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. The telenovela will be replacing The Queen, which will come to an end after its seventh season. With an impressive cast, gripping storylines and mouth-watering plot twists, it’s bound to be a favourite with Mzansi viewers.
The new telenovela is produced by the multi-award winning production house, Tshedza Pictures and is the first Mzansi Magic telenovela filmed entirely in the Eastern Cape. Tshedza Pictures has produced hit shows such as The River, The Republic, Giyani: Land of Blood and Legacy.
Gqeberha: The Empire’s star-studded cast includes Zikhona Sodlaka who has recently bid Showmax’s The Wife farewell, Zandile Msutwana, Mbulelo Grootboom , Kay Bikitsha , Phila Madlingozi , Anele Matoti 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.
Shirley Adonisi, M-Net’s Director of Local Entertainment Channels
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 Zikhona Sodlaka), Zimkhita (played by Zandile Msutwana) and Nozuko (played by Kay 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.
Gqeberha: The Empire premieres 16 January on Mzansi Magic DStv 161 at 9 PM.
MZANSI MAGIC
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