Kagiso Mogale aims to redefine love with his new telenovela ‘Kwa Baba’

“Kwa Baba” is the latest telenovela set to join Mzansi Magic and according to creator and head writer Kagiso Mogale, viewers shouldn’t expect “the same old, same old” when the show premieres on June 1.

Set in Diepkloof, Soweto, the new drama explores love, family expectations, tradition and the the burden of inherited responsibilities.

At the centre of the story is Zwelakhe Mkhize, played by Vuyo Biyela, a young businessman preparing to build a future with the woman he loves, Bahumi Motaung, played by Rorisang Mohapi-Grootboom. However, before he can move forward, he is forced to confront an old family obligation tied to his late father.

Speaking to “Independent Media Lifestyle”, Mogale said that the show intends to offer a fresh perspective, though rooted in love and culture, it intentionally avoids the predictable rhythms of the average South African telenovela.

“I want to make it clear to the reader and your potential viewer, it’s not the same old, same old Mzansi Magic another telenovela,” he said.

Part of that difference comes from the extensive research done to portray some of the many cultural aspects that have not been shown on telenovelas. It is also the setting of the upcoming show itself.

While many culturally-driven stories are often rooted in KwaZulu-Natal, Mogale said the decision to place the story in Soweto opened up something fresh creatively.

“It was a channel decision, based on the type of shows they currently have. They had ‘Ithonga’ set in KZN. The question was, ‘What do we have for a township like Soweto? Can this story live or work in Soweto?’ We realised that, oh, it actually can, so we decided, 'Okay, let’s try Soweto.’”

For Mogale, Soweto’s diversity also became an important layer in shaping the identity of the show. Rather than making it “just another Zulu show”, the aim was to reflect how different cultures exist and interact in one shared space.

The telenovela also leans heavily into themes around old traditions and modern relationships, something Mogale says he intentionally wanted to unpack through the writing.

“With some of the storylines, I wanted to create a show that exposes old or ancient traditional cultures and traditions because Zulu people like a particular, you know…”

At its core though, “Kwa Baba” is still very much a love story, and according to Mogale, that emotional element became one of the driving forces behind the project.

“I wanted to remind people what love is. I want South Africa to rediscover love and believe in it again. So I woke up one day and thought to myself, can I write the biggest love story that people have ever seen? And I wanted to test myself,” he said.

The cast also includes Hlengiwe Lushaba-Madlala, Mpho J Molepo, Helen Lebepe, Lindani Nkosi, Nkanyiso Mzimela, Kwanele Mthethwa, Sparky Xulu and Phumzile Mlangeni.

• “Kwa Baba” will air Monday to Friday at 7.30pm from June 1, on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161).