Blood Psalms
Made in South Africa
In Ancient Africa, the young Princess Zazi must save herself and her people from the end of the world. She faces warring tribes, angry gods – and her own father. Now streaming.
In Ancient Africa, one thousand years after the fall of Atlantis, the five surviving tribes face another danger: a prophecy which speaks of the end of the world.
Princess Zazi, daughter of the Akachi king, finds herself at the centre of the prophecy. She must face people plotting for power, angry gods and many dark secrets to save herself and her people. She doesn’t know that she’s at the centre of a blood pact made by her father with the god Heka years before, one that will shortly be coming home to roost.
Blood Psalms is a fantasy epic unlike anything made in South Africa before, created by award-winning duo Jahmil X.T. Qubeka and Layla Swart.
The incredible cast includes SAFTA winners like Mothusi Magano, Bongile Mantsai, Hamilton Dlamini and Zolisa Xaluva, as well as favourites like Thando Thabete, Faith Baloyi and Sello Maake Ka Ncube. Bokang Phelane takes on the role of a lifetime as Princess Zazi.
All episodes of Blood Psalms are now streaming.
Meet the cast
Senator Jabari (Richard Lukunku)
Senator Jabari is sent from the powerful Great Nziwemabwe to attend the King’s wedding. But he has another agenda: to regain their lost Northern Territories. Armed with superior weapons and a Golden Army, the Senator is a force to be reckoned with.
Queen Assili (Faith Baloyi)
Queen Assili is ruler of the mystical Uchawi kingdom and current Magi of the order, a position she came to through murder. She can control the elements – but when she cannot bring the rains, she must plot to keep her control of the king.
Sithenjwa (Zikhona Sodlaka)
The consort of Senator Jabari of Great Nziwemabwe, Sithenjwa is a woman with many secrets. Her past is the key to a central mystery in the story, as she hides her real intentions in coming to the Akachi kingdom.
General Toka (Zolisa Xaluva)
The well-respected general of the Akachi army, Toka is a man of many secrets. Born a Ku’ua, it has taken him many years to gain the trust of the Akachi. However, he has made many mistakes. He will play an integral role in the cataclysm to come.
Qotha (Hamilton Dlamini)
The heir to the Ku’ua Chiefdom, Qotha is a calculating man. Not a fan of war, he prefers rationality and fairness. He is aware that his father prefers his brother, Hlengu, and struggles to maintain respect within the tribe.
Hlengu (Bongile Mantsai)
The second-born son of Chief Xemantso of the warring Ku’ua tribe, Hlengu longs to return his tribe to their former warrior glory. He is not the heir to the chiefdom, however, and tussles with how to usurp his level-headed brother, Qotha.
Burutti (Mandisa Nduna)
Burutti lives among the mysterious Chini tribe, “the cursed ones”. She has strange dreams about a mysterious woman, sensing that they are somehow connected. Burutti does not yet know the extent of her powers, or the other secrets about her past.
Nkamanzu (Sello Maake Ka Ncube)
Nkamanzu, King Letsha’s calculating uncle, has grown weary of a string of power-hungry Akachi kings. Once the king descends into madness, Nkamanzu strives to pick up the pieces and bring democracy to the realm.
King Letsha (Mothusi Magano)
Troubled and paranoid, King Letsha sacrificed his wife to fulfil his blood pact with the god of magic, Heka. Manipulated by Queen Assili, he believes that to save his throne, he must now also kill his daughter, Princess Zazi.
Zazi (Bokang Phelane)
Heir to the Akachi throne, Princess Zazi is the key to an ancient prophecy which predicts cataclysmic events triggered by her 18th birthday. As the day approaches, her father must decide whether to sacrifice her to save his throne – and she must decide how to fight back.
Deeper into the world of Blood Psalms
Trailer alert! Heart-stopping African fantasy series Blood Psalms
Get a first look at the trailer for Showmax Original Blood Psalms, a groundbreaking African fantasy series. Blood Psalms premieres on 28 September 2022.
Made in South Africa
Your guide to the tribes and houses of Blood Psalms
Blood Psalms weaves an epic story set in an ancient world of kings, warriors and a mighty princess. Here is your guide to the five houses of Blood Psalms.
Made in South Africa
Who’s who in the cast of Blood Psalms
Your guide to the characters and cast of the new sweeping epic fantasy series, Showmax Original Blood Psalms.
Made in South AfricaMore about Blood Psalms
Blood Psalms Ep 11 recap: End of daze
In the thrilling finale of fantasy series Blood Psalms, the end finally begins.
Made in South Africa
Blood Psalms episode 10 recap: The return of the gods
Everything you need to know about Showmax Original Blood Psalms episode 10: Insurrection and resurrection.
Made in South Africa
Blood Psalms episode 9 recap: Horus rising
Everything you need to know about Blood Psalms episode 9: Up in flames
Made in South Africa
Blood Psalms episode 8 recap: The wedding night
Everything you need to know about Blood Psalms episode 8 – now streaming only on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
Blood Psalms Episode 7 recap: Before the wedding
Everything you need to know about Blood Psalms Episode 7, and what’s been happening so far.
Made in South Africa
Stream hit series and movies from Jahmil XT Qubeka
Looking for superb local content? Check out these South African gems from the writer and director of Blood Psalms, Jahmil XT Qubeka.
South African
Blood Psalms episode 6: A day to the gods is a thousand years
Everything you need to know about Showmax Original Blood Psalms episode 6, now streaming: the morning of the wedding.
Made in South Africa
Blood Psalms episode 5 recap: Fire in the Hole
Everything you need to know about Blood Psalms episode 5 and the drunken madness at the palace.
Made in South AfricaIn the press
On Citypress: Blood Psalms takes SA by storm
"Created by the geniuses behind the movie Knuckle City, Jahmil Qubeka and Layla Swart, the Showmax series is a solid star-studded cast of all time."
On EWN: SA stars shine in #1 Showmax fantasy series Blood Psalms
"The first two episodes of the Showmax original fantasy series launched on Wednesday and already the show has shot to the number one spot on the streaming platform."
On TV Mzansi: Blood Psalms debuts with glowing reviews
"Without a doubt, the best TV show ever created in Africa."
More from Mzansi
Your Plan B Afrikaans crime watch
Arnold Vosloo is here to demonstrate the art to planning the perfect heist – after he spots a cozy little Vermeer – in the series Plan B. And if you’re on a crime watch, we have 10 more Afrikaans series to try.
Made in South Africa
Plan B
In the shady world of art heists and romance scams, an unlikely alliance develops between the owner of a bookshop, and former military operators.
Made in South Africa
Eye-opening homegrown documentaries to stream
These unmissable South African shows and movies deliver surprising insights on the country we’re living in today.
Made in South Africa
The Real Housewives of Durban Season 5
Three new faces join the OGs on The Real Housewives of Durban in Season 5, bringing luxury, glamour and drama to your screens. New episodes every Friday.
Made in South Africa
Showmax and Laugh Africa Comedy Festival are proud to announce headline act Deon Cole
Get ready for the return of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, featuring headliner Deon Cole. The event will take place from Friday, 2 May to Sunday, 4 May 2025 at the Sandton Convention Center.
Made in South Africa
20+ addictive South African reality shows to stream
Stream The Real Housewives of Durban, The Mommy Club, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip – SA and more of South Africa’s best reality shows on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
Mathews Rantsoma on the action-packed movie Sterring
Mathews Rantsoma discusses his role as Ramz in the Showmax film Sterring, premiering on 4 April 2025, after its debut at the Joburg Film Festival.
South African
Director Richard Gregory on how he nearly turned down Steinheist
Showmax is now streaming two new episodes of Steinheist, which go even deeper into unpacking SA’s biggest corporate scam and how the net tightened around former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste.
Made in South AfricaStunning fantasy series now streaming
Creature feature: Dracula in The Last Voyage of the Demeter
Kick off October’s horror film festival by finding out how The Last Voyage of the Demeter raised Dracula from the dead.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
A terrifying story based on a chapter from Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ novel. A cargo ship sets sail from Carpathia to London, but soon the trip turns into a fight for survival.
Madame Web (2024)
In this superhero origin story, a paramedic gains the ability to see the future and uses her power to protect girls stalked by a killer.
7 shows and movies to watch in your House of the Dragon drought
Are you shouting, “Where are my dragons?” We have a few series and movies to give you wings while we wait for House of the Dragon Season 3.
10 epic moments from House of the Dragon Season 2
The Battle of Rook’s Rest, Aemond taunting Aegon in Valyrian, Seasmoke claiming Addam as his rider, and more – we rank the top 10 moments from House of the Dragon Season 2.
House of the Dragon Season 2 episode 8 recap: Bow to the queen
Daemon pledges his army to Rhaenyra, Tyland Lannister wins over a pirate queen, and Alicent surrenders to Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon Season 2, episode 8, the season finale.
House of the Dragon: “Making this show is like an ultra marathon”
Showrunner and co-creator Ryan Condal talks about House of the Dragon S2, now available to binge on Showmax.
House of the Dragon Season 2 episode 7 recap: Dragonseed riders
Rhaenyra defies tradition, Vermithor and Silverwing claim Dragonseed riders, and Lord Oscar Tully agrees to go to war for Daemon In House of the Dragon Season 2, episode 7.
More Showmax Originals
The Real Housewives of Durban Season 5
Three new faces join the OGs on The Real Housewives of Durban in Season 5, bringing luxury, glamour and drama to your screens. New episodes every Friday.
Made in South AfricaShowmax and Laugh Africa Comedy Festival are proud to announce headline act Deon Cole
Get ready for the return of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, featuring headliner Deon Cole. The event will take place from Friday, 2 May to Sunday, 4 May 2025 at the Sandton Convention Center.
Made in South AfricaMathews Rantsoma on the action-packed movie Sterring
Mathews Rantsoma discusses his role as Ramz in the Showmax film Sterring, premiering on 4 April 2025, after its debut at the Joburg Film Festival.
South AfricanDirector Richard Gregory on how he nearly turned down Steinheist
Showmax is now streaming two new episodes of Steinheist, which go even deeper into unpacking SA’s biggest corporate scam and how the net tightened around former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste.
Made in South Africa