MBABANE – The second production of the historical series BakaNgwane, titled The Birth of a Nation, will begin airing on Eswatini TV on February 22 at 6.30pm. The series blends factual history with cinematic storytelling to trace the origins, identity, and resilience of Emaswati, according to a report by Eswatini Observer.
The production was officially launched on December 18 at Sharma House in Ezulwini and explores migration, power, sacrifice, and the rise of King Matalatala I. Producer Sibusiso Dlamini confirmed the programme’s weekly schedule and described the scale of the project. “The series will start airing on Sunday February 22 at 6.30pm and will be broadcast on Eswatini TV,” he said, noting that the show aims to reach families across the country.
Developed from research dating back to 2018, the docu-drama involves over 1 000 actors, including local performers such as Samukelo Dlamini, Mandisa Mamba, Lawrence Mhlanga, Thembinkosi Mthethwa, and Samkelo Motsa. What began with a small creative team expanded to include extensive sets, detailed costumes, and a large cast to authentically depict historical events. Dlamini described BakaNgwane as the foundation of a broader cultural archive. “BakaNgwane is one of the most ambitious local screen projects and represents the first step in documenting and celebrating our heritage with more work planned in film, literature and theatre,” he said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu, who is also the executive producer, explained the decision to restart the project after the first season did not meet expectations. “When we assessed the first production, we realised that it did not meet Ingwenyama’s first-world standards, so we decided to start afresh,” she said.
Shakantu noted that the new edition was revamped to improve technical quality and storytelling depth, positioning the series for possible international streaming while keeping a distinctly local voice. “Now that this production meets high-quality standards, it is our aim to see it featured on major platforms,” she said, adding that the project seeks to showcase local heritage to global audiences.
She added that BakaNgwane has evolved into a cultural brand dedicated to preserving history through screen narratives, with the latest season expected to anchor Sunday evening viewing nationwide.
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