Fashioning Modern Africanism

Navigating   umjolo   can be tricky and full of surprises.   Last Chance Love , a reality show debuting on Wednesday 10 January on Mzansi Magic, DStv channel 161, digs into this topic from a new angle. This series takes viewers inside the lives of four young singles, each eager to break free from their relationship barriers which makes it impossible for them to keep lasting relationships. They're not just looking for relationships, they're also trying to understand why  umjolo  has been difficult for them.   Produced by The Narrators Africa, the team behind the Mzansi Magic drama series  Nkululeko ,  Last Chance Love  deals with the love lives of our 'Undatables' - Sibu, Zoya, Thato, and Bontle. Guided by relationship expert Makabelo Motaung, the participants explore their own sense of self-discovery.     The show features four pivotal dates for each: with a crush, an ex, a setup by a loved one, and a blind date with a stranger. On top of these experiences, they take pa

Witness Moshe's beautiful story of hope and love as he prepares for his dream family through surrogacy Rediscover charismatic TV personality Moshe Ndiki as he embarks on an exciting and transformational chapter of his life in the reality series  Life with Moshe ,  a 13-part reality series premiering on Sunday 28 January 2024 at 19h30 on Mzansi Magic.   Moshe's story goes beyond the ordinary. As a black, gay man choosing the path of surrogacy to start his family, his decision challenges the dilemma of modern parenting pitted against traditional customs. With the surrogate well into their pregnancy, Moshe's life is on the brink of an emotional transformation.   From the joys of expecting twin boys to the complicated balance of his demanding showbiz career and deeply rooted family ties,  Life with Moshe  promises to deliver hope, joy and determination.    "Moshe's energy, charisma, and infectious optimism light up the screen," says Shirley Adonisi,  Director  of

One of Mzansi's favourite reality shows zooms in on the exciting taxi industry. Last time, we took you into the fast-paced world of the taxi industry. Guess what? The ride's not over. Slide into the passenger seat as  Imboni YamaTekisi  speeds into its second season on Mzansi Magic. We promise roads less travelled, twists and turns, and stories that'll make you want to circle back and watch it all over again.   This season we're stepping back into the daily grind of our taxi bosses as they tackle their unpredictable industry. With family battles, powerful personal stories, and business dynamics that would give boardrooms a run for their money, this season is a game-changer.   Joining the cast this season is the dynamic Sbongile Maseko. A single mom of three, navigating the taxi lanes, while juggling her hectic family life. With a backstory as interesting as the streets she rules, she's the fresh voice this season was waiting for.   Don't worry, we haven't fo

The first challenge of season 4 saw the choirs pay tribute to the Springboks – with a surprise twist ending After two touching episodes of auditions and personal stories,  Clash of the Choirs SA  got down to business as season 4’s first live performance challenge got underway – and it was nothing short of spectacular. All roads in the Mzansi Magic competition show led to Johannesburg, as the nine choirs and their choirmasters prepared a musical feast for audiences and the judges to indulge in. Hosted by DJ Sabby and Bontle Modiselle, the episode featured an uplifting group performance from the choirmasters and their choirs. COTCSA ’s musical director Zadok (whose glittering global CV includes working on the SAMAs and MTV VMAs) set the tone with a timely theme: the choirs had to compose odes to defending Rugby World Cup champions the Springboks. As Zadok pointed out, the marriage between music and sport is a classic one. Kicking things off was  Team Khanyisa  (Mpumalanga), who sang  Ubo

In the spirit of love and dramatic flair, Mzansi Magic is premiering its brand-new reality wedding show, Forever Thina. The show will premiere on Sunday 10 September at 19:00, taking the popular Sunday Sisonke slot. Forever Thina shatters all the rules by featuring couples who take the daring step of marrying within three days, all without the consent of their families. Love will be tested, and secrets will unravel as couples walk down the aisle to reveal their life-altering decisions. The show will be steered by LaConco, a host with the knack for keeping things straightforward. Her diverse range of experience, ranging from voice-over artist to presenter roles in hit shows like The Real Housewives of Durban and Our Perfect Wedding, adds the ideal layer of authenticity to Forever Thina. LaConco is not just a television personality; she's a force. Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels, says, "Sunday nights have long been a time when families come together to

Ng ikhethele  follows the whirlwind journey of eight singles who, disillusioned by modern dating, turn to their families in search of their ideal life partners. T his show presents a fresh and innovative approach to finding your happily ever after.  The twist? Families must solely rely on meeting and vetting potential spouses' families, without direct interaction with the potential suitors themselves. Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels, expresses the channel's dedication to providing viewers with diverse and high-quality content: "Mzansi Magic is committed to offering its viewers the best in local entertainment that stretches across various genres.  Ngikhethele  adds a fresh and unique perspective to romance and embracing traditional values in a modern context." "Ngikhethele  is a timely reminder of the value of family input in life decisions. We hope this show will demonstrate how families plays a role in the choices we make and the differ

After a three-year hiatus,  The Real Housewives of Johannesburg (RHOJ)  promises to revive the drama and glamour that made it so popular. Lebo ‘Jojo’ Mokoena, Lethabo 'LeJoy' Mathatho, Keabetswe Marema, Thobekile Mdlalose, Nicole Watson and Mamus Koka will join season three of the highly-anticipated show which will premiere on Friday 19 May 2023 on 1Magic, DStv channel 103.   Season 3 will follow the all-new group, with some familiar faces, of six dynamic women as they navigate their lives and get a glimpse into their lavish lifestyles, friendship dynamics, romantic relationships, as well as everything else in between. The show highlights both their successes and struggles in their personal lives as well as the drama that unfolds when the six get together.   The Real Housewives format is distributed internationally by NBCUniversal Formats, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.   “The Real Housewives franchise has become is much-

Discover the true makings of SA's most beloved musical family, the Balas. Famed for their love of music, Pinky, Zwai, Loyiso, and Phelo have a strong yet often-tested bond. Mzansi Magic's  The Bala Family  premieres on Thursday 20 April, taking us behind the scenes as they try to bury their differences and rebuild their relationships. Zwai's success has been influential in both the music industry as well as within his family, spurring his brothers Loyiso and Phelo to pursue their own successful music careers. While having simultaneously helped to revolutionise the genre of kwaito music through the legendary award-winning group TKZee and later his career as a solo artist and one of the country’s most recognised crossover producers and musical directors. This family's legacy in the music industry is undeniable!   Now, a couple of marriages, divorces and a new generation of Bala kids later, their extended family, including mom Veronica, hopes that this challenging journey

Sjola Sonke season 1 is going to give viewers a new perspective to dating and relationships, with a twist! The show produced by  Brightfire Pictures , which is expected to light up Sunday TV viewing from the second week of April, presents a candid, unscripted, and edgy look at 21st century mjolo in Mzansi as couples and singles redefine love and monogamy. So what do we mean by  S’jola Sonke ? Three couples and 17 singles, who believe in having more than two people in an intimate relationship, embark on a four-week journey to find love. The couples and singles openly date each other until they find their ideal combination, or for some, combinations. If singles fail to make a connection with any of the couples, they run the risk of being kicked out. Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net, says: “We strive to bring our viewers the highest quality of content by venturing into uncharted waters, pushing boundaries and changing mindsets, while simultaneously explor

Fans of the hugely popular and award-winning NBCUniversal Format franchise The Real Housewives can look forward to the opulence, drama and new faces when the hotly awaited latest addition to the local series, The Real Housewives of Cape Town (RHOCT) premieres on Mzansi Magic on 10 July 2022. The Real Housewives of Cape Town marks the 17th international version of the franchise, and the 4th to be adapted in Africa. The franchise is distributed internationally by NBCUniversal Formats, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. “We look forward to premiering this exciting new addition on Mzansi Magic, which will no doubt keep our audience hooked and will undoubtedly be of the premium quality our viewers have grown accustomed to,” says Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net. She continues: “This may be a global franchise, but our spin on it is very much South African. The storylines explored on the show and the cast’s

Already serving an impressive lineup of reality shows, Mzansi Magic will be premiering their latest addition to the fan favorite genre in April.  Twice as Bold  is a 13-part show following Olwethu and Owami Siko – twin sisters who are so inseparable they share one soul and one baby Daddy. While twins are known to enjoy an even closer bond than the average siblings, Olwethu and Owami have taken things to the extreme, at least according to their loved ones, who want them to start living their lives as individuals rather than as a unit. Born in Vosloorus, the 31-year-old sisters’ tough childhood brought them even closer than expected- so close that they were married the same man for nine years. Now divorced and with daughters born two months apart fathered by the ex-husband, the twins are on a journey to accept their spiritual calling as prophets – and to find a new husband. “Shows centered around family trial and tribulations never get old and are always fascinating to observe – more so

It’s official:   Idols SA   will be back for an impressive 18 th   season this year. Returning to the judges’ chair is fan favourite Somizi Mhlongo, and he will be joined by two new judges: the triple threat pop culture icon Thembi Seete and rapper-producer extraordinaire JR Bogopa. The award-winning, co-executive producer Tebogo 'ProVerb' Thekisho will return to host the music competition reality show for his 13 th  season.   Making a comeback to his seat as the most famous competition judge in the country, Somizi Mhlongo is a multitalented choreographer, reality TV star and actor whose  Idols SA  catchphrase ‘Whooo shem!’ is loved by many.   Known for his vibey energy, dramatic dress sense and honest critique as a judge, Mhlongo will dazzle our screens yet again as he ushers in a new era for the show and guides a new crop of talent.   An acclaimed actor, dancer and musician who has been part of South Africa’s pop culture fabric since the 1990s, Thembi Seete is known for her c

Big Brother Mzansi  brings the age old saying of “Love Lives Here” to life in this week’s Head of House challenge. The three Valentine’s Day themed challenges stretched the housemates’ strategic acumen in their fight against the clock and against each other. The housemates gathered to fight for their love for the Big Brother House, as well as their hopes of winning R2 Million in this season of  Big Brother Mzansi.   The arena is set and ready to have the housemates turned contestant battle it out. Three stations for three games are tactfully placed around the room. The first challenge commences whereby the housemates have to drop as many heart sweets into the bottle in two minutes.   In this game of love and war, the housemates quickly learnt that you win some, and you lose some. Of the 15 housemates who had entered the challenge with equal chances of winning, only 5 progressed to the next round.   Tensions arose in the second challenge as the clock neared zero and hearts are broken se

Known for his charisma and impressive acting chops, the versatile and multitalented Lawrence Maleka will be adding another prestigious gig to his profile – as the presenter of the new season of  Big Brother Mzansi season 3 .   Big Brother Mzansi  will premiere on Sunday 23 January 2022 live on DStv Channel 161 Mzansi Magic. Beloved by many for his portrayal of Zolani on the hit 1Magic telenovela  The River ,  the SAFTA winner is also a celebrated TV presenter and host, having previously hosted Africa Magic Entertainment’s  StarGist , Mzansi Magic’s  Clash of the Choirs  and co-hosted the 2021 South African Music Awards, among others. “I’m excited to be part of this installment of  Big Brother Mzansi . The franchise has become a massive phenomenon in African as well as South African pop culture, and I’m happy to join in the fun as a presenter. The fan base is huge and massively loyal – it’s an honour to be part of such a fantastic production,” says Maleka. Shirley Adonisi, recently appo