Fashioning Modern Africanism

Showmax has confirmed that production has started on the second season of their hit drama  Adulting .  Released in March 2023, the first season set a new record for the most first-day views on Showmax of any drama series, well ahead of  Succession S4 ,  The Last of Us S1  and  The White Lotus S2  - the three most-nominated shows overall at the upcoming 75th Emmy Awards.  Adulting  follows four friends in Johannesburg. Their strong bond has held them together after varsity even as their journeys in life have taken them in  very  different directions. As they try to grow as men, finding love, success and the best nightlife spots in Jozi, they turn to each other for laughs and support.  Adulting  is created by Tshedza Pictures’ Phatu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, who’ve won five Best Scriptwriting SAFTAs in the past four years for smash-hit shows like  The Republic  and  The River , which was also nominated for an International Emmy. Their second Showmax Original,  Outlaws , is currently

Now streaming on Showmax,  Outlaws  is the story of two families at war with each other: the Zulu, cattle-farming Biyela clan and the Basotho, cattle-raiding Ts’eoles.  South Africa’s first modern day Western series,  Outlaws  is created by Tshedza Pictures’   Phathu  Makwarela  and Gwydion Beynon, who’ve won five Best Scriptwriting SAFTAs in the past four years for smash-hit shows like  The Republic  and  The River , which was also nominated for an International Emmy.  Outlaws  is Tshedza’s second Showmax Original, building on the success of  Adulting , which set a record for the most first-day views of any drama on the streaming service.   Fresh faces Lehlohonolo Mayeza and Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku co-star as Leruo Ts’eole and Sihle Biyela. Also look out for two-time SAFTA nominee Siyabonga Shibe ( Shaka iLembe ,  The Wife, Gaz’lam ) as the Biyela patriarch and Mmabatho Mogomotsi (Snowey in  Yizo Yizo ) as the Ts’eole matriarch, not to mention the likes of SAFTA winner Nolwazi Shange (

Johannesburg, South Africa  – As the fifth edition of the Joburg Film Festival, presented by Multichoice, nears its close, the official awards ceremony was held last night at The Theatre on The Square in Sandton, Johannesburg. The international jury named the Egyptian feature film  “Feathers, ” directed by Omar El Zohairy, as ‘ Best Film ’ of the festival.  This absurdist tale about a patriarch transformed into a chicken has a lot to say about Egyptian culture and the role of women. The evocative black and white Ethiopian documentary ' Faya Dayi',  directed, written, starring and produced by Jessica Beshir took home the  ‘Best African Film’  award. The film is a spiritual journey into the highlands of Harar that is immersed in the rituals of khat 'Best Documentary'  was awarded to the explosive film “ Nous, étudiants (We, Students”)  from the Central African Republic from debut director Rafiki Fariala.  In it, the filmmaker turns the camera on himself and his friends, c

The fans of popular award-winning telenovela The River should brace themselves for season 4 with a twist – lead actress Sindi Dlathu’s character, Lindiwe Dikana, will return with unlikely rivals that will take viewers on an emotional rollercoaster. With season 3 of The River set to end with an unexpected unanticipated “climax” in February 2021 – with an unexpected  death amid a ring of lies, love and betrayal - fans will see a never-seen before side of Lindiwe as the CEO of Khanyisa Diamonds tries to keep it together when two people  become central to an investigation that might bring her mining empire to extinction.  Dlathu’s involvement will include being instrumental and hands-on in key creative decisions for the show. “I am humbled and honoured to be given this opportunity to work on a show that cares about people and the important work that we do as creatives. I’m so thrilled to create and now, produce with people that i’ve loved and respected for the longest time,” says Dlathu, w