I will admit that I had seen the trailers, heard the hype, and still had never watched Shaka iLembe, until I saw that Season 3 is officially on the way next year. And since that is going to be the final chapter, I figured it was time to finally catch up. I am glad I did. Set in 18th to 19th century KwaZulu-Natal, Shaka iLembe tells the origin story of King Shaka Zulu, a figure whose name still echoes across history books and the memories of those who grew up in the 1990s. The first season takes us from his traumatic birth and exile, to the fierce loyalty of his mother, Queen Nandi, and the early flickers of leadership in a boy hardened by betrayal.

The second season is where he comes into his own, politically savvy, sharp with military strategy, and drawing people to his cause even as palace politics swirl with tension. The show is a visual feast. Rich colours, sprawling battle scenes, and a musical score that carries you into the heart of the story. Nomzamo Mbatha shines as Nandi, and the rotating cast of Shakas, young and grown, manage the delicate transition between wide-eyed boy and calculating king seamlessly. What stood out to me is that Shaka iLembe is not in a hurry. It lingers in relationships, in rituals, in rising conflict. It is proud of its cultural context and does not flatten anything to make it easier to digest. That alone makes it worth watching. Even if you are late to the party like I was, Shaka iLembe rewards your time.

Movie review

Directors: Angus Gibson, Desiree Markgraaf, Teboho Mahlatsi, Catherine Stewart, Nhlanhla Mtaka

Genre: Historical Drama

Cast: Nomzamo Mbatha, Lemogang Tsipa, Ntando Zondi, Senzo Radebe, Thembinkosi Mthembu, Dawn Thandeka King, S’thandiwe Kgoroge,

Duration: 24 Episodes, 55-58Mins

Now showing: Showmax/Pearl Magic

Written by Grace Kenganzi