[WATCH] The New Trailer Of “Shaka iLembe”

Nomzamo Mbatha lives between the United States of America and South Africa. The businesswoman, executive producer, and actress recently premiered her second official international film Assassin, which she co-starred against Bruce Willis on.

Read more: Inside Nomzamo Mbatha’s Picturesque Bali Trip

Given Willis’ recent health struggles, the film did not get the type of recognition it deserved. Despite this fact, locally, Mbatha is behind one of the most hotly anticipated productions of 2023. This is as she partnered with her Isibaya production company family Bomb Productions for the retelling of the Shaka Zulu story Shaka ilembe. 

Back in 2022, Nomzamo Mbatha excited the general public when she confirmed that she was the co-executive producer and lead of the upcoming retelling of the Shaka Zulu story. Nomzamo, in this retelling, would play the title character of Shaka’s mother Nandi depicting her hard journey before and after giving birth to the Zulu king Shaka Zulu.

In light of the countdown to the official premiere of the first episode on Sunday, 18 June 2023. Nomzamo Mbatha and the rest of the cast and Mzansi Magic have shared the recent trailer for the series.

Instead of sharing the premise of the story like the first trailer, this trailer focusses on sharing the cinematography and styling of the series. Moreover, it shares some of the supporting cast that wasn’t featured during the first trailer release. 

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A post shared by Nomzamo Mbatha (Nxumalo)🇿🇦 (@nomzamo_m)

Im loving it already. But over 6 months of advertising it haowa

— @The Gman_ (@vhakwevhog) April 23, 2023

True

— Jabulani Macdonald ⚡️ (@Jabu_Macdonald) April 23, 2023

A list of the main cast members of the series includes: 

Shaka Ilembe tells the story of the making of the iconic African king, with iterations from his early childhood through to adulthood. The two key actors playing Shaka are the incredibly talented Lemogang Tsipa (adult king) and newcomer Ntando Zondi (boy king). 

The star-studded cast is headlined by Amazon’s Coming 2 America’s breakout star, Nomzamo Mbatha, who plays Queen Nandi, the revered mother of Shaka, with Thembinkosi Mthembu starring as King Dingiswayo and Wiseman Mncube in the role of King Zwide. Mbatha will also executive produce the series.

Other cast members include: 

Ntando Duma: 

Ntando will take on the role of Queen Bhibhi KaSompisi Ntuli, the ninth wife of King Senzangakhona, Shaka's father. However, she has faced criticism from black Twitter over her ability to act.

Dawn Thandeka King: 

[Dawn Thandeka King] will portray the role of Shaka Zulu’s aunt Mkabayi kaJama in the drama series, who is known to be one of the strongest women in that era. The news was confirmed by producer Bongumusa Zungu who told Daily Sun that they needed a woman of Dawn's strength to join the series. 

According to the producer, Mkabayi is the one responsible for helping Shaka Zulu sit on the throne, but is also the one who plotted his death. 

Reacting to the news, Dawn told the publication that this is a big role for her. “

Image credit: ZAlebs