It is not fiction that the epic drama ‘Shaka iLembe’, produced by Bomb Productions, has raised the bar for South African productions.
This is considered when it comes to all the elements that make a great drama series and the telling of South African and African stories.
The story of the great Shaka Zulu is now set to be introduced by Multichoice and its parent entity StudioCanal (Canal Plus) to the international audience under the title of ‘Shaka iLembe: Zulu King’ at the upcoming 2026 Cannes gathering on 16 October 2026.
This comes after the company released teaser images of the third season at the International Film and Television Market 2026 MIPCOM.
The final season will be set four years after the conclusion of season 2 where Shaka has vastly extended his empire and power.
It will also be centred around a number of events that have impacted South African cultural history such as the exploration of colonial influences as well as the internal and external struggles that impacted Shaka’s reign during its last stretches.
The introduction of new tribes such as the Basotho Kingdom (King Moshoeshoe) and the Mpondo Kingdom (King Faku) will be a part of the narrative.
New cast members such Lerato Mvelase (Queen Mpikase), Wonder Ndlovu (Prince Mpande), Conrad Kemp (Lt. Francis Farewell) and Aidan Scott (Henry Francis Flynn) are set to join the existing cast which is led by Lemogang Tsipa (Shaka), Nomzamo Mbhata (Queen Nandi) and Dawn Thandeka King (Princess Mkabayi).
The emotional centres of the new season are set to be Queen Nandi and Princess Mkabayi.
The series has won over audiences since its first season where it was celebrated for its cinematic excellence. The modern approach in which it tells the story of Shaka Zulu is one of its key elements.
The show has also been a trending topic on X every Sunday after each episode has premiered.
The show differs from its predecessor in the way that it explores the storylines of other individuals that played a key role before and during Shaka’s reign.
An example would be the Nwandwe Clan which was not focused on in the first series adaptation of the Zulu King’s story as much as it is in the modern series.
This has given the modern series a layered approach and provides a bigger understanding of the world Shaka existed in.
There has not yet been a set date for the final season of ‘Shaka iLembe’.
