Twenty twenty-two marked another year of exceptional original content, including many firsts for MultiChoice and African viewers as well as the continuation of award-winning favourites. Here are 10 of the standout shows of this year.
The Wife
Since being nominated for 10 SAFTAs after only one season, this telenovela has shown no signs of slowing down, with both part two and part 3 released in 2022 and two SAFTAs under its belt. The Wife is an anthology series based on the bestselling novel Hlomu the Wife as well as the follow-ups Zandile the Resolute and Naledi His Love by Dudu Busani-Dube.
VOD service Showmax was immediately rewarded for their three-season commitment to the show when The Wife broke the streaming record for the most first-day views of all time on the platform, outperforming major international shows and local hits.
Find out more about the hit telenovela here.
Blood Psalms
The fantasy epic from Layla Swart and Jahmil XT Qubeka of Yellowbone Entertainment (the company behind South Africa’s entry for the 92nd Academy Awards, Knuckle City) and CANAL+ delivers a thrilling and unforgettable viewing experience. With a unique set, wardrobe, and remarkable visual effects, the team behind Blood Psalms was able to bring their vision to life with great success.
The thrilling show also features an astounding eight SAFTA winners, including Bongile Mantsai (Knuckle City), Hamilton Dhlamini (Five Fingers for Marseilles), Siv Ngesi (Knuckle City, Still Breathing), and many more.
Spoorloos
Across four seasons, Spoorloos has kept audiences guessing with an immersive mystery experience full of twists and turns until the identity of the killer comes to light. Each season comes with a brand-new story, characters, and crimes to solve, with every new installment bringing its own brand of thrilling suspense.
A rotating cast of established actors enhances every new and exciting story the writers bring to the screen, with Spoorloos being a consistent favourite among viewers. It has earned multiple SAFTA nominations as well as a few wins during its four years on air.
Diepe Waters
Set in and around a competitive swimming club, this brand-new telenovela shows the dark side of sport and why family and business should never mix. A strong cast consisting of familiar favourites and new faces drives several subplots and explosive storylines, which has quickly made Diepe Waters one of the most watched shows on MultiChoice’s top Afrikaans channel, kykNET.
Find out more about the telenovela here.
Legacy
This telenovela came out with a bang, winning six SAFTAs after only one season on air, including a first-ever SAFTA for iconic actress Michelle Botes. Season 2 maintained its devilish and scandalous nature with loads more drama taking place within the ultra-rich family at the heart of the show.
With the team behind the International Emmy-nominated hit telenovela, The River, as well as an A-list cast bringing this story to life, Legacy delivers relentless drama in every episode.
Ayeye
In 2022, Ayeye returned eight years after its highly popular first season with a complete make-over and the decision to rebrand the show as an anthology, to great effect. The brand-new story follows a young woman trying to maintain her lavish lifestyle after her husband’s passing as she realises that serious steps will need to be taken, for better or worse.
The 13-part season is produced by Seriti Films, best known for their work on hit shows such as Gomora, The Herd, and The Imposter.
Read more about the brand-new season here.
Steinheist
Showmax continued its success with original docuseries like Devilsdorp and Sex in Afrikaans with a shocking series about one of the biggest crime sagas in recent South African history. Steinheist details every key moment that led to the collapse of the massive retail company, Steinhoff, and unpacks all the complex details of a case of that keeps surprising.
Get more details about Steinheist.
DiepCity
It was a remarkable year for DiepCity as the show won Best Telenovela and Most Popular TV Soap or Telenovela at the 2022 SAFTAs. After the success of season 1, the powerful telenovela returned with fresh faces and loads more drama to unpack.
The show tells the story of four young women trying to make sense of the world after falling into a life of crime as teenagers. DiepCity’s success and popularity come as no surprise, with SAFTA-winning director and producer Mandla N, best known for his work on the popular drama Lockdown, being at the helm.
Find out more about the award-winning telenovela.
Venge
Venge is another addition to an unforgettable slate of purely African telenovelas that kept viewers on the edge of their seats this year.
The story follows a young woman who unravels one conspiracy after another during her quest for vengeance as she sinks deeper into a world full of secrets, lies, betrayal, and murder.
The show’s jaw-dropping finale added to what was a highly popular and enthralling viewing experience that left audiences wanting more.
Watch full episodes of Venge on our official webpage.
Ghana Jollof
AMVCA award-winning actor-comedian, Basketmouth, made a triumphant return to television with his new comedy show, Ghana Jollof.
In this hilarious new show, two friends move to Ghana to find out whether the grass truly is greener on the other side, only to find more obstacles than expected when a series of comical situations has them questioning their choices.
Watch the trailer for Ghana Jollof here.
