Induku: A story about the quest for family and unity

Induku is a story about Khethiwe, a talented stick-fighter, who is forbidden from engaging in any stick-fighting activities with the boys in her neighbourhood. Determined to carve her own path, Khethiwe fakes a job to secretly practise with them. 

Kwanele Mthethwa portrays the role of Khethiwe Shibe. Kwanele is no stranger to the small screen – she also features in Umakoti Wethu, also streaming on Showmax, and was a supporting cast member in youth telenovela Isithembiso. 

Zamani Mbatha (Isithembiso) plays the role of Jama Radebe, Khethiwe’s love interest. Zamani also starred in Isithembiso as Kwanele’s love interest.

Other local stars include the veteran actor Bheki Sibiya (Diep City, Ifalakhe, eHostela, The Herd), Mbuso Khoza (Umkhokha), Linda Sebezo (Black Tax S2, Lockdown), Thobani Nzuza (Diep City, eHostela), and Bahle Hadebe (Black Tax, Ring of Lies) 

Written by writer and actor Sayitsheni Mdakhi (Isibaya, iNumber Number) and Vanishia Kisten, and directed by Shaft Moropane, Induku is a movie that challenges gender norms while portraying a beautiful story of a quest for family unity.

A female warrior we didn’t know we needed on screen

Khethiwe Shibe is the wild lotus flower of Nduli. Ambitious and determined, she knows where her strengths lie and even though things do not seem to go her own way at times, she believes that some things are worth fighting for. 

She loves stick-fighting and believes that it’s a beautiful sport that could teach discipline, skill, and technique. Despite her father’s attempts to stop her, she goes against his wishes and muscles her way onto her community’s stick-fighting tournament. Having watched her father, Reginald (played by Bheki Sibiya), she believes that this is what she’s also made of.

She’s her brother’s keeper

Her brother, Kwanele (portrayed by child star Bahle Hadebe), is well aware that he does not fit into the typical stature of a strong masculine boy and he is fine with it. All he wants is to design clothes and secretly does so behind his father’s back. When he is called to battle, Khethiwe defies the odds and goes in his place instead. 

When love reunites family

Zamani plays Jama, the pride of Nduli’s stick-fighting community. Zamani’s relationship with his father (played by Mbuso Khoza) is a complicated one. His father’s dark past is still an issue that affects their relationship. But Jama soon comes to learn that there’s more than meets the eye with his old man.

When he meets Khethiwe, they find out that they have a lot in common and together they bring unity within their families in an unlikely way. Hardened by the dark history of her mother’s death, Khethiwe learns that joining her community’s annual stick-fighting tournament becomes her only way to reunite her family.

Induku is streaming on Showmax.