Fashioning Modern Africanism

This January, Mzansi Magic will premiere its latest show in the Sunday prime time slot, Killer Front Page, a suspenseful new show that challenges ambition, ethics, and cold-blooded murder. Produced by Barkers Media – who produced the drama How to Manifest a Man – this series will add the drama which is synonymous with Sunday evenings on Mzansi Magic. What lies at the center of Killer Front Page is Sol Mojalefa Phiri, played by Lemogang Tsipa, a journalist whose stale career takes an unexpected turn. Affected by his father's disappearance and motivated by a childhood promise to become the best in his field, Sol's desperation for recognition makes him fabricate a front-page story. The show follows the ups and downs of Sol, who, on the way to journalistic greatness, becomes involved in a web of lies, crime, and unexpected romance. His rivalry with colleague Black Gert, played by Emmanuel Gweva, and his clash with detective Sis Connie, played by Linda Sokhulu, deepen the drama, dri

Celebrating the Best in South African film and television production The first of two glamorous evenings, where the South African film and television industry come together to honour the hard work and dedication to the craft of storytelling, commenced in Johannesburg on Friday evening .   Multichoice has once again showcased their exceptional commitment to quality and creativity by scooping a raft of awards at this year's South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) 17 craft awards ceremony. The prestigious event took place on Friday, 29 September at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg.   Leading the pack were productions from kykNET, M-Net, Mzansi Magic, and 1Magic. Notable shows such as the final season of the popular Hotel,  Survivor South Africa: Return of the Outcasts , and  DiepCity  Season 2 were among the  many that were recognised  for their outstanding achievements.   Blood Psalms  took home the award for Best Achievement in Cinematography, while

The highly anticipated docu-series stars Nobantu Vilakazi, Josiah De Disciple, Njelic, Sandy MRD, and Mawhoo   This September, during the celebration of our diverse cultural heritage, 1Magic spotlights the mesmerising world of Amapiano in  Impilo Ye Piano . Join stars Nobantu Vilakazi, Josiah De Disciple, Njelic, Sandy MRD, and Mawhoo as they seamlessly blend their beats with the nation's rich roots.   1Magic's latest offering,  Impilo Ye Piano , transcends mere entertainment, shining a light on five talents that amplify the genre. The genre taking the world by storm reflects South Africa's tales, tribulations, and triumphs. The docu-series dives into these stories, where today's unsung heroes become tomorrow's legends, and witness how the rhythm of heritage transforms.   Nobantu Vilakazi:  From Meadowlands, Soweto, Nobantu's raw energy encapsulates the Amapiano essence. Stepping into stardom with  Khurukhutsu , her voice weaves melodies across the continent. Bu

Can you find the perfect man, or do you have to take matters into your own hands to create the man of your dreams? DStv Compact Plus subscribers are in for great primetime TV as 1Magic presents the premiere of   How to Manifest a Man   on Thursday, 3 August at 20:30. The upcoming drama series will have audiences hooked with its twisted narrative, psychological depth, and stellar cast of celebrated actors and rising stars. In a world where finding the perfect partner seems impossible,  How to Manifest a Man  challenges the notion that love is purely a matter of chance. This story revolves around Dudu (Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa), who is in an unhappy marriage, and she decides to take fate into her own hands after her husband, Simphiwe (played by Mnqobi Kunene), suffers memory loss.   Determined to reshape her spouse into the ideal partner, Dudu embarks on a journey to mould him into the devoted man of her fantasies. Little does she know, Simphiwe's tendency for straying may prove unshakab

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-

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

Why do we always wait until industry legends are no longer alive to honour them? The time has come for us to acknowledge our icons while they are still alive. A new Mzansi Magic show aims to celebrate these icons – while also sharing the lessons behind their success with viewers. Guests include kwaito icon and businessman Kabelo Mabalane, sports executive Jessica Motaung, musician and entrepreneur Khuli Chana, and marketing doyen Zibusiso Mkhwanazi. Hosted by presenter, actor and model Maps Maponyane, Mzansi Icons is a show that delves into the lives, lessons and legends of the biggest names in various industries and premieres on the 18th October 2022. Mzansi Icons sees super successful personalities and icons in their fields, enjoy an unadulterated interview to discuss what makes them tick and what it took to get where they are now. This is the story of success, fighting against odds, victory, overcoming adversity, struggling with success, and the reward that comes with it. “South A

     With the ongoing goal to showcase local talent while also empowering young creatives to produce outstanding quality local content, Trace today announced three diverse new locally produced Trace Original shows – Future Maskandi, Afro Tech is Life and The Re-Introduction.   Hosted by seasoned presenter and musician Zulu Mkhathini, the FUTURE MASKANDI show will air on Monday evenings at 19:00 CAT from 3 October 2022 and repeats on Wednesdays at 14:00 CAT and Sundays 19h00 CAT on Trace Africa. Features on the show include artist like Mzukulu, Mnqobi Yazo, Lwah Ndlunkulu Thee Legacy, Big Zulu and many more.   FUTURE MASKANDI   is a fiery 13-part studio based, insert driven variety show. Set to introduce the viewers to the backstories and music of new entrants into the Maskandi Music space, the show aims to not only showcase but celebrate artists who have fused traditional Maskandi music with a fresh contemporary sound. Produced by Trace Studios, South Africa, the show launches in Octob

  Showmax has just dropped the trailer for  Blood Psalms , an epic, action-packed African fantasy series. A co-production with CANAL+,  Blood Psalms  will premiere on Showmax on 28 September 2022, with new episodes every Wednesday for 11 weeks.  Blood Psalms  will also have its world premiere in Cape Town on Wednesday, 24 August 2022 as the opening night screening at MIP Africa, part of FAME Week Africa.   In Ancient Africa, one thousand years after the fall of Atlantis, the five surviving houses of Kemet find themselves beset with fears of a prophesied end of days.  Watch the trailer: Bokang Phelane ( Keeping Score, Isidingo ) has the role of a lifetime as Princess Zazi, a fiercely determined teenage princess who must navigate primordial curses, long-standing ancestral vendettas, and her inexplicable role as the damning prophecy’s chief harbinger.    Mothusi Magano, winner of four SAFTAs and an African Movie Academy Award, plays her father, mad king Letsha, while SAFTA winner and 2022

It’s a first for kykNET and also a first worldwide! Fans of the Real Housewives franchise can now look forward to the first Afrikaans version of the international reality series when kykNET launches Die Real Housewives van Pretoria (RHOP) in October. Six women from Pretoria will dust off their most beautiful and expensive pairs of stilettos to entertain viewers every Thursday night. Think luxury vehicles, magnificent mansions, designer clothes, extravagant parties and the most expensive diamonds – all packed into 13 episodes with Pretoria as the backdrop. "It is a privilege to bring the famous international Real Housewives franchise to kykNET. The fact that this series is set in Pretoria rather than Lagos or Cape Town was always going to require us to approach it differently than the other Real Housewives shows produced around the world. We want to showcase a group of strong Afrikaans women from Pretoria who play big roles in their families and communities, and of course also brin

Internationally renowned company Rebelintown Productions together with national broadcaster SABC2 today confirmed the return of The Coolest OG’s. The second season of the much-anticipated reality show kicks off on Sunday, 14 th  of August at 18:30pm     SO HOW AND WHAT IS AN OG?   An OG is someone who is incredibly exceptional, authentic, and excellent in a classic way. Someone who is an expert in many facets of life and who  has been  around for a long time.   Ten South African contestants go head-to-head to compete for a R100 000 grand prize by going through a series of fun and really cool challenges, with the help of their grandkids, to see if they are truly THE COOLEST OG in all the land.   Season two is slightly different where each OG entered along their grandchild. The OG’s are aged between 60 and 74 years old, while the grandchildren range from 18 to 29 years old.   The contestants will go through different challenges in each episode to see who will ultimately win the title of

Two of Mzansi Magic’s reality shows that always grip viewers and get tongues wagging on social media will be back for all new seasons come July. The emotional  Mnakwethu ’s third season will premiere on 5 July at 20h00, while the heart-warming  Unefa ’s second season premieres on 20 July at 20h00. Hosted by  Uthando Nes’thembu  star Musa Mseleku,  Mnakwethu  follows men who need Mseleku’s help in requesting their wives to agree to being in a polygamous marriage – to varying degrees of success.   One of the most talked about shows in South African television,  Mnakwethu  is often filled with tension and emotion, and it sees Mseleku  walking the tightrope between guiding the men towards fulfilling their aims while also helping the women accept what is sometimes a shocking request to them. Also dealing with surprises but of a monetary nature is Unefa, the show that sees unsuspecting people learn that they have an inheritance they did not know about. Hosted by acclaimed actor Motlatsi Mafa

In the Showmax Original horror series  Pulse , launched on Thursday, 23 June 2022, Thapelo Mokoena plays Errol, a game producer who discovers that survival is no longer just a game when an electromagnetic pulse bomb fries every electrical circuit in his office high-rise – and people’s heads.  Sam Wright caught up with the SAFTA-winning  Trackers  and  Wild At Heart  star to find out more about his role in the freaky show, which was picked   by  The Hollywood Reporter  as one of the 25 buzziest series at this year’s MIPTV, a leading global TV market in Cannes, France. What is your claim to fame? I’m just an individual trying to live a life of purpose. I’m somebody who grew up on a farm, in a small farming town, where everything that was exciting was heard about, read about or seen on TV. All I ever wanted to do was go out and see, go out and touch, and go out and take some. I’m somebody who’s really been adamant about conquering and unveiling those dreams, making them become a reality.