Fashioning Modern Africanism

Romance, rivalry and revenge – that’s what Mzansi Magic viewers can expect when the country’s most buzzed-about show,  The Wife , premieres on the channel on 12 September. The hit show, which is a Showmax Original, will air three nights a week – Compact subscribers can catch it every Monday to Wednesday at 21h30. Mzansi Magic viewers can also enjoy the omnibus on Saturdays from 21h30-23h00. The most-watched series in Showmax history,  The Wife  has broken several records on the platform. The premiere of the recently concluded season 2 enjoyed the most first-day views on the streaming service – beating its own previous record for the season 1 premiere. “Having seen its impressive and record-breaking performance on Showmax, we have decided to bring  The Wife  to our DStv Compact subscribers so that they can get in on the action. We know that our viewers will fall in love with the story and its characters. It’s a show that has resonated deeply with many, and we’re glad to bring all of our

Stained Glass, the production company behind  The Wife , has confirmed that Bonko Khoza, who played Mqhele in the first two seasons, isn’t returning in  Season 3 of the record-breaking, Twitter-topping Showmax Original telenovela . They’re currently casting for his replacement.  Inspired by Dudu Busani-Dube’s bestselling book  Naledi His Love , Season 3 of  The Wife  will return to South African screens in November 2022 with Gaisang K Noge in the lead role as doctor Naledi Montsho, who is in love with Qhawe Zulu (2022 DStv Mzansi Magic Viewers’ Choice Rising Star winner Kwenzo Ngcobo), dubbed “the Woolworths of amadoda” by  Twitter . Each season has focused on a different couple: Hlomu and Mqhele in S1, Zandile and Nkosana in S2, and now Naledi and Qhawe.    “We know fans are going to find it hard to let go of their picture of Mqhele as Bonko, just as they found it hard, when he was first cast, to let go of the bug-eyed Mqhele they had pictured from the book,” says series producer Kamo

First there was Mbalenhle Mavimbela as Hlomu The Wife. Then there was Khanyi Mbau as Zandile The Resolute. And now there’s Gaisang K Noge as Naledi His Love.  Today is Gaisang’s first day on the set of the record-breaking, Twitter-topping Showmax Original telenovela  The Wife,  inspired by Dudu Busani-Dube’s bestselling novels.  Naledi, a doctor, starts falling for fan favourite Qhawe Zulu (Kwenzo Ngcobo), dubbed ‘the Woolworths of amadoda’ by  Twitter . L ike Hlomu and Zandile, she’ll come to understand that loving one of the Zulu brothers means loving all of his dark and tumultuous past. As much as she will enjoy the trappings that come with being the wife of one of those rich, handsome, powerful and dangerous men, she must also live with the inherent danger that remains. We caught up with Gaisang to find out more:    What has your connection with Kwenzo been like?  Today is my first day on set but I’ve obviously interacted with Kwenzo and the chemistry is there. He's very kind a

After a one-week break,  The Wife  is back this Thursday, 17 February 2022, as Season 2 kicks off on Showmax, with Khanyi Mbau ( Unmarried ,  Happiness Is A Four-Letter Word )  and Mondli Makhoba ( Umkhokha ) stepping up into the lead roles as Zandile and Nkosana.   Zandile had already served 10 years in jail for the murder of her mother when the love of her life, Nkosana, finally broke her out of jail at the end of Season 1. Being on the outside is a big adjustment, but not as big a challenge as winning back her children’s love, rebuilding her marriage, and establishing herself as matriarch in a crime family where another woman, Hlomu (Mbalenhle Mavimbela ) , has been calling the shots in her absence. Today’s trailer also gives us a first glimpse of International Emmy nominee Lerato Mvelase ( Home Affairs , the Oscar-shortlisted  Life, Above All ), who joins the cast this season, in good company with Bonko Khoza as South Africa’s disgraced national husband, Mqhele; Abdul Khoza and Zik