‘Shuga’ showcases Africa’s talent
SOUTH Africa is blessed that it has the resources – both human and technical – to make some of the best TV shows in the world, which is why you will see a steady increase in viewers’ interest in the latest season of MTV’s edutainment show, MTV Shuga.
Subtitled Down South, this time around the show is set in Johannesburg, and we get to see a bunch of our own actors trade thespian blows with other African actors. At a time when xenophobia threatens to rear it’s ugly head, this programme shows the beauty of the cross-pollination of cultures.
On its premiere last Wednesday we saw Bongi (played by Mohau Mokoatle) return home from Nigeria to live with her aunt in Johannesburg. Coincidentally, Femi (played by Ikubese Emmanuel Ifeanyi) is also in South Africa and the two meet at the airport. He has taken on a new job at a club in the country.
Other characters descend on Johannesburg for one reason or another and soon it becomes clear that another season is about to blow up.
For the South African audience, and for regional viewers, this has the potential to be a mind-blowing experience because we get to see what’s really out there when it comes to talent. There is a tendency to relegate foreign African actors to Nollywood, which is unfair. The movie Happiness is a Four Letter Word did very well and now we are seeing more of the continent’s potential.
Given that MTV Shuga: Down South takes place in Jozi, we have our own representatives in the field of acting.
These include Clint Brink, Thuso Mbedu and even Phila Mazibuko. These actors do justice to their roles as they show how Joburg urbanites respond to common situations that young adults find themselves in.
Brink has been in the game the longest and his tough guy routine is believable from the onset. His character is someone you do not want to cross.
Then there is Mazibuko, who appears on the small screen from time to time. The man can present, sing and act.
Mbedu is still cutting her teeth in the industry and is proving to be very good. In her mid-20s, she convincingly plays a 16-year-old who is going wild in Jozi. You will love her character.
There is no doubt that the city of gold is where it’s at when it comes to partying hard, especially in the entertainment industry. Down South weaves its storylines around that.
Apart from Kwesta, there are several other musicians that are called in to play themselves, to give weight to the show. Think Empire, in which the likes of Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and Ne-Yo have appeared. In our case we have the controversial Metro FM winner Nasty C, the rapper from Cashtime, Ma-E, and Nigeria’s Seyi Shay. In fact, the trio has done a song for the project which you should look out for.
MTV Shuga airs every Wednesday at 9.30pm on MTV Base (DStv channel 322).