Eish, yours truly did not get a chance to chat to one of the producers the delectable and shy Mmabatho Montsho, on her relationship with EFF spin-doctor Mbuyiseni Ndlovu. Yes, she avoided you at all cost, whispered my colleague.
Set to premiere on March 8, Shuga:Down South is a narrative told in three episodes that tackles teenage pregnancy, socio-economic imbalances, homosexuality, obsessing with blessers, alcohol abuse, HIV and other topical issues currently facing the youth.
Shot in Soweto and Braamfontein, it features top stars from musician Kwesta, Tshepo Maseko, Clint Brink, S’thandiwe Kgoroge, Winnie Ntshaba and Zenande Mfenyana to Thuso Mbedu, Given Stuurman, Lerato Walaza, Stephanie Sandows and Ayanda Makayi.
According to executive producer Staying Alive Foundation -who came all the way from the US Georgia Arnold, the 12 part series highlights nothing but the truth of what our youth’s are faced with on their daily lives.
“I’ve got a ten-year old son who needs to understand between right and wrong. This series will help him differentiate the responsibilities of being a young adult as he grows,” she said exclusively to SLM on the sidelines.
“The idea to film Shuga in South Africa had been on the radar for a “long time”.
“For me, it’s really exciting, because we’ve been planning to get to South Africa for a long time.
“Since we started, we always had this plan to go from Kenya where we discovered Lupita Nyong’o – it was her very first acting series – we feel like we were part of her Oscar win, we take a little bit of ownership with that,” she said.
“So we moved from there (Kenya), we moved to Nigeria and we’ve always wanted to come to South Africa and I think one of the things we’ve done (to signal this) is by calling MTV Shuga ‘Down South’.
“We’re really sort of giving it a South African label and heart as well, so we can tackle some issues that culturally we may not have discussed in Kenya or Nigeria.
Shuga: Down South will be broadcast in other African States and some TV channels.
Yes, it is a fresh-faced talent that leaves a long lasting impression. Can’t wait to see the whole series.
