Shaka Ilembe
| Shaka Ilembe | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by |
|
| Based on | Senzangakhona KaShaka |
| Developed by | Nomzamo Mbatha |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Desiree Markgraaff |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | South Africa |
| Original language(s) | IsiZulu |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | Expected 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Desiree Markgraaff Nomzamo Mbatha |
| Producer(s) | Eva Franzen |
| Camera setup | Multi-cameras |
| Running time | 50–55 minutes |
| Production company(s) | The Bomb Shelter |
| Release | |
| Original network | Mzansi Magic |
| Original release | 18 June 2023 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Queen (South African TV series) |
| External links | |
| [{{#property:P856}} Website] | |
Search Shaka Ilembe on Amazon.
Shaka ILembe is an South African historical drama series produced by Bombs Production for Mzansi Magic. The 13-part series re-tells the historical story of the greatest Zulu Kingdom and the birth right of the greatest warrior Shaka , the King of the Zulu Kingdom. The series stars Nomzamo Mbatha[1], Dawn Thandeka King, Senzo Radebe, Thembinkosi Mthembu, Sthandiwe Kgoroge and Wiseman Mncube , Khabonina Qubeka with Lemohang Tsipa as King Shaka Zulu. The series will be broadcast on M-Net channels like Mzansi Magic, Africa Magic and online streaming service Showmax.
Plot
The story re-tells the epic historical bio-drama of King Shaka and is the remake of the 1986 SABC mini series Shaka Zulu. Princess Nandi (played by Nomzamo Mbatha) of the Mkhize royal family is forced to marry an old King. The Princess, however, goes against her family's quest for her arranged marriage by falling in love with the prince of the Mageba clan, Prince Senzangakhona (played by Senzo Radebe). Prince Senzangakhona is then ordered to stay away from Princess Nandi but little do they know that Princess Nandi is pregnant with Prince Senzangakhona's heir with whom she later names Shaka. After Prince Senzangakhona is crowned King upon his father's passing, he suddenly becomes a changed man, allowing power to rule over him. He denies the baby, but that does not stop Nandi from revealing the truth.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Nomzamo Mbatha | Queen Nandi |
| Lemohang Tsipa | Shaka |
| Senzo Radebe | Senzangakhona |
| Thembinkosi Mthembu | Dingiswayo |
| Dawn Thandeka King | Mkabayi |
| Ntando Zondi | Young Shaka |
| Sthandiwe Kgoroge | Queen Mthaniya |
| Hope Mbele | Baleka |
| Khabonina Qubeka | Ntombazi |
| Wiseman Mncube | Zwide |
| Mondli Makhoba | Ngomane |
Characters
Nandi Bhebhe (played by Nomzamo Mbatha) was impregnated out of wedlock by Jama's son, Senzangakhona. The Mhlongo people demanded Senzangakhona pay damages for his non-traditional act. The Mhlongo approached the Jamas to settle the matter. Nandi was on the fore-front of this case and discussion. She personally demanded 55 head of cattle as payment for damages done to her and the herd was delivered to the Mhlongo people. The Jamas and Senzangakhona agreed to pay the damages demanded by Mhlongo people so as to avoid war. On the other hand, Senzangakhona did truly love Nandi. After Nandi gave birth to her son, Shaka, she initially spent some time at Senzangakhona's kraal before her relationship with Senzangakhona deteriorated, forcing her to leave the kraal. Nandi returned to her people, the Mhlongo of Elangeni, leaving Shaka behind. Shaka's life at Senzangakhona's kraal proved dangerous and finally his uncle Mudli brought him to Nandi at Elangeni. During that time Nandi had to protect her son from famine, assassination attempts, and enemies. However, Nandi's stay at Elangeni proved dangerous as well, so she left with her son to live amongst the Qwabe people. There, she met Gendeyana, whom she married and had a son, Ngwadi. Nandi's stay amongst the Qwabe was not pleasant at all and this forced her to leave Qwabe to live amongst the Mthethwa people led by chief Dingiswayo. Nandi was warmly welcomed by the Mthethwa. She found it a good place to raise her sons, Shaka and Ngwadi, and her daughter, Nomcoba. Her son Shaka joined a Chwe regiment led by Bhuza. It was amongst the Mthethwa where Shaka devised military tactics.
Shaka (played by Lebogang Tsipa) King Shaka was born in the lunar month of uNtulikazi (July) in the year of 1787 in Southern Africa near present-day Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal Province, the son of the Zulu King Senzangakhona kaJama. Spurned as an illegitimate son, Shaka spent his childhood in his mother's settlements, where he was initiated into an ibutho lempi (fighting unit), serving as a warrior under Inkosi Dingiswayo.
King Shaka further refined the ibutho military system and, with the Mthethwa Paramountcy's support over the next several years, forged alliances with his smaller neighbours to counter Ndwandwe raids from the north. The initial Zulu maneuvers were primarily defensive, as King Shaka preferred to apply pressure diplomatically, with an occasional strategic assassination. His reforms of local society built on existing structures. Although he preferred social and propagandistic political methods, he also engaged in a number of battles.
King Shaka's reign coincided with the start of the Mfecane/Difaqane ('Upheaval' or 'Crushing'), a period of devastating warfare and chaos in southern Africa between 1815 and about 1840 that depopulated the region. His role in the Mfecane/Difaqane is highly controversial. He was ultimately assassinated by his half-brothers King Dingane and Prince Mhlangana.
Senzangakhona KaJama (played by Senzo Radebe ) His father was chief Jama kaNdaba and his mother was Mthaniya Sibiya. He succeeded on his father's death. During the chieftaincy of Senzangakhona, the Zulus were a small clan in the Mthethwa confederation which was ruled by Dingiswayo.
Senzangakhona’s name is derived from the Zulu word meaning "he who acts with a good reason".
Although the Zulus practised ritual circumcision, the practice was slowly dying out. Senzangakhona and Shaka were not circumcised, marking this trend in Zulu
Zwide KaLanga (played by Wisemen Mncube )Around the time Zwide became king, the Nxumalo were growing in military power. Ambitious in expanding Nxumalo supremacy, Zwide was a prominent rival to Dingiswayo, king of the Mthethwa and his famous general and protégé, Shaka kaSenzangakhona, the founder of the Zulu Kingdom.
The Zulu people believe that he is responsible for mfecane that is falsely attributed to Shaka, who unified the Zulu-speaking peoples into a formidable kingdom.
References
- ↑ "Viewers brace for a dramatic episode of Shaka iLembe with Nomzamo Mbatha". Briefly. 2023-07-09. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
External links
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