Uzalo

Last updated

Uzalo
Genre Soap opera, Crime Drama
Created by Duma Ndlovu
Written by
  • Clive Madiya
  • Busisiwe Zwane
  • Pusetso Thibedi
  • Philbeth Diaho
  • Lorato Phefo-Khethisa
  • Lindo Buthelezi
  • Nthabi Tau
  • Kirsten Adams
  • Senzo Buthelezi
  • Liswa Ndlovu
  • Charlie Samson
  • Sabelo Ndlovu
  • Godfrey Silumko Nkonzo
Directed by
  • Mthunzi Dubazana
  • Lungile Gumede
  • Charlie Samson
  • Sinesipho Makaula
  • Sphamandla Nomandla
  • Mbali Buthelezi
Creative directorMthunzi Dubazana
Starring
Narrated byOpening Sequence (narrated by Dawn Thandeka King) Closing Sequence (narrated by Siyabonga Radebe)
Opening themeUzalo
Ending themeUzalo
Country of originSouth Africa
Original languageZulu
No. of seasons11
No. of episodes2,303
Production
Executive producer Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube
ProducerMpfariseni King David Mukwevho
CinematographyLubabalo Mfungula
Camera setupMulti-cameras
Running time23-25 minutes
Production companyStained Glass Productions
Original release
Network SABC 1
Release9 February 2015 (2015-02-09) 
present
Related

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 began airing in 2015, quickly becoming a hit due to its compelling narrative, writing, direction and the performances of the relatively-unknown cast. [1] It initially told the story of two young men who were switched at birth, one being raised in a family with core Christian values and the other at a crime syndicate. It currently broadcasts from Monday to Friday on SABC 1. [2] [3] It is currently the most watched television show in South Africa. [4] [5]

Contents

Plot

Uzalo initially told the story of two families in the township of Kwa-Mashu: the Mdletshe family, who play a significant role in the management of the Kwamashu Kingdom Church, and the Xulu family who run 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. [3] [6] 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.

Cast and characters

Cast As Per Title Sequence

Main Cast

ActorCharacterSeasons
1234567891011
Masoja "Solle" Msiza Nkunzebombu MhlongoDoes not appear Main
Thembi Nyandeni Njinji MagwazaDoes not appear Main
Fanele Ntuli Nomaswazi MagwazaDoes not appear Main
Tshepo Zulu Nkazimulo MhlongoDoes not appear Recurring Main
Duduzile Ngcobo Norah "Babekazi" ZikhaliDoes not appear Recurring Main
Mnqobi Kunene GejaDoes not appear Main Recurring
Asavela Mqokiyana SizakeleDoes not appear Recurring
Noxolo Mathula Lillian Lilly DongweDoes not appear Recurring Main
Thuthuka Mthembu Nonkanyiso XabaDoes not appear Recurring Main
Simphiwe Majozi Sbusiso MakathiniDoes not appear Recurring Main
Nkanyiso Makhanya Nkululeko Njeza XabaDoes not appear Main Recurring
Zama Magubane-Ngcobo MaDongweDoes not appear Recurring Main
Ntombifuthi Dlamini Mam MadlalaDoes not appear Recurring Main
Thabo Mnguni Khethukuthula Pope MbathaDoes not appear Recurring Main
Cebo Mthembu Detective NyawoDoes not appear Recurring Main Recurring
Linda Majola MzamoDoes not appear Recurring Main

Ratings

SeriesEpisodesOriginally releasedAve. RSA viewers
(millions)
First releasedLast released
1 19 February 2015 (2015-02-09)13 March 2015 (2015-03-13)5.4
2 1 (+1)24 September 2018 (Historic Episode)
24 September 2018 (2018-09-24)
25 September 2018 (2018-09-25)10.25

Series 1 (2015)

Series 1
No.
overall
EpisodeDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateRSA viewers
(millions)10
1Premier EpisodeAlex YazbekStory by: Phathutshedzo Aldrean Makwarela
Teleplay by: Precious Sithole
9 February 2015 (2015-02-09)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 whose day to day life, is pretty much centred around the KwaMashu Kingdom Church.

Series 4 (2018)

No.
overall
EpisodeDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateSA viewers
(millions)
Two Part Wedding Special
167Wedding SpecialLuthando Mgomezulu & Mqondisi 'MQ' NgubaneStory by: Bongi Ndaba
Teleplay by: Clive Madiya
24 September 2018 (2018-09-24)Undefined
MaMlambo has a nightmare. Nkunzi says his vows to MaMlambo. MaNgcobo stops the wedding.
Historic Episode
168Wedding Special Part 2Luthando Mgomezulu & Mqondisi 'MQ' Ngubane Bongi Ndaba 25 September 2018 (2018-09-25)10.25 [7]
This record-breaking wedding episode was aired on 25 September 2018, and it was preceded by a gripping cliff-hanger on 24 September 2018. In the episode that aired on 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. [7]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2015Simon "Mabunu" Sabela AwardsBest NewcomerKhumbulani 'Kay' SibiyaWon
Best ActorMpumelelo BhuloseWon
Best ActressSihle NdabaWon
Lifetime Achievement Award Don Mlangeni Nawa Won
Best SoapieUzaloNominated
2016 The Sunday Times (South Africa) Generation Next AwardsCoolest SoapieUzaloWon
Simon "Mabunu" Sabela AwardsBest ActressSihle NdabaWon
2017 Dstv Mzansi Magic Viewers Choice AwardsBest ActorNtokozo 'TKDee' DlaminiNominated
Best ActressDawn Thandeka KingNominated
South African Film and Television Awards Best Achievement in ScriptwritingUzalo Writing Team; Head Writer Phathutshedzo MakwarelaNominated
2018Simon "Mabunu" Sabela AwardsBest Supporting TV ActressNokuthula MabikaWon
Best Actress Baby Cele Won
Best Supporting ActorSimphiwe MajoziWon
The Sunday Times (South Africa) Generation Next Awards 2018Coolest TV soapieUzaloWon
South African Film and Television Awards Most Popular SoapieUzaloWon
Dstv Mzansi Magic Viewer Choice AwardsBest Actor Masoja Msiza Nominated
2019 South African Film and Television Awards Best TV SoapUzaloWon
Best Actress Dawn Thandeka King Nominated
Best Supporting ActorKhaya DladlaNominated
Best Achievement in Editing - TV SoapNhlanhla MngandiNominated
Best Achievement in Sound - TV SoapTimotheus Du PreezNominated
Best Achievement in Wardrobe - TV SoapNokubonga NgobeniWon
Best Achievement in Make-up and Hair - TV SoapStella JohnsonWon
Most Popular TV Soap/TelenovelaUzaloNominated
2020 South African Film and Television Awards Best Actress in a TV SoapBaby Cele MalokaNominated
Popular Soapie/TelenovelaUzaloNominated
Dstv Mzansi Viewers Choice AwardsFavourite Actress Dawn Thandeka King Nominated
Favourite Actor Masoja Msiza Nominated
Favourite Rising StarWiseman MncubeNominated
The Sunday Times (South Africa) Generation Next Awards 2020Coolest SoapieUzaloWon
Royalty Soapie AwardsMost Popular SoapieUzaloNominated
Best Actress Dawn Thandeka King Won
Best Supporting ActorSimphiwe MajoziNominated

References

  1. "TV with Thinus: REVIEW. SABC1's new Uzalo telenovela is light on soap, heavy on conflict as a more 'mature' Soul City that's less preachy, more dramatic". TV with Thinus. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. "SABC1's new Uzalo: 'We're not Generations'". news.yahoo.com. Yahoo. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 Bambalele, Patience (9 February 2015). "'Uzalo' hope for Zuma". www.filmcontact.com/. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  4. Matangira, Lungelo. "'Uzalo' officially SA's most watched show with over 10.2m viewers". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. BOSS (6 December 2021). ""Uzalo" is the biggest show in SA". ikenaija.com. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  6. "SABC1 takes on the telenovela with Uzalo". www.tvsa.co.za. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 Tvsa, Tvsa Team. "Top Shows on TV: September 2018". tvsa. Retrieved 8 October 2018.