The rurals
City-slicker Zithulele gets ploughed by the realities of farm life.
Imbewu Weekdays e.tv (DStv *194/Openview HD *104) 21:30
“When I was told that Zithulele would be herding cows [on Tuesday 7 August] I was pretty excited. It kind of reminded me off the similarities he has to myself, because we both know nothing about ploughing fields! So this means I would have been true to the character, plus I was tired of being in studio,” says Rafael Griffiths with a touch of mischief. But for Zithulele, a true taste of farm life in uMbumbulu might have him reconsidering his decision to walk out of his family’s home in Umlazi again on Friday 3 August. And his uncle Phakade (Sandile Dlamini) will be going all out to show Zithulele the rough side of farm life to force him to go back home again – including waking him up with a bucket of water on Monday 6 August. Zithulele, as a true city slicker, is totally not ready for this!
GROWING SEASON
“Zithulele hardly ever visited his uncle during holidays. He would mostly be partying or travelling with friends,” explains Raphael. “I take him as more of a traveller during holiday season. There once was a scene at work when he mentioned that last time he asked for days off it was for an excursion with his friends in France.” But Zithu is eager to prove himself, so Phakade might find his heart melting a little when he watches over him after Zithulele falls asleep after a long day of doing chores on Thursday 9 August. “Rural chores always feel like a fulltime, hard-labour job,” points out Raphael. “But it’s good to Zithulele to a point that he considers not moving back to the city. He is fulfilled by the peace that rural life comes with.”
CITY KIDS
Raphael is no stranger to how tiring rural life can be. “My grandmother is non-binary, so whether you are male or female you all do the same jobs. My cousins and I would be forced to wake up early in the morning, clean the whole house, which also meant kneeling and shining the stoep, then cooking breakfast for the elders and we had to make sure this is all done long before they wake up. And trust me, that was too darn early! Obviously the city kids would be teased but I never took it to heart. I just wanted to go and play soccer with the local kids,” he says.