The six-part miniseries Book of Negroes premiered on e.tv on Monday 2 May at 20h30 and features a bevy of South African actors in guest and starring roles.
The series is a Canadian/South African co-production filmed in South African so it includes American, Canadian and South African cast who tell the story which spans the Atlantic Ocean.
This is the description of the storyline from the
TVSA Show Page:
The miniseries is based on the novel of the same name by Lawrence Hill which in turn derives its origins from the historical document Book of Negroes, and tells the story of a woman forcefully taken to South Carolina from West Africa at the time of the American Revolution.
Abducted from her village in West Africa, eleven-year-old Aminata Diallo is forced into a slave coffle and must endure a horrific ocean crossing.
She is taken to a South Carolina plantation where she makes herself useful by using midwifery skills learned at her mother's side, all the while keeping the attentions of her jealous slave master, Robinson Appleby, at bay.
Soon after Aminata reencounters Chekura, a fellow slave from West Africa, they are married in a clandestine ceremony. When their first baby is brutally abducted and sold by Appleby she vows to return one day to her homeland.
American actress Aunjanue Ellis plays Aminata, Canadian actor Greg Bryk plays Appleby and Canadian actor Lyriq Bent plays the grown-up Chakura.
These are the South African actors to lookout for with flash facts on where you may know them from:
Siyabonga Xaba as Chakura
A young actor on the move, Siya plays the young version of Chakura and is credited as starring cast.
He is best known for his role as Zweli Hlatswayo on the political thriller End Game and has also had roles on 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls, Soul Buddyz and Strike Back.
Thishiwe Ziqubu as Sira
Thishiwe rose to fame with her starring role as Skiets in the 2014 romantic action film Hard to Get, which catapulted her to acclaim.
She went on to land numerous TV roles on series including Tempy Pushas, High Rollers, It's Complicated and Rhythm City, which she's a script writer on too.
Jerry Mofokeng as The Djeli
Jerry is a South African TV and film stalwart who is known for his roles in numerous film and TV shows including the movies Cry, The Beloved Country, Mandela And De Klerk and Tsotsi and the shows Soul City, Scandal!, Isidingo, Let Heaven Wait, When We Were Black, 90 Plein Street and Yizo Yizo.
He's currently starring as Talent in the e.tv action series Heist, which ends tonight.
Nondumiso Tembe as Fanta
Nondumiso is best known for her roles as Mavis on the supernatural horror series True Blood and for her role as fashion executive Phumelele Miya on Generations.
She was raised in South Africa and New York by her opera singer parents and is also a singer. She played Annie in the Durban Playhouse Company's production of the show and made history with her performance as the first black actress to lead a multi-racial cast in a major theatrical production in post-Apartheid South Africa.
Andile Gumbi as Mamadu
Andile is best known to TV audiences for his role as Zweli Ntshangase (Ngubane), Bhekifa's son on Mzansi Magic's isiBaya.
He's also well known for his role as the adult Simba in Disney's stage show version of The Lion King.
Erica Wessels as Mrs Scott
Erica has had roles on numerous TV shows including SOS, Madam & Eve, Stokvel, Orion, Interrogation Room, Charlie Jade and Fishy Feshuns. She's also known for her role as Amore Duvenhage on the SABC2 drama series Erfsondes.
Fana Mokoena as Allasane
Fana is well known for his roles in various TV shows and movies including the movies Hotel Rwanda and World War Z and the TV shows Yizo Yizo, Generations, Soul City, Hopeville and The Lab.
Nick Boraine as the Slaveship Doctor
Nick is best known to TV audiences for his starring role as Warren on the SABC
drama series The Mating Game. You may also know him from the kykNET soapie Binnelanders, the pirate series Black Sails and the fourth season of Homeland where he played Alan Hensleigh.
Atandwa Kani as the New York Jail Guard
Actor John Kani's son Atandwa was first seen on TV in the starring role of Tumelo in the 2007 drama series Life is Wild. You may also have seen him on 90 Plein Street, High Rollers, Muvhango, It's Complicated and the current season of Ashes to Ashes.
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And that's not all. There are more. Check out full cast list here:
The Book of Negroes cast.