tries to fight off something no-one else can see. Everyone thinks she's crazy. Even Noma doubts the reality of her own visions.
With her sanity, her marriage and Thandeka's life at stake, Noma is told the only way she can defeat the evil that threatens her family is to leave her successful city life and answer her calling to become a sangoma – something that goes against everything she believes in as a scientist.
Opposed by her husband who doesn't understand, her deeply religious mother, her troubled teenage daughter and her highly demanding boss, Noma has to learn to let go of everything she's been conditioned to become.
Ubizo stars include
Linda Sokhulu - best known for her role as Cleo on
Generations - in the lead role of Noma;
Dominic Fundam from
Soul Buddyz III; and the redoubtable
Mary Twala, who currently stars as Makumalo on
Muvhango.
Ubizo (The Calling) is in SiSwati and English, with English subtitles.
The mini-series premieres on SABC1 on Thursday 15 February, at 21h00.
TVSA Show Page: Ubizo (The Calling)