New year, new telenovela – 2023 will kick off on a high note when Mzansi Magic premieres the telenovela Gqeberha: The Empire on the 16th of January. With an impressive cast, gripping storylines and mouth-watering plot twists, it’s bound to be a favourite with Mzansi viewers.
Produced by the multi-award-winning Tshedza Pictures (The River, The Republic, Legacy), this is the first Mzansi Magic telenovela filmed entirely in the Eastern Cape.
Gqeberha: The Empire’s star-studded cast includes Zikhona Sodlaka (The Wife, Blood Psalms); Zandile Msutwana (Grootboom & Sons, The Queen); Mbulelo Grootboom (Wounds, Suidooster); Kay Bikitsha (The Queen); Phila Madlingozi (Isikizi, The Queen); Anele Matoti (Recipes for Love and Murder, Wounds); and Akhenime Mfenyana.
“Mzansi Magic is excited to premiere a new telenovela, which is one of the genres our channel is known for and that our viewers enjoy greatly. With its premiere , we are excited to expand into Gqeberha and the Eastern Cape – a first for the telenovela world. With the incredible quality of storytelling from one of the top production houses on the continent, we are optimistic that the audiences will fall in love with the series,” says Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net.
A stylish telenovela set in the Friendly City, Gqeberha: The Empire is about a man who seemingly has it all: family, love, money, power, glory and respect.
Luzuko Mxenge (played by Grootboom) is a successful businessman who is husband to three very different, very strong wives: Bulelwa (played by Sodlaka), Zimkhita (played by Msutwana) and Nozuko (played by Bikitsha). What more could he want? Another wife, for starters.
His decision to expand the family soon threatens to bring out the bitterness his wives have long-suppressed – but also comes with complications no one could have predicted, endangering his relationship with his heir-apparent.
Will the Mxenge empire continue to thrive, or will in-fighting make it easier for enemies to infiltrate, bringing about the family’s downfall?
Gqeberha: The Empire follows themes of dynasty, family, love, betrayal, polygamy and jealousy, through the lens of characters viewers will be able to relate to – there will be those you root for, and those you love to hate.
The telenovela will be replacing The Queen, which will come to an end after its seventh season. The Ferguson Films production was recently canceled after 7 years of airing.
The Queen premiered its finale in July 2022, and it will conclude on 13 January 2023. Mzansi Magic confirmed that it was canceled together with Lingashoni through a statement.
“As the M-Net Local Entertainment channels, we would like to applaud the producers, cast and crew of The Queen and Lingashoni for their dedication to delivering riveting storylines and award-winning content in highly contested primetime slots. We look forward to the thrills of the next 12 months as both productions draw towards their respective finales,” said Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net.
Ferguson Films are acclaimed producers of Mzansi Magic’s Rockville, Igazi, The Queen and Unmarried, unlocking some of the best shows in local storytelling. “The Queen has been one of our most special projects to date. It has empowered and changed the lives of many, and we are eternally grateful for the opportunity from Mzansi Magic. We look forward to new ventures and creating more riveting shows for our beloved viewers to enjoy,” said a spokesperson from Ferguson Films.
Image Cred: Supplied