Actress Nomzamo Mbatha researched Nandi while filming Isibaya' Shaka Ilembe' producer and actress Nomzamo Mbatha says she's always wanted to play Queen Nandi even before Isibaya'.
by Rae Seleme
12-08-2022 11:36
in Entertainment
Actress Nomzamo Mbatha as Nandi in Shaka Ilembe'. Image via Instagram @nomzamo_m
The former Isibaya actress Nomzamo Mbatha, who plays the role of Queen Nandi and produces the drama series Shaka Ilembe believes the story is important to retell.
--
According to Sowetan, Mbatha addressed the media during the behind-the-scenes tour yesterday (11 August) at the Cradle of Human Kind, north of Johannesburg.
ALSO READ:Nomzamo Mbatha on Coming 2 America' and adjusting to life in the US
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nomzamo Mbatha (Nxumalo) (@nomzamo_m)
-- ALSO READ:Nomzamo Mbatha's Shaka Ilembe' series gets Zulu King's blessing
--
NOMZAMO MBATHA'S GUSHES OVER PLAYING QUEEN NANDI The popular actress Nomzamo Mbatha added she had to do a lot of research for the Queen Nandi role in Shaka Ilembe and admits she continues to learn more about the role even while shooting.
The former Isibaya star adds she's always wanted to play Nandi from the time she started acting
If you can listen to my interviews I have always said I wanted to play the Queen Nandi role. I am happy that I had to portray it.
This is an important story to tell and we are telling it differently. What makes me happy is that it is a South African story told by South Africans.
The Puma ambassador says she began researching her role six years ago when she was shooting Isibaya.
--
The way I wanted to be part of this production I had to turn down some roles to be Nandi.
Mbatha said the production had employed 8,000 people and had more than 1,000 cast members, including crew and extras.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nomzamo Mbatha (Nxumalo) (@nomzamo_m)
-- ALSO READ:Nomzamo Mbatha to executive produce and lead Shaka Ilembe'
INSIDE SHAKA ILEMBE' PRODUCTION Co-Producer Bongumusa Zungu reveals that MultiChoice funded the R90m production, which will be aired next year, and that the drama series is being filmed at the Cradle of Human Kind and is one of the biggest TV productions done by South Africans on a South African story and parts of it were shot in KwaZulu-Natal.
Fans of the storyline will be relieved to know that the story is told in a different way as compared to other previous Shaka Zulu productions.
We are telling the story in three phases. We focus on Shaka moving from Elangeni to Sqwabe clan and Mthethwa clan. We look at Shaka before he was born. We look at the people who made the king and the importance of the women who raised him. We are telling the love story of Nandi and Senzakhona; we are also telling the story of Dingiswayo and Jobe.
We tell the story of Zwide, who made sure the king was not starving. We also focused on Nandi and Senzangakhona's love.
Father and daughter. @IsibayaMzansi #ZuluUyesabeka #Isibaya pic.twitter.com/Fw7MOdFGRh
Nomzamo Mbatha (@NomzamoMbatha) January 9, 2019
How well do you know Skeem Saam'? ENTER the SOAPIE QUIZ & WIN R1 000 in cash!
Africa Stories
01/04/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
26/03/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), has been tasked with administering the Sixth Presi...
24/03/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites eligible Tier 1 and 2 South African production companies to submit proposals to serve as the Facilitating ...
15/03/2026
Johannesburg, 14 March 2026 - On 13 and 14 March 2026, the 19th Annual South Afr...
12/03/2026
Johannesburg, 11 March 2026 - The 19th Annual South African Film and Television ...
03/03/2026
Click here for isiXhosa version.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites aspiring and emerging filmmakers from Matatiele and surrounding areas to...
17/02/2026
Johannesburg, 17 February 2026 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), ...
09/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture and custodian of the SAFTAs, is calling on all South Afri...
09/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the call for training provider submissions is open. This funding aims to award grants ...
06/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
04/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites final-year animation students to participate in an exclusive creative showcase at the Annecy International...
02/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in partnership with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), is calling for applications from experienced Sou...
29/01/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in collaboration with a distribut...
28/01/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in partnership with the Oudtshoorn Municipality, invites aspiring and emerging filmmakers to apply for the Sediba...
20/01/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
07/01/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in collaboration with a distributor, is commissioning new micro-budget fiction feature films and invites eligible...
31/10/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30 October 2025
It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Segomotso Keorapetse, an award- winning South African television d...
29/10/2025
It's not the wonders of the world that make a place; it's the people. As...
07/10/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
02/10/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce the opening...
30/09/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa, 29 September 2025: The National Film and Video Found...
26/09/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sport, Ar...
26/09/2025
https://www.nfvf.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/fully-Inclusive-nfvf-invitatio...
29/08/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
27/08/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
25/08/2025
Theme: One Story. One Industry. One Future. - Celebrating South Africa's Screen Legacy, Together
Johannesburg - The National Film and Video Foundation (N...
04/08/2025
S o Paulo Film and Audiovisual Company (Spcine) and the National Film and Video ...
15/07/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
28/06/2025
Johannesburg, 27 June 2025 - As the nation commemorates Youth Month
2025, the N...
24/06/2025
Panels of the National Film and Video Foundation in Accordance with the NFVF Act...
13/06/2025
Johannesburg, 12 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an a...
11/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...
10/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...
06/06/2025
S o Paulo Film and Audiovisual Company (Spcine) and the National Film and Video ...
05/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa 4 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundatio...
29/05/2025
Rest in Power, a True Legend of Our Screens
Johannesburg, South Africa 27 May...
29/05/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa 28 May 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Vincent Blennies, has resigned from...
22/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
13/05/2025
The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that was create...
10/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/04/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
08/04/2025
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vincent Blennies as Chief Exec...
04/04/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites final-year animation students to submit character designs inspired by lead characters from any South Afric...
14/03/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
01/03/2025
Antis pticos Orales: Revisi n De La Literatura Y Perspectiva Actual Influenza son contradictorios, dadas las elevadas tasas de curaci n espont nea. De ser neces...
Actress Nomzamo Mbatha researched Nandi while filming Isibaya' Shaka Ilembe' producer and actress Nomzamo Mbatha says she's always wanted to play Queen Nandi even before Isibaya'.
