Fashioning Modern Africanism

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

South African audiences can’t get enough of reality TV, with POP24’s  The Mommy Club  and  This Body Works For Me  topping the charts on Showmax currently, not to mention  Love Island UK ,  Love Island USA ,  Themba: My Inked World  and  Nganele  all in the top 20.  With  The Real Housewives of Gqeberha  now streaming, and  The Real Housewives of Lagos  S2 coming at the end of the month, here’s a round-up of the Showmax hits everyone is talking about:  JUST LAUNCHED:  The Real Housewives of Gqeberha S1   | Binge now Get ready to see a side of Gqeberha you’ve never seen before in  1Magic’s  The Real Housewives of Gqeberha . Meet stylish events planner, mother and wife Norma Nicol (who married into Ghanaian royalty); sought-after MC and award-winning businesswoman Buli G Ngomane; dedicated mom, former construction project manager and recent widow Liz Prins; successful salon owner and the wife of the city’s former mayor, Unathi Faku; and Ashleigh Mather, a wife and mom who works in the fa

It ’s time to spice things up, Mondli Makhoba joins the cast ensemble of Nikiwe to play Nikiwe’s uncle Bheki Radebe, Themba Radebe’s (Muzi Mthabela) younger brother from Thursday the 3 rd  of August at 6.30PM on  e.tv . Bheki and Themba have different mothers. His mother was killed just when Bheki started working as a truck driver. First wife to Funani Radebe whilst MaSibisi was the second wife in Joburg. Bheki and his siblings grew up hating MaSibisi and her children as they saw her as the woman who took their father away. He is back now to make things right with the Radebe family, to reconnect and find a woman that he can love, and it turns that woman is not so far away. Let’ s just say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…   Watch Mondli Makhoba as Bheki on Nikiwe on Thursday the 3 rd  of August at 6.30PM  on  e.tv .

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

BET Africa, a leading provider of quality content from Black creators and the champion of Black content and culture, is celebrating the 100th episode of one of its biggest daily drama productions of the year,  Redemption . Since its premiere in September last year, the daily drama has been serving audiences a double-dealing dramatic story centred around the close-knit and respected Zikode family and the legacy of their mega church. The explosive centennial episode comes in guns blazing as the peak of the story unfolds. There’s a fire at the Zikode church, a gun has gone missing, and bloodshed is on the cards. Who is the unfortunate victim? “The Redemption storyline is one that has resonance with African communities and audiences, so we’re extremely proud to take stock of Redemption’s success at this pivotal time in the story and in the 130-episode production. The show has had a phenomenal reception, and speaks directly to BET’s mission to intersect content, community and culture, servi

As South Africa’s biggest fashion telenovela, it comes as no surprise that House of Zwide is joining forces with South African Fashion Week –  21 October 2022 In the House of Zwide, as the R100 million deal comes to a close, Funani Zwide and Alex Khadzi are forced to work together and split the money in half (R50 Million each). Both heavyweights are set to showcase their most iconic creations yet! This will be the biggest onscreen rivalry in South African television ever, coming to a head on the same day as the actual SA Fashion Week event. Don’t miss the moment as we shine the spotlight on SA fashion like never before!   Catch House of Zwide’s biggest fashion show on the 21 st  of October at 7PM on  e.tv

Baby Mama (Mampho) and the current girlfriend (Shoki) go head to head to be the Face of House of Zwide on the 18th of October. On the 18th of October, South Africa finds out who wins House of Zwide’s biggest competition for the new face of the brand. It is no secret that Mampho and Shoki dislike each other. As Nkosi’s baby mama, Mampho lives in the Zwide household and has always wanted to be Nkosi’s number 1. But, Shoki is squarely in the picture and she’s already won Nkosi’s love. Understandably, this has sparked major tension between the two women. They can’t even stand to be in the same room together as they find themselves fighting for Nkosi’s time. Nkosi is caught between a rock and a hard place, having to play the role of loving, faithful boyfriend to Shoki, and being a good father to his daughter- which means spending time with Mampho. Now, the final stage of the competition is here. With Mampho and Shoki both eagerly grabbing the chance to finally make something for themselves

As the weather warms up and buds begin to bloom, the magic of love will also blossom on Mzansi Magic come springtime. If you can’t attend a wedding in September, we’ve got you –  PS: I Love you , a four-part wedding special following low-key showbiz couple Phumeza and Shota’s journey to the altar, will premiere on DStv Channel 161 on Saturday 24 September at 18h00. Having celebrated their eighth anniversary, the lovebirds are taking us along on their journey as they undergo the formalities of solidifying their union. In a story that spans provinces and has a young family at its center, we follow the TV host ( Our Perfect Wedding ,  Abandoned ) and her music producer partner as they formally unite their families with the ceremonies of umembeso and umbondo, followed by a lavish wedding featuring the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry. “Reality is one of the genres our viewers love the most, and while they enjoy the stories of everyday people being told on screen, our special

While you wait for Season 3 in November 2022,  Behind The Veil  brings all your faves back to revisit the questions that kept  The Wife  at the top of Twitter every Thursday for two seasons.  The Wife  broke records on Showmax, won DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards for Abdul Khoza (Nqoba) and Kwenzo Ngcobo (Qhawe), and is now up for 10 SAFTAs, including Best Telenovela, Best Actor (Bonko Khoza as Mqhele), Best Supporting Actor (Abdul Khoza as Nqoba), and Supporting Actress (Zikhona Sodlaka as Mandisa).                                 Watch the trailer: In episode 1, Bonko and Mbalenhle Mavimbela (Hlomu) talk about their characters’ toxic love story and how the nation fell in and then out of love with Mqhele.    In episode 2, the directors and writers of  The Wife  weigh in on what “inspired by” actually means and the controversial changes they made to Dudu Busani-Dube’s beloved books.    In episode 3, Khanyi Mbau (Zandile) and Mondli Makhoba (Nkosana) reflect on their characters’ love

Saturday nights are about to get even better for Mzansi Magic viewers with the premiere of a new game show on 4th of June. Hosted by SuperSport’s Thato Moeng and comedian, radio personality Skhumba Hlophe, The Saturday Showdown will see five teams, captained by celebrities, battle it out for a R3.5 million grand prize. With the atmosphere and competitiveness of an arena game, and the heart and wit of a game’s night with friends, The Saturday Showdown is the boldest and biggest game show to grace screens. “We’re thrilled to premiere an epic game show like The Saturday Showdown on Mzansi Magic – something to keep our viewers entertained and engaged. It’s the kind of show that will appeal to viewers across age and interest – be they into sports or pop culture. It’s the latest in the hyper-local content strategy that we are putting out, content that is keeping up with viewers’ evolving and eclectic tastes,” says Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net. Produced b

Meet the dangerous new family joining  The River They are headed by the traditional patriarch Bukhosi (played by  Bheki Mkhwane), who is as quick with his brain as he is with his gun. With a military past that comes in handy for his work as a heist king, he’s brash, outspoken and charming. He’s made of steel – so he’s not the one to cross. He brings with him his younger second wife, Nomafu (played by Brenda Mhlongo). Beneath her shiny and well-groomed exterior is a tough woman who has clawed her way out of poverty. She’s a terrible stepmother but she knows how to clean money – and she’s set to become Lindiwe Dikana’s biggest rival yet. Then there are the Hlophe sons – Mlilo (played by Vuyo Biyela) and Nkanyiso (played by Unathi Mkhize). The product of Bukhosi’s first marriage, they have a strained relationship with their father, but he wants them to take over the family business. Mlilo is nothing like his father – yet he’s everything like this father. Nkanyiso, on the other hand, is th

The Godfather  is one of the most iconic films of all time, and in the decades since its release, plenty has been written and said about it – but never like this. The mpaking of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 classic is now the subject of  The Offer , a limited series which premiered on M-Net (DStv channel 101) on Monday 2 May at 22h30, just days after its US debut on Paramount+, Paramount’s streaming service. The Offer  is based on Oscar®-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy’s extraordinary, never-before-seen story of making  The Godfather . The limited series stars Miles Teller ( Whiplash ) as Albert S. Ruddy, whose experience is the basis of the series; Matthew Goode ( A Discovery of Witches ) as studio exec Robert Evans; Dan Fogler ( Fantastic Beasts ) as director Coppola; Juno Temple ( Ted Lasso ) as Al’s assistant Bettye McCartt; Colin Hanks ( Impeachment: American Crime Story ) as the man with the money, Barry Lapidus; Giovanni Ribisi ( Sneaky Pete ) as real-life mafia don Joe Colombo;

After two successful and acclaimed seasons, Mzansi Magic’s undercover thriller drama  Housekeepers  is back with what promises to be another nail-biting season, premiering on 4 April. Starring Thando Thabethe, who reprises her role as Linda, and Paballo Koza as her brother Mtho, the series follows an agent solving criminal cases – while undercover as the house help. And while Linda has massive crime to uncover in season 3, her biggest fight is her desperate attempt to save Mtho’s life. In varsity and adjusting to his and his sister’s new financially secure reality, Mtho is accused of a shocking crime. Can Linda prove his innocence while keeping her true identity hidden from her dangerous new employers? The  Housekeepers  season 3 cast includes Gabriel Simphiwe Mini ( Zabalaza ), Ernest Ndlovu ( Gomora ,  Isibaya ), Andile Mxakaza ( Isibaya ), Noxolo Dlamini ( Isibaya ), Fezile Makhanya ( Rockville ,  Unmarried ,  The Queen ), and TV presenting legend Zandi Nhlapho. “We’re happy to keep

The coveted Sunday night primetime slot has been dominated by Mzansi Magic for several years, and now the channel is taking things a step further with a new flagship drama,   Umbuso , premiering on 3 April at 20h00.     It features strong performances from a star-studded and acclaimed cast including Lillian Dube, Bheki Sibiya, Sandile Mahlangu, Mzwandile Ngubeni, Zinzi Zungu, Christopher Jafta, Makhaola Ndebele and Omuhle Gela.     Umbuso   is a story about street-smart businessman, Ma E (Sibiya) and people’s politician, Tiny (Ndebele), two old comrades determined to secure a post-struggle legacy for themselves and their families.   However, after a brutal and bloody murder that shakes everyone to their core,   a long-hidden and dark secret is finally revealed, cutting to the heart of both families. At the centre of it all is Qhawe (Kwanele Mthethwa), a daughter trying to keep her family – and its business – together.      “Sunday’s primetime slot is critical for us a channel, and our