by Thinus Ferreira
Filming has started for M-Net's Queen Modjadji drama series which will broadcast on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) from July this year, with cameras that are rolling in a secret location in South Africa.
The Mzansi Magic drama series is inspired by the Balobedu legend of rainmaker Queen Modjadji whose bloodline ruled Southern Africa's Lobedu clan for centuries. The series is produced by Rhythm World Productions and Duma Ndlovu responsible for Muvhango on the SABC's SABC2 channel.
The City Press newspaper, which had a journalist who was part of a set visit by M-Net to the Queen Modjadji film set in late April, reported that produced Duma Ndlovu said he pitched Queen Modjadji to the SABC several times which didn't want to do the show.
Regarding the Balobedu royal family, Doma Ndlovu says "They are still very secretive - there are still certain things that we can't touch but the story is a universal story of a queen who could make rain and that's not a secret".
Rhythm World Productions wanted to film Queen Modjadji in South Africa's Limpopo province but couldn't find a suitable location. Set construction of a village started in January this year and took two months, after which filming started in March.
Some of the Queen Modjadji cast include Ndavi Nokeri, Shudufhadzo Musida, Helen Lepebe, Ngelekanyo Ramulondi, Thabo Bopape, Wiseman Zitha, Masutang Rasekele who is also one of the language advisors and script writers on the production.
