Uzalo
Uzalo is a South African soap opera produced by Stained Glass Productions, which is co-owned by Kobedi "Pepsi" Pokane and Gugu Zuma-Ncube. It started airing in 2015 and broadcasts from Monday to Friday on SABC1.[1][2] It is the most watched TV show in South Africa.[3]
| Uzalo | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Soap opera, Drama |
| Created by | Duma Ndlovu |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by |
|
| Creative director(s) | Brenda Mukwevho |
| Starring | Various (see below) |
| Opening theme | Uzalo |
| Ending theme | Uzalo |
| Country of origin | South Africa |
| Original language(s) | Zulu |
| No. of seasons | 6 (as of February 2020) |
| No. of episodes | 800+(as of February 2019) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | [Gontse Lekgetho Mmamitse Thibedi |
| Producer(s) | Khumbulani Hlongwane |
| Cinematography | Mike Sono, Howard Nciweni |
| Editor(s) | Gugu Sibandze (online editor), Cynthia Tshele (offline editor) |
| Running time | 20-25 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Stained Glass Productions |
| Distributor | SABC |
| Release | |
| Original network | SABC 1 |
| Picture format | HDTV |
| Original release | 2015 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | eHostela |
Plot
Uzalo initially told the story of two families in the township of Kwa-Mashu: the Mdletshe family who plays a significant role in the management of the Kwamashu Kingdom Church and the Xulu family which runs a car theft syndicate. The connection between the families was that their eldest sons were switched at birth during the period when Nelson Mandela was released from prison.[2][4] As the show has progressed over the years, the storylines have dramatically changed with interchanging characters, contributing to many new story arcs, but simultaneously maintaining the growth of some of its main and supporting characters.
Broadcasting
Uzalo made its debut on Monday, 9 February 2015, on South African public television network SABC 1. Initially, Uzalo was aired only three times a week but after the show rapidly gained popularity, it was extended to five days a week.
The series premiere of Uzalo[5] in February 2015, attracted 5 million viewers. A few months later, it had over 9 million viewers and was competing with Generations: The Legacy for the most viewed show in South Africa.[6] Uzalo reached a new milestone by being the first ever TV show in South Africa to have a rating of over 10.25 million viewers in 2018.[3]
Production
The program is filmed in KwaZulu-Natal's KwaMashu F-section.[1] The series makes use of local talent and infrastructure to depict a realistic portrayal of life.[4]
Notable ratings
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | Ave. RSA viewers (millions) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||||
| 1 | 1 | 9 February 2015 | 13 March 2015 | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | 1 (+1) | 24 September 2018 (Historic Episode) 24 September 2018 | 25 September 2018 | 10.25 | ||
Series 1 (2015)
| No. overall | Episode | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | RSA viewers (millions) 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Premier Episode | Alex Yazbek | Story by : Phathutshedzo Aldrean Makwarela Teleplay by : Precious Sithole | 9 February 2015 | 5.4 | |
| The story kicked off with a teaser set on 9 February 1990 where two boys were switched at birth, and so was their legacy and destiny. The story picked up 20 years later after the two boys were switched at birth, and the storyline for the entire season followed the family whose wealth was built in the murky criminal underworld, as well as the more wholesome Mdletshe family who’s day to day life, is pretty much centred around the KwaMashu Kingdom Church. | ||||||
Series 4 (2018)
| No. overall | Episode | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | SA viewers (millions) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Part Wedding Special | ||||||||||||
| 167 | Wedding Special | Luthando Mgomezulu & Mqondisi 'MQ' Ngubane | Story by : Bongi Ndaba Teleplay by : Clive Madiya | 24 September 2018 | Undefined | |||||||
| MaMlambo has a nightmare. Nkunzi says his vows to MaMlambo. MaNgcobo stops the wedding. | ||||||||||||
| Historic Episode | ||||||||||||
| 168 | Wedding Special Part 2 | Luthando Mgomezulu & Mqondisi 'MQ' Ngubane | Bongi Ndaba | 25 September 2018 | 10.25[7] | |||||||
| This record-breaking wedding episode was aired on the 25 September 2018, and it was preceded by a gripping cliff-hanger on the 24th of September 2018. In the episode that aired on the 25 September 2018, the saying: "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned" was proven to be true. The gun-wielding 'woman scorned' character MaNgcobo, played by Dawn Thandeka King, stormed the wedding of her common-law husband, Nkunzi (Masoja Msiza) and her love rival MaMlambo (Gugu Gumede) with a gun, coercing him to make a choice on who he will marry between her and her former best friend-turned love rival, MaMlambo. Nkunzi made a decision to marry both women, MaNgcobo and MaMlambo, thus entering into a polygamous marriage. This episode was the first in the South African television history to surpass the 10 million ratings mark.[8] | ||||||||||||
Cast
| Actor | Character | Seasons | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| Dawn Thandeka King | Lindiwe 'MaNgcobo' Xulu-Mhlongo | Main | |||||||||
| Gugu Gumede | Hlengiwe Mlambo-Mhlongo | Main | |||||||||
| Nompilo Maphumulo | Nosipho Xulu | Main | |||||||||
| Masoja Msiza | Nkunzebomvu Mhlongo | Main | |||||||||
| Baby Cele Maloka | Gabisile Mdletshe-Zikhali | Main | |||||||||
| Siyabonga Shibe | Qhabanga Khumalo | Main | |||||||||
| Thembinkosi Thwala | Mondli Mdlalose | Main | |||||||||
| Thuthuka Mthembu | Nonkanyiso Xulu | Recurring | Main | ||||||||
| Wiseman Mncube | Sibonelo Zikhali | Recurring | Main | ||||||||
| Nkanyiso Makhanya | Njeza Xulu | Recurring | Main | ||||||||
| Noxolo Mathula | Lily Dongwe | Recurring | Main | ||||||||
| Nelisa Mchunu | Fikile | Recurring | Main | ||||||||
Main characters
- Lindiwe (MaNgcobo) Khanyile (formerly Xulu and Mhlongo) played by Dawn Thandeka King. She is the ex-wife of Muzi and mother of Nosipho and Ayanda. She is also the ex-wife of Nkunzi Mhlongo and the widow of Khathazamanyamadoda Khanyile.
- Nkunzebomvu (Nkunzi) Mhlongo, played by Masoja Msiza. He is the ex-husband of Innocentia and MaMlambo and Lindiwe.
- Nosipho Xulu, played by Nompilo Maphumulo. She is the daughter of Muzi and Mangcobo. She is the sister of Ayanda and half sister to Amandla. She briefly has an affair with Ayanda unaware he is her brother and also has a brief affair with Zweli. She was in a brief relationship with Njeza. And formerly in a relationship with Thulani.
- Gamakhulu Cetshwayo (GC)*, played by Khaya Dladla. He is a friend of Thobile, Smangele and Fikile. He had a romantic relationship with a man named JoJo.
- Hlengiwe (MaMlambo) Mlambo Mhlongo, played by Gugu Gumede. She befriends MaNzuza and MaNcgobo and was married to Nkunzebomvu Mhlongo.
- Fikile, played by Nelisa Mchunu. She is Thobile, GC and Smangele's friend and hairdresser. She is in a relationship with Sbu.
- Zekhethelo Mhlongo, played by Nyalleng Thibedi. She was raised by Nkunzi. Her stepmothers are Innocentia and Lindiwe and her biological mother is called Mapadi, who has been absent throughout her life. She had an on and off relationship with Mxolisi. She was also in a relationship with Njeza. She was a cop and was in a relationship with Mondli.
- Qhabanga Khumalo, played by Siyabonga Shibe. He was a policeman from Kwa-Mashu police station. He is Nkunzi's younger half-brother. He later became the pastor of KwaMashu Kingdom Church.
- Mondli Mdlalose, played by Thembinkosi Thwala. Mondli is the Head police captain and dated Zekhethelo. He is Nosipho and Lilly's ex-boyfriend.
- Gabisile Mdletshe-Khumalo, played by Baby Cele Maloka. She is the sister of the Pastor Melusi and Zandile's sister in law. She is the aunt of Mxolisi, Nkosinathi and Mumsy. She is a landlady of a house she owns. Mother of Sbonelo. She was Qhabanga Khumalo's wife.
- Sbonelo (Babo) Mhlongo, played by Wiseman Mncube, was a doctor. He resigned after secretly killing a schoolkid. He is also the only son of Nkunzebomvu and Gabisile. He is in love with Nonkanyiso and Siphilile, and later on proposed to both of them at the same time. After they declined, he had to lie to marry both of them as a polygamous marriage.
- Nonkanyiso, played by Thuthuka Mthembu. She works in the salon and is married to Sibonelo.
- Sbusiso (Sbu) played by Simphiwe Majozi is an ex con. He is dating Fikile. He works for Nkunzi and MaNgcobo, and later Sibonelo.
- Njeza, played by Nkanyiso Makhanya. He is an ex con and is the older brother of Nonka. He worked at Khathaza's funeral home. He had a brief relationship with Zekhethelo and was in love with Nosipho, then Nonka's friend Hleziphi.
- Khathazamanyamadoda (Khataza) Khanyile* played by Sibonile Ngubane. He was a funeral director and husband of Lindiwe. He went to KwaMashu to kill Nkunzi and his family but falls in love with Lindiwe. He is later killed by Lindiwe after she discovers that he is a serial killer.
- Mr Mbatha. He is part of the board at KwaMashu Kingdom Church. He is formerly the pastor of KwaMashu Kingdom Church and was engaged to Fihliwe.
- Fihliwe Kanyile* is Kathazamanyamadoda's sister. She went to KwaMashu to seek revenge for her family. She was engaged to Mr Mbatha but she is later killed by her brother Khathaza in order to protect Lindiwe.
- Note: an asterisk (*) refers to former cast members/characters.
Notable former cast members
- Leleti Khumalo as Zandile (MaNzuza) Mdletshe
- Thandeka Zulu as Nombuso Mdletshe
Reception
Uzalo's premiere in February 2015 attracted 5 million viewers. In the following months and years, the soapie has been the most viewed show in South Africa with over 9 million viewers watching. It is competing with Generations: The Legacy for highest viewed show in South Africa.[6]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Simon "Mabunu" Sabela Awards | Best Newcomer | Khumbulani 'Kay' Sibiya | Won |
| Best Actor | Mpumelelo Bhulose | Won | ||
| Best Actress | Sihle Ndaba | Won | ||
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Don Mlangeni Nawa | Won | ||
| Best Soapie | Uzalo | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | The Sunday Times (South Africa) Generation Next Awards | Coolest Soapie | Uzalo | Won |
| Simon "Mabunu" Sabela Awards | Best Actress | Sihle Ndaba | Won | |
| 2017 | Dstv Mzansi Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actor | Ntokozo 'TKDee' Dlamini | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Dawn Thandeka King | Nominated | ||
| South African Film and Television Awards | Best Achievement in Scriptwriting | Uzalo Writing Team; Head Writer Phathutshedzo Makwarela | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Simon "Mabunu" Sabela Awards | Best Supporting TV Actress | Nokuthula Mabika | Won |
| Best Actress | Baby Cele | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Simphiwe Majozi | Won | ||
| The Sunday Times (South Africa) Generation Next Awards 2018 | Coolest TV soapie | Uzalo | Won | |
| South African Film and Television Awards | Most Popular Soapie | Uzalo | Won | |
| Dstv Mzansi Magic Viewer Choice Awards | Best Actor | Masoja Msiza | Nominated | |
| 2019 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best TV Soap | Uzalo | Won |
| Best Actress | Dawn Thandeka King | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Khaya Dladla | Nominated | ||
| Best Achievement in Editing - TV Soap | Nhlanhla Mngandi | Nominated | ||
| Best Achievement in Sound - TV Soap | Timotheus Du Preez | Nominated | ||
| Best Achievement in Wardrobe - TV Soap | Nokubonga Ngobeni | Won | ||
| Best Achievement in Make-up and Hair - TV Soap | Stella Johnson | Won | ||
| Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela | Uzalo | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Actress in a TV Soap | Baby Cele Maloka | Nominated |
| Popular Soapie/Telenovela | Uzalo | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | Dstv Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards | Favourite Actress | Dawn Thandeka King | Nominated |
| Favourite Actor | Masoja Msiza | Nominated | ||
| Favourite Rising Star | Wiseman Mncube | Nominated |
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References
- "SABC1's new Uzalo: 'We're not Generations'". news.yahoo.com. Yahoo. February 10, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- Bambalele, Patience (February 9, 2015). "'Uzalo' hope for Zuma". www.filmcontact.com/. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- https://ewn.co.za/2018/10/10/uzalo-officially-sa-s-most-watched-show-with-over-10-2m-viewers
- "SABC1 takes on the telenovela with Uzalo". www.tvsa.co.za. January 13, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- Uzalo Today , Business Times, 6 july 2020
- Hlongwane, S'thembiso (February 12, 2015). "Uzalo's first episode clocks 5 million viewers". drum.co.za. Drum. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- Tvsa, Tvsa Team. "Top Shows on TV: September 2018". tvsa. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- Tvsa, Tvsa Team. "Top Shows on TV: September 2018". tvsa. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
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