Season 1
Kwa Baba is a South African telenovela rooted in themes around tradition and passion which follows the story of how far one son is willing to go when love is tested by family expectations, traditions and dealing with the weight of the past.
Set in Msawawa, Diepkloof Ext, the story follows a first born son who must step into leadership, confront his past and honour the legacy left by his father.
As he learns to love, build a family and lead with courage, he must also take on his role as Inkosana.
At the centre of the story is Zwelakhe Mkhize (played by Vuyo Biyela), a young, driven businessman who is on the brink of success and ready to settle down with his chosen woman, Bahumi Motaung (Rorisang Mohapi).
However, he quickly discovers that before taking that next step, he must deal with a past traditional obligation tied to his late father's unpaid debt.
For Zwelakhe, living in a world where love is never enough, he is forced to confront a truth that could either restore or destroy his family, leading to the question: how much can one sacrifice for the people they love?
Then there is MaMbokazi (Hlengiwe Lushaba-Madlala), Zwelakhe's mother, a respected, faith-led matriarch with a complicated past, fighting to keep her family and her reputation intact.
Dealing with long-buried pain are the Motaung family who represent love and stability, but with some hidden truths.
Devoted patriarch Solomon Motaung (Mpho Joseph Molepo) has built a warm and nurturing home with his wife Dikeledi (Helen Lebepe), a fiercely protective mother shaped by past heartbreak.
The telenovela also stars Lindani Nkosi as Dumisani, Nkanyiso Mzimela as Musa, Kwanele Mthethwa as Khethiwe, Sparky Xulu as Mhlaba and Phumzile Mlangeni as Zandile.
Main Characters
Zwelakhe Mkhize
Played by Vuyo Biyela
The firstborn son of the late Bab'Mkhize, Zwelakhe worshipped the ground his father walked on.
A hard worker and a big dreamer, his dream is to build the Mkhize empire and leave a legacy for his family.
Bahumi Motaung
Played by Rorisang Mohapi-Grootboom
Bahumi is a confident and self-assured young woman. She is kind and beautiful, and sees the best in everyone.
Bahumi wants a man who can love and see her for who she really is. She is the first-born daughter of Solomon and Dikeledi Motaung.
Slindile "MaMbokazi" Mkhize
Played by Hlengiwe Lushaba-Madlala
The flawed matriarch is a redeemed woman and a fully-fledged umama womthandazo, who has taken so many wrong turns in the past.
She's an important member of the community and is well respected. She leads the church women's guild and is seen as the mother of the nation.
MaMbokazi is also mother to Zwelakhe, Musa and Khethiwe and lost her husband a while back.
Khethiwe Mkhize-Khumalo
Played by Kwanele Mthethwa
Khethiwe is the middle child and only daughter to MaMbokazi. Her mother has always been overprotective with her and raised her like a princess.
She adores Zwelakhe and looks up to him. She is married to her brother Zwelakhe's best friend.
Musa Mkhize
Played by Nkanyiso Mzimela
The second born son of MaMbokazi, Musa has demons that pull him down the wrong path occasionally and his brother Zwelakhe tries to steer him back in the right path.
Musa feels that his late father cared more for Zwelakhe and feels rejected by a man who was always away, living his life in a truck.
He is also a ladies' man and is a father of two.
Solomon Motaung
Played by Mpho Joseph Molepo
A loving father who married Mme Dikeledi. He is a girl dad with three daughters: Bahumi, Dinana and Tsholo.
His daughters are his world and he lives for them. And after so many years, he treats his wife like a queen and teaches his children what love really looks like.
Dikeledi Motaung
Played by Helen Lebepe
She is the Motaung matriarch who guards her nest like a hawk.
Before she met Solomon, she went through so much heartbreak and would do anything to protect her daughters.
Dumisani Mkhize
Played by Lindani Nkosi
Dumisani is a tyrant with an explosive temper and harbours resentment that his life didn't turn out the way he wanted.
He is Zwelakhe, Musa and Khethiwe's uncle, and father to Mhlaba and Nhlanhla.
Dumisani has a grudge against Zwelakhe for being seen as the leader of the Mkhize clan. How far will he go to prove that he is the leader of the family?
Zandile Mkhize
Played by Phumzile Mlangeni
Married to Dumisani, she plays her role of a supportive wife and holds her husband in high regard.
She believes her sons Mhlaba and Nhlanhla can surpass Zwelakhe's success and despises that MaMbokazi does not see her as an equal.
Mhlaba Mkhize
Played by Sparky Xulu
Mhlaba is the first-born son to Dumisani and Zandile Mkhize. He is stubborn to a fault, but he always puts family first.
A doting husband and father, he struggles to live up to the Mkhize household expectations.
Kwa Baba was created by Kagiso Mogale and Sinini Nyathi-Mati (who are also the executive producers) and is produced by Singa Vision Productions.
The series producers are Sinini Nyathi-Mati and Siphiwe Hlabangane; the directors are Nozipho Nkelemba, Tebogo Mkhabela, Charlie Samson and Athi Petela.
The head writer is Kagiso Mogale and the assistant head writer is Bridgette Madiba; with storyliners Caroline Doherty, Ntando Mhlongo and Zintle Bobi; and scriptwriters Awelani Makuvha, Tsale Makam, Tsholofelo Ndlovu, Julian Koeboekae, Sibusiso Malaza, Sinovuyo Nqwili, Chris Q Radebe and Zoleka Monare.