We've been hearing about it for years and now it's eventually happening.
Production is underway for the historical epic drama series Shaka iLembe and the first artwork has been released.
This is it:
Lemogang Tsipa stars as Shaka.
Lemogang's acting credits include roles on e.tv's detective series Traffic!, the American miniseries Roots, SABC1's boxing drama JAB and Mzansi Magic's telenovela Isithembiso.
You'll find all of his TV roles on his TVSA Actor Profile here:
Lemogang Tsipa
Newcomer Ntando Zondi stars as Young Shaka.
Nomzamo Mbatha stars as Shaka's mother Queen Nandi.
She also executively produces.
Snapshots
The series is a co-production between MultiChoice and Bomb (Isibaya, House of Zwide, Isithembiso).
It's filming in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng as we speak.
Other headliners include Thembinkosi Mthembu as King Dingiswayo and Wiseman Mncube as King Zwide.
It's taken six years for the show to start filming. The production has consulted historians, academics and family descendants, including the late King Goodwill Zwelithini and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
It tells the story of the making of King Shaka, from his early childhood to adulthood.
The production has provided jobs for over 8000 people.
The show mixes historical fact and fiction. Here's a close-up on the show's perspective from Yolisa Phahle, CEO of General Entertainment & Connected Video at MultiChoice:
“We want people to learn about our history and culture, but we also want to keep viewers glued in anticipation. This drama seeks to uncover nuggets of history, but creates narrative in the gaps by putting known characters alongside fictional characters in order to keep the story moving.”
It premieres on 2023.