
6 September 2019
MTV Shuga S1-7
The HIV/Aids pandemic in Africa is no joke. It needs to be spoken about by regular people rather than something discussed only in the hallways of hospitals or quietly in dark corners. And that’s exactly why MTV Shuga was created in 2009 – to get people talking frankly about sex and sexual health.
Each season zooms in on a different aspect of sexual health, with seasons 6 and 7 focusing on how rape destroys lives – definitely an important issue in South Africa right now.
“My character Khensani is in desperate need of her former friend to ’fess up. He has to say ‘I’m an abuser’. He got six months in prison for rape and murder,” says actress Samkelisiwe Makhoba.
Shuga doesn’t sugarcoat its stories. That’s why it’s not for young children – but it should be watched by teenagers who are at the age where sex is something they’re talking about and engaging in.
“I encourage the youth to do research on these different issues. There is a lot of information online on credible platforms, as well as programmes such as MTV Shuga that can assist them,” says Whitney Chinogwenya, communications lead at international non-governmental sexual health organisation Marie Stopes International.
Shuga is edutainment, getting viewers talking while also imparting knowledge in the 22-minute episodes. If you’ve missed out on the drama series, there is good news: Shuga can be streamed from Season 1 through to Season 7 on Showmax here.
The Mommy Club NBO, coming soon
The Chocolate Empire, now streaming
The best movies to stream

Would you join The American Society of Magical Negroes?
Writer-creator Kobi Libii cracks open his bag of tricks to reveal what’s really going on in The American Society of Magical Negroes. And we suggest 5 more Black comedies with culture.

Twisters and 5 other man-versus-nature nail biters
Tornado alert! A category F5 spin on the blockbuster 1996 movie Twister has just touched ground to sweep us up in the terrifying power of nature. Find out about how it was made, and what to watch next.

Which Mission: Impossible is it?
With Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning now in cinemas, we match each previous Mission: Impossible film to its most iconic scene. You know, it’s the one where…

Movie fight club: Gladiator II and more intense punch-ups
For their Gladiator II fight to stand up to rhinos, sharks and sea battles, Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal had to do more than wave their swords at each other. We break it down along with 8 other films’ most intense punch-ups.