“Shaka Ilembe”, a celebrated South African TV series, has marked a major milestone after getting international recognition at the 2024 Septimius Awards in Amsterdam.
The show, which attracted millions of viewers when it made its debut in 2023, won the Best Costume Design award, while internationally-acclaimed actress Nomzamo Mbatha won the Best African Actress award for her portrayal as Shaka’s revered mother.
Lemogang Tsipa was nominated in the Best African Actor category for his outstanding performance of Shaka as a young man prior to his rise to fame as the legendary monarch who established the Zulu nation.
The entertainment fraternity, both in film and television, has praised his portrayal of an entangled and conflicted young man trying to realise his potential.
In addition, Queen Motlatle, the Season 1 hair and make-up designer, received a nomination for her remarkable work on “Shaka Ilembe” Season 1.
Costume designer Sheli Masondo, expressed gratitude for being recognised on a global scale and being in the same category with other excellent costume designers.
“It was an amazing feeling to be recognised on an international stage and to be in a category where other costume designers did magnificent work. I didn’t expect to win. I’m very grateful that we can tell our stories in our language with our authentic traditional outfits,” she said.
In a quest to assure historical accuracy, Masondo revealed that she researched the 1700s and 1800s for more than a year.
She also visited museums in KwaZulu-Natal, perused archives, spoke with historians, and looked for ideas all around the continent to capture the era’s aesthetic precisely.
Her unwavering determination led her to discover elderly people who are still skilled in creating authentic traditional costumes.
“For example, a Mbata is a Zulu traditional chest guard, handmade from animal skin and exclusively worn by the Royal family. Only the king or his wife can wear a leopard skin.
“When I created the costumes for the show… To derive inspiration, I walked empty fields — looking at the birds, the trees, their bark, the fine textures, the veins on the leaves. It was very emotional for me. It was more than design. It was like stepping into my ancestors’ shoes, and I was blown away by how creative they were – using whatever surrounded them. There was no lace, ribbons, fabric, sequins or beads; they used the natural things around them.
“It was a spiritual moment for me. I was blessed that I had support. People from Kwa-Ndebele, from KZN, and from Johannesburg… They could translate everything that I envisioned, that I had brought back from my research into ”Shaka Ilembe“ costumes,” Masondo said.
Desiree Markgraaff, executive producer of Bomb Productions, expressed her excitement over Masondo’s win in the best costume design category at the Septimius Awards in Amsterdam, saying: “Sheli and her incredible team are the epitome of excellence, passion, and professionalism. They produced hundreds of magnificent pieces of wardrobe in Season 1, and every visit to the wardrobe department had the directors and cast filled with excitement.
“Sheli’s excellence is not only reflected in the garments but also in the energy she exudes on set. She really is a South African treasure, and we are thrilled to be working together again on Season 2,” she said.
The Star