What to Watch in Southern Africa This Month
This month’s guide features a series set in the Vaal area of South Africa, a drama about lobola, and a tribute documentary in honor of AKA.
Last month, the Showmax series Spinners beat Succession to Best Foreign TV Series at the 29th Shanghai TV Festival’s Magnolia Awards, regarded as one of the biggest accolades in Asia. In Spinners, Cantona James portrays a 17-year-old gang driver disillusioned with his life, who seeks escape through spinning, an intense motorsport. With a gang war looming, he must quickly turn his life around. Spinners is still streaming on Showmax and is also available on CANAL+.
This month, we look at two films that celebrate the anniversaries of two important South African music releases, we get a driver’s perspective of the risks of ride-hailing services, and we get served comedy on Netflix. This is what’s in store.
‘The Request’ - South Africa
This interview series uncovers the lesser-known stories about the dangers of operating ride-hailing services in Durban, South Africa. The interview subject shares stories about getting hijacked, clients who don’t want to pay, and navigating a transportation industry in which taxi drivers disregard the law. The series offers a new perspective regarding the challenges of the business.
Where to watch: YouTube.‘25th Anniversary of Halloween’ - South Africa
A few months ago, the remaining members of the group TKZee hosted an event commemorating the release of their album Halloween, which is widely regarded as the greatest kwaito album made. The event has been packaged and is available to stream. Zwai Bala and Kabelo Mabalane speak to Lesley Mofokeng about their early beginnings, recording the album, and dealing with superstardom. It’s a worthwhile watch for true music lovers.
Where to watch: YouTube.
‘AKA Levels Tribute’ - South Africa
AKA’s passing two years ago left a huge void in South African hip-hop. To this day, fans of the deceased rapper find it hard to believe that the Supa Mega is no more. This film travels ten years back, and offers revealing details about the making of Levels, an album that broke boundaries for him. Some of the people featured include Back To The City festival organizer Osmic, music journalist Sabelo Mkhabela, producer Tweezy and Vth Season’s Raphael Benza.
Where to watch: YouTube.
‘Lobola Man’ - South Africa
The film stars the award-winning actor, Vincent Maleka, as the “silver-tongued chief lobola negotiator,” Ace Ngubeni. Ngubeni is a “smooth-talking, self-centered, love-cynic, and self-proclaimed lobola (bride price) negotiator” who spends his time offering services to grooms and their families, according to a press release. The film also stars Primo Baloyi, Sthandile Nkosi, Obed Baloyi, Themba Ndaba, Letuka Dlamini, Nimrod Nkosi, Sello Ramolahloane and Thembsie Matu. It is produced by Burnt Onion Productions, who are also responsible for the How To Ruin franchise.
Where to watch: Netflix, from July 12.
‘016FM’ - South Africa
Two DJs decide to compete in a battle event with the aim of saving their embattled community radio station. 016FM stars the late Mpho Sebeng, who shared how he researched his character for this series. “There is a big pop-cultural movement in the Vaal that is highly influenced by Italian high fashion. DJ Whiskey is an Italiana as well, so I immersed myself in understanding this movement in order to have a better understanding of the character,” he had said. The film also stars Nthati Moshesh (Saints & Sinners, Isono), SAFTA winner Sophie Ndaba (Lockdown), Sello Motloung (The Wife), Katlego Mabote (Outlaws), Mapula Molefe (Rhythm City), Noni Mafani (1802: Love Defies Time), Mapaseka Koetle (Lenyalo Ha Se Papadi) and YFM DJ Caddy Tsotetsi.
Where to watch: Showmax
- John Boyega Set to Produce a Number of African Films for Netflix ›
- The 10 Best African Netflix Original TV Series ›
- What to Watch in West Africa This Month ›