Diep City' tackles issue of colourism with Momo's skin-bleaching episodeIn an episode of Diep City', Momo attempts to lighten her skin to compete with her husbands side chick' Zola, played by Sonia Mbele.
by Alicia Naidoo
09-09-2021
in SA TV and Film
Momo' and Zola' from Diep City'. Images via Instagram @vele_manenje @thee_sonia.
Telenovela Diep City tackles the social issue of colourism using the phenomenon of skin lightening as a storyline. Diep City airs every night during the week on Mzansi Magic, channel 161 at 20:30.
--
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DIEP CITY' Diep City took over the time-slot that previously belonged to Isibaya. The telenovela is centred around the lives of four young women who were forced into becoming small-time robbers to make ends meet. The telenovela focuses on the lives of the ladies and those around them as they nagivate personal and social issues.
Viewers can expect drama, action and a relatable storyline as they follow the lives of four young women who are small-time robbers trying to make a better life for themselves. The questions are: What will it cost them? And can they leave the life of crime that is always pulling them in?, reads the synopsis of the telenovela according to Mzansi Magic.
Sonia Mbele, Hamilton Dlamini, Dawn Thandeka King, Mduduzi Mabaso and Zikhona Bali are some of the familiar faces viewers can expect to see. While the telenovela also introduces fresh faces to the South African entertainment industry.
ALSO READ: Morning Live' presenter dragged for colourist' comment [watch]
--
DIEP CITY' TACKLES COLOURISM In a recent episode of Diep City, a pregnant Maureen, popularly known as Momo (Vele Manenje), caught her husband, Mgedeza (Mduduzi Mabasa) cheating on her with a light-skin Zola (Sonia Mbele). This is a sad reality that many South African women are able to resonate to. To add insult to injury, this hurt Momo more because she thought Zola was her friend.
In an attempt to win back her husband, Momo resorted to skin bleaching to look like her husband's side chick .
With colourism being a widely faced issue in our country, Momo's character takes viewers through the depths of the effects of colorism which include a low self-esteem based on the shade of your skin, perceiving yourself as lower social class and feeling less pretty because of darker skin, said Diep City producers in a statement.
A scene from Diep City'. Image via Instagram @diepcitymzansi161. Colourism occurs when preferential treatment is given to light skin individuals over their dark skin counterparts.Diep City told the story of darker skinned women who feel like light-skin women, often called yellow bone are more attractive than they are. This often resorts to skin lightening.
--
Skin lightening reduces the melanin pigments of skin and has been a phenomenon in South Africa. Celebrities such as Khanyi Mbau and Kelly Khumalo have been accused of skin lightening in the past. While light-skin celebrities such as Pearl Thusi tried to burn her skin growing up in order to fit in.
ALSO READ: SA debates Sho Madjozi's light-skin privilege' after Makhadzi trends
Take part in our survey and stand a chance to win R5 000 in cash!
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
IPC Expands Brazilian Presence with New Channel Partner CCATech
Industry veterans Carlos Abrah o and Bruno Lopes strengthen local support and expand IPCs prese...
20/08/2026
Zixi Enters Mauritius Market Through Strategic Deployment with MTC Jockey Club
Worlds Oldest Horse Racing Club in the Southern Hemisphere Selects Zixis Softwar...
20/08/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Scripps Research assistant professor Tiantian Liu has received a five-year NIAID DP2 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di...
20/08/2026
Audiences reveal appetite for multicultural Australia on-screen 20 August 2026
Dr Georgie McClean, Dr Rebecca Huntley (L-R)
By Dr Georgie McClean and Dr Rebec...
20/08/2026
How Mavis Studio Is Expanding Live Production Teaching at Sussex
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image displays a student about to mix be...
20/08/2026
Vertical Unscripted Series Legal Queens Captured with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Reality TV veteran Eric Gardner create...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
Diep City' tackles issue of colourism with Momo's skin-bleaching episodeIn an episode of Diep City', Momo attempts to lighten her skin to compete with her husbands side chick' Zola, played by Sonia Mbele.
