The acclaimed South African drama Shaka Ilembe: Zulu King is set to be offered to the international market for the first time at MIPCOM, courtesy of STUDIOCANAL.
Produced by Bomb Productions for MultiChoice, the series tells the origin story of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, told in isiZulu by African filmmakers and historians. The third season is set to arrive soon on MultiChoice. In its first two seasons, it was the highest-rated drama in DStv’s history and swept SAFTAs in 2023 with 12 wins, including best drama. Desiree Markgraaff and Nomzamo Mbatha, who also stars as Queen Nandi, are EPs.
Markgraaf commented, “Making Shaka iLembe: Zulu King has been a journey of more than 12 years for the Bomb creative team. Our ambition was to tell this story with the scale, drama and epic sweep of world-class mainstream storytelling, while portraying the Africa we know and love with the dignity, complexity and humanity it deserves. Our partnership with M-Net, STUDIOCANAL, and CANAL+ has made this enormous undertaking possible. And we have been privileged to have the creative vision of Oscar-nominated director Angus Gibson guiding the series across all three seasons.”
Mbatha added, “Shaka ILembe: Zulu King is proof of what African storytelling can achieve when it’s given the room to be ambitious, told at scale, and shared from the inside out. As an EP, I’m most proud of the series’ success at home and abroad, and of its real contribution to our creative economy. Portraying Queen Nandi, a woman whose courage helped build a kingdom and whose values still shape our understanding of the modern Zulu woman, has been an honor and a career highlight. None would be possible without the talent pool of gifted actors and directors I was fortunate enough to mold the character with.”
Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL and chief content officer of CANAL+, noted, “Our continued goal is to bring local stories to the world stage. Carried by an exceptional creative team, this series speaks far beyond its borders; driven by world-class storytelling, creative talent, and authenticity, the Shaka ILembe: Zulu King franchise is a monumental achievement in television and one which must be celebrated for its deeply universal human portrayal of legendary figures. A groundbreaking production.”
Nomsa Philiso, VP of content at CANAL+ Africa, commented, “The international launch of Shaka iLembe: Zulu King marks an important moment not only for this extraordinary franchise, but for African storytelling as a whole. MultiChoice has spent decades investing in local stories because we believe cultural authenticity and global appeal are not opposing ideas; they are mutually reinforcing. Shaka iLembe demonstrates that the most powerful stories are often the most specific, and we are delighted to see this proudly African production find new audiences around the world.”
