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.[1] It began airing on 1 April 2019 on SABC 2.[2] The cast includes Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Ndivhuwo Mutsila.[3][4]

Giyani: Land of Blood
GenreDrama
Written byPhathutshedzo Makwarela
Gwydion Beynon
Theme music composerThomas Chauke and the Shinyori Sisters
Country of originSouth Africa
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production company(s)Tshedza Pictures
Release
Original networkSABC 2

Plot

During apartheid, a piece of land had been allocated to the Van Reenen family who made their wealth by starting a banana plantation which worked with major supermarkets in South Africa.

Now in the present, the land reclaimed by the community after a successful restitution claim, and is renamed Tiakeni (Build Yourselves) as a memento to the perseverance of the fictional Risinga community and success in taking back their land. The series focuses on a feud between the Mudau and the Baloyi families.[5]

According to Tshedza Pictures, The series brings to life the ageless themes of love rivalries, forbidden passion, stolen land and corruption.

Cast and Characters[6]

The Baloyis
  • Musawahosi "Musa" Baloyi (Wiseman Zitha)

Eldest son of Mike and Tsakani Baloyi. Although there was little money to further his studies, his mother paid an enrolment fee, thus he followed his passion to be a lawyer at the University of Limpopo. He now runs a small firm along with his friend, Tiyiselani. His life is thrown off-balance when he finds out the government has allocated the rights to curator the reclaimed farm to Richard Mudau, a former MK and former cabinet minister, who is accused of corruption, He plans to stop the man from swindling his community.

  • Gezani Mike Baloyi - "Bra Mike" (Charles Baloyi)

An MK veteran who was once friends with Richard Mudau

  • Thulare Tsakani Baloyi (Linah "Ebony" Ngcobo)

Mike’s devoted wife who has loved him since she was 16. She previously worked in the banana plantation to be able to put food on the table, while Mike drank himself to a stupor.

  • Mahlori "Pero" Baloyi (Noel Ntshuxeko)

Tsakane and Mike’s youngest child and the “born free” who scoffs at anything related to apartheid.

The Mudaus
  • Sello Richard Mudau (Ndivhuho Mutsila)

An MK veteran who met Mike Baloyi and his then girlfriend Gladys Chavalala. He is painted by the community as their saving grace but deep down he is a swindler.

  • Tutu Gladys Mudau (Yvonne Chaka Chaka)

Richard's wife. They skipped the country to join MK in Maputo, where Gladys and Mike met Richard. She is a selfish, greedy and ruthless woman driven by the need for more.

  • Khensani Mudau (Mathabo Mothibe)

Daughter of Richard and Gladys. She wants to please her father not knowing that she is being used as a pawn in her father’s deadly game of greed. She has a love interest in Musa Baloyi.

The Chavalalas
  • Hlengani Joseph Chavalala (Obed Baloyi)

Gladys’s older brother and Richard’s brother-in-law whose dream is thwarted when Richard hired his own daughter Khensani instead.

  • Ringani Ruth Chavalala (Susan Maeko)

Hlengani’s long-suffering devout Christian wife who hopes that one-day God will soften her husband’s bitterness.

  • Kokwana Chavalala (Glennis Mabuza)

Gladys and Hlengani’s mother - Richard’s mother-in-law. A pensioner, who once worked on the plantation.

Other characters
  • Vukosi Moyo (Fumani N. Shilubana)

The Municipality Ward Councillor of Giyani. Richard’s right hand man, who fancies himself as more powerful than he actually is.

  • Tiyiselani Mabasa (Nyelethi Khoza)

Childhood friend and partner of the law firm with Musa.

  • Johnny Risenga Homu (Themba Hlongwane)

Previous foreman of the banana plantation

Shebeen Queen and Johnny's wife known for her sharp tongue.

  • Cawuke (Siphosethu Sihlangu)

Vukosi's assistant. A family man with morals. He threatens to reveal Richard and Vukosi's secret.

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References
  1. ipoadmin (2019-03-17). "First Xitsonga drama series, Giyani - Land of Blood -". ipo.org.za. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  2. "Mzansi's first-ever Xitsonga telenovela makes its TV debut". IOL Entertainment. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  3. "New Xitsonga drama, Giyani Land of Blood, blows up on screen". POWER 98.7. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  4. "First Tsonga drama to hit small screen". SowetanLIVE & Sunday World. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  5. "SABC2 introduces the very first XiTsonga TV Drama – SABC – Official Website". Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  6. "TV with Thinus: Meet the characters and cast - besides Yvonne Chaka Chaka - of SABC2's new Xitsonga drama series, Giyani - Land of Blood". TV with Thinus. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
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