18 June 2024 – MultiChoice is honoured to host His Majesty, Ba Mosata, Bakhoma Mpapatla Modjadji of the Royal Family at MultiChoice City, Randburg, marking a significant moment ahead of the highly anticipated premiere of Mzansi Magic’s new prime-time drama, Queen Modjadji. The series, airing on Channel 161 starting Sunday, 14 July at 8pm, brings to life the legendary story of the Balobedu rainmaking queen and her enduring legacy.
The visit included Mokhomana Leshoto Modjadji, Mokhomana Tshepiso Molokwane and Mokhomana Simon Ramafalo, celebrates the cultural and historical significance of the series. Their presence emphasizes the importance of the Modjadji dynasty, known for its matriarchal leadership and mystical rainmaking powers that have ruled the Lobedu clan for centuries.
“This visit is so important to us at MultiChoice because as South Africa’s biggest producer of local content, we always want to ensure that we tell our African stories in a way that is true and resonates with our audiences. This vote of confidence from the Royal Family is testament that we have done them proud in telling Queen Modjadji’s story,” notes Nomsa Philiso, CEO of General Entertainment at MultiChoice.
Queen Modjadji’s story holds profound significance. Born to the throne and blessed with an elemental ancestral gift, she initiated a lineage of queens capable of summoning rain and manipulating the clouds, ensuring the prosperity and well-being of their people. This matriarchal dynasty stands as a timeless symbol of strength, wisdom, and spiritual power in African history.
The production of Queen Modjadji meticulously reconstructs Balobedu culture, incorporating artefacts and indigenous items sourced directly from the Balobedu Kingdom. Clay pots, calabashes, reed baskets, and intricately crafted beadwork, all produced by local artisans, authentically depicting the rich heritage of the Modjadji dynasty. Notably, this production effort also generated over 600 jobs, providing significant economic opportunities and supporting local talent.
The Modjadji Royal Family’s visit highlights the importance of sharing this rich history with a broader audience. Their story, deeply rooted in African tradition, resonates with themes of leadership, resilience, and pride, offering viewers a unique opportunity to connect with a pivotal aspect of African history.
The royal family’s visit to MultiChoice not only celebrates the launch of this epic drama but also underscores the broader impact of such productions. By showcasing the rich cultural narratives of Africa, that bring a deeper understanding and appreciation of African heritage to new generations and global audiences alike.
Queen Modjadji is scheduled to premiere on Channel 161 starting Sunday, 14 July at 8 PM, bringing to life the legendary story of the Balobedu rainmaking queen and her enduring legacy.
ENDS
About MultiChoice Group
MultiChoice Group (MCG), listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), is a leading provider of entertainment and related consumer services, with an expanding ecosystem, underpinned by scalable technologies, and a track record now spanning almost 40 years. MCG provides video entertainment products and services through its linear and streaming platforms to 23.5m households across 50 countries on the African continent and continues to grow by producing and acquiring the best local, sport and international content and offering tiered subscription packages and aggregated streaming services to its customer base. MCG’s superior technology capabilities enables it to continue innovating around distribution, digital and payment solutions and content security to offer the best customer experience across the continent. Reaching up to 100 million individuals on a daily basis, the MultiChoice Group is using its scale and distribution to expand its platform to include sports betting and interactive entertainment, fin-tech services, household services (focused on internet connectivity and emergency response services) and ed-tech. Irdeto, MCG’s technology business, provides platform cybersecurity services which protect over 6bn devices and applications globally for some of the world’s best media and technology brands, as well as clients in the connected industries sector.