6 February 2026

Shaka iLembe S1-2

Set in the 1700s, Shaka iLembe tells the story of the heroic rise of the iconic Zulu king, played as an adult by Lemogang Tsipa (The Republic) and a boy by newcomer Ntando Zondi.

Feather Awards Hunk of the Year Thembinkosi Mthembu is King Dingiswayo, Senzo Radebe was nominated for a Septimius Award as King Senzangakhona, and Wiseman Mncube won Best Actor in a TV Series at the 2023 National Film and TV Awards as King Zwide, with Khabonina Qubeka also nominated there as Best Actress as Queen Ntombazi and Nomzamo Mbatha for Best Supporting Actress as Queen Nandi, the revered mother of Shaka.

Produced by the Oscar-nominated team at Bomb (Yizo Yizo), Shaka ILembe was six years in the making, consulting historians, academics and family descendants, including the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and current monarch King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

Season 2 picks up as Shaka arrives at KwaNobamba with Nandi to claim his throne as the new Zulu king.

Produced by Bomb (Yizo Yizo, Isibaya), Season 2 won four National Film and Television Awards, including Best Scripted TV Series, Best Director (Oscar nominee Angus Gibson), Best Producer (Emmy nominee Desireé Markgraaff and Nomzamo Mbatha, who also stars as Nandi), and Outstanding Performance for Wiseman Mncube as Zwide and Zamani Mbatha as Nomahlanjana. Lemogang Tsipa, Thembinkosi Mthembu, Khabonina Qubeka, Dawn Thandeka King, Calvin Ratladi, Amanda Seome and Luyanda Zwane all cracked nominations there too.

Shaka iLembe was the only TV series in Google’s Year In Search 2025 Top 10 Trends for South Africa.

Watch full episodes now

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