EXCLUSIVE: Shaka iLembe‘s epic journey is coming to an end.
We can reveal MultiChoice has renewed the landmark African drama series for a third and season, which is set to premiere in 2026.
The series, set in the later 18th century in the verdant lands of Southeast Africa’s Nguni Kingdoms, chronicles the life of the legendary Zulu king Shaka (Lemogang Tsipa), tracing his rise from boyhood to battlefield strategist and visionary leader who reshaped the course of African history. Season 2 ended yesterday evening, closing one pivotal chapter in his life and paving the route to the final act.
The BOMB! Productions series is MultiChoice’s biggest and most ambitious production, with Season 2 creating more than 16,000 jobs. It is also the most awarded series in the history of the South African Film & Television Awards, with 12 wins.
Filmed entirely in South African, Shaka iLembe stars Tsipa alongside the likes of Nomzamo Mbatha, Wiseman Mncube, Dawn Thandeka King, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Mondli Makhoba, Mpilo Mbatha, Anele Nene, Vuyo Biyela and Ntando Zondi, who played the young Shaka. Casting for Season 3 will follow at a later date.
Season 1 began with kings and queens, warriors, witches, spies and traders struggling for power, charting Shaka’s path to manhood and how he was shaped by trials along the way. Also featuring storylines about Dingiswayo (Mthembu)’s exile and Queen Nandi (Mbatha)’s refusal to be silenced by the will of men, it sparked cultural conversations and was considered a breakout African production.
Season 2 picked up as Shaka and Nandi arrived in KwaNobamba, where he began his reign as the new Zulu king, and explored how he established a powerful empire. Season 3 will, per the producers, chronicle “the final, thunderous act of Shaka’s reign – a saga of vision, glory, and betrayal.”
Synopsis continues: “As he hosts the grandest Ijadu celebration in Zulu history — a dazzling display of power, song and dance that draws rival kings to his kraal – an assassin’s spear glistens with royal blood. From that moment, suspicion wracks Shaka, unravelling trust within his court as any hint of betrayal is punished with ruthless force. A momentous campaign against the Mpondo tribe adds pressure, while Queen Nandi is forced to conceal a devastating secret.
“Francis Fynn and the British arrive in the region, requesting the right to settle at Port Natal – with the local tribes unaware of the global British colonial push. Two sweeping love stories unfold, Mzilikazi goes on a series of unexpected adventures and clouds gather over the true motives of the settlers. There are enemies at the gates – and enemies within – and Shaka must deploy all his wiles in an attempt to stave off a coup.”
MultiChoice, which is set to be taken over by Canal+, bills Shaka iLembe as a “love letter” to South Africa‘s nature and wildlife, and in particular the land that bore witness to the reinvention of the Zulu empire, KwaZulu-Natal, which came into being at the end of apartheid in 1994 when then Natal province was renamed. Most local people speak Zulu.
“When we announced the first season, we were confident that Shaka iLembe would set a new standard for African storytelling – and while we hoped audiences would embrace it, the response has far exceeded our expectations,” said MultiChoice General Entertainment CEO Nomsa Philiso.
“More than speaking to the heritage of the Zulu Nation, it took the story of a dynasty created from scratch by one man to the world, endorsed by the descendants of the King himself and told from an African perspective. Now, as we enter the third season, we expand that universe of kings and queens, warriors, healers and leaders who have a vision to reinvent an entire culture and establish a legacy that endures more than three centuries later.”
Seasons 1 and 2 of Shaka iLembe have been recognized for their elaborate costumes, cinematography, soundtracks, CGI and nuanced portrayal of Zulu culture and tradition. In total, the show has won 12 SAFTAs, with Mbatha also picking up a Best African Actress award at the 2024 Septimius Awards in Amsterdam for her Season 1 role.
