A show that was a first for Mzansi, and showed what inclusivity in the media industry should look like, comes to an abrupt end.
7 months ago, the Xitsonga tribe was excited about Giyani: Land Of Blood when it first came to our small screens on SABC 2. For many, it was a way for other tribes to learn more about the Vatsonga and their culture.
Famous faces that heated up the drama-filled telenovela included Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Mutsila and Candy Tsa Mandebele. But sadly, the show will be ending next week Tuesday - according to SABC 2.
Lithapo, a new telenovela will be replacing the Xitsonga drama as of January 2020.
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Not happy with the news of the show's cancellation, fans have started a petition to have it remain on air. Viewers and lovers of the drama series have urged others to sign; with hopes that the show will at least stay on screens for a longer period. The rage of fans has some threatening to stop paying their TV licenses once the show gets taken off.
The petition founder wrote: "The drama has stolen the hearts of multitudes of South Africans and teaches other tribes the ways of the Tsonga, Venda, Mapedi and Balobedu-speaking people's culture and their daily challenges. It has found a way to teach us to unite and acknowledge our differences as tribes."
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The petition aims at gaining 500 000 signatures, but is currently sitting on 13 800 signatures and counting.
Iconic singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka spoke to TshisaLive when the show started, she said, "I agreed to be part of the show because I believed in it. I believe that it has incredible things to teach and, more than anything, it exposes people to Xitsonga culture. Me and other actors have been pushing for something like this for a long time, but every time it was mentioned, it would be laughed at."
She also mentioned other tribes that have dominated television and said that Giyani: Land Of Blood was a way of accepting and embracing the Xitsonga tribe instead of merely trying to fit into what was shown on TV.
