Celebrating South African heritage through television: Top shows to watch

Television is a good way to tell stories about South African heritage. It serves as a means of educating and creating awareness on the diverse heritage of the country.

Over the years, there have been several productions that have aired that celebrate the country's heritage and also become a part of our heritage.

As South Africa celebrates Heritage Month, here are five shows that have captured the country's heritage.

“Egoli: Place of Gold”

“Egoli: Place of Gold” was South Africa's first daily soap opera and first aired on April 6, 1992. 

Created by Franz Marx, which revolved around the daily ups, downs, trials and tribulations of a handful of families in and around Johannesburg (which is often referred to as eGoli - the City of Gold).

The bilingual show followed a mainly white cast and was the first South African soapie to reach four thousand episodes after running for eighteen years and finally ending in 2010.

The cast included the late Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Steve Hofmeyr, Christine Basson and Brümilda van Rensburg, to name a few.

“The Throne”

“The Throne”, a drama centered on the Kwena Royal Family, which aired on Mzansi Magic, centers on a fictional BaTswana kingdom.

The cast included Monnye Kunupi, the late Don Mlangeni Nawa, Kagiso Modupe, Kabelo Moalusi, Lerato Zah Moloi and Seipati Motshwane.

The drama revolved around a fierce power struggle within the royal family for control of the throne, complicated by the discovery of mineral deposits on their land. 

Created and produced by television and film production company, Ferguson Films, the show celebrated the rich heritage of the Tswana culture.

“Giyani: Land of Blood”

“Giyani: Land of Blood” is a South African telenovela drama series created by Tshedza Pictures. It is the very first Xitsonga drama series made since the advent of Television in South Africa. It began airing on 1 April 2019 on SABC 2.

The cast included star names such as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Ndivhuwo Mutsila, Linah Ebony Ngcobo, Candy “Tsa Mandebele” Mokwena, Charles Baloyi, Fumani Shilubana, Wiseman Zitha and Obed Baloyi.

Set in Giyani, the heart of Tsonga identity in Limpopo, the storyline is based on the adventures of feuding families, the Mudaus and Baloyis. The source of their bitter, generations-old dispute is a fertile valley that has been a prosperous banana plantation for years.

"Queen Modjadji"

“Queen Modjadji” aired on Mzansi Magic. The drama told the story of the Rain Queen, or Modjadji, as she is more commonly known.

Queen Modjadji is the hereditary ruling monarch for the Balobedu people in Limpopo, a northern province in South Africa. 

Renowned poet, playwright, and producer Duma Ndlovu’s Rhythm World Productions was behind the series, which starred Ngelekanyo Ramulodi, Helen Lebepe, Masutang Rasekele and Makoma Mohale.

"Shaka iLembe" 

Historical drama “Shaka iLembe” sent waves across South Africa and the world. Produced by Bomb Productions and funded by MultiChoice, "Shaka iLembe" celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Zulu Kingdom.

“Shaka iLembe”, is an epic story that captures the grand history of a formidable warrior, Shaka Zulu.

The epic Mzansi Magic drama “Shaka iLembe” made South African Film and Television Awards history by winning 12 Golden Horns.

Executive produced by Nomzamo Mbatha, who stars as Queen Nandi, the drama series starred top actors, Thembinkosi Mthembu, Lemogang Tsipa, Wiseman Mncube, Dawn Thandeka King, S'Thandiwe Kgoroge and Khabonina Qubeka.

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