On Tuesday night (13 March) Mzansi Magic hosted a flashy shindig to launch the channel's new series iNkaba. Things went down at Urban Brew Studios in Randburg, where the series is filmed.
It premieres this Monday (19 March) at 20h30 and airs Mondays to Thursday, for 208 episodes - exactly a year. As I've
mentioned previously, it's been created by John Kani - who also stars in it - and it's a telenovela, so it's a soapie that has an end.
The series centres round two families and the drama between them unfolds in the past and present. The past gets depicted through flashback scenes that reveal more about each of the characters and their relationships.
Love and the fashion industry are at the centre of the action between the two families. These two elements rip the families apart and bring them together.
I razzmattazzed the bash for us and snapped up a storm. The result'iozo: a red carpet and party album starring the lead characters to give you an idea of Who's Who before the series starts ...
The Mthetho Family:
John Kani chattin' to Vuzu on the red. He plays Mkhuseli Mthetho, head of the Mthetho household.
His greatest fear is losing his wife Nomsa and everything he's worked for over the past 20 years.
Nakedi Ribane who plays Nomsa Mthetho, Mkhuseli's wife in the present day. 
Dumisani Mbebe plays Kwezi Mthetho: Nomsa and Mkhuseli's son. He's the hotshot CEO of his own fashion house Kwezi Design.
Flash fact:
This was the role Muzi Clive Ngwenya was originally cast in before his death earlier this year.
The Khumalo Family:
Ernest Ndlovu plays Mzi Khumalo. Mzi believes that Mkhuseli cheated him out Nomsa 20 years ago. He still loves her even though he married someone else. He has two daughters and his wife Sophie is dead.
Nompilo Gwala who plays Nothando Khumalo, Mzi's daughter. She's an aspiring designer who's smitten with Kwezi's fashion label. 
Samkelo Ndlovu plays Mzi's other daughter Lira. She's a wild child who wants to be a schmodel. Her and Ernest Ndlovu aren't related in real life.
Aunt Lizzie: Sophie's sister, aunt to Nothando and Lira. Lizzie works at Kwezi Design - she's very loyal to Kwezi and defends him when Mzi becomes insulting about the Mthetho family.
Pascal Etana played by Richard Lukunku: an asylum seeker from the DRC who's tight with Aunt Lizzie.
Baby Cele plays Slindile Dludlu, cousin to Nomsa and housekeeper to the Mthetho family. 
Ferry Jele plays Florence Malinga, a domestic worker by day and shebeen owner by night. She works for the Mthetho family and has a silent war with Slindile. She's married to ...
Bra Shakes Malinga, played by Magic Hlatshwayo. He manages the shebeen and drinks heavily.
Matshepo Maleme plays their daughter Thuli.
Robert Hobbs plays JP, a mechanic who's a long-time acquintance/friend of Mkhuseli and Mzi. He's currently the manager at MthethoTransport.
Duke Motlanthe and Brian Khawula who play Mkhuseli and Mzi when they were young.Fashionistas:The crowd in the fashion world
Flambouyant fashion designer MJ, played by Lumko Leqela with fashionista Portia Gumede who's the Creative Director of the series.
Presenter Jason Greer makes his acting debut as fashion show producer Leo Miller who wears these Janez Vermeiren shoes ...
Janez wears shoes like this.
Kuli "crazy-eyes" Roberts plays herself.
Janel Jordaan who plays Clara, a cutter by profession and groupie and muse to MJ.
Alby Michaels and Ilse Klink. Alby plays Allan, a former hot designer who's on a downward spiral because of drugs. Ilse plays Miranda who's a fashion hotshot. She's the CEO of fashion week and an entrepeur who's always believed in Allan's talent.
Yip! It's BBA and Channel O's Weza Solange. She plays Fumi Uche, a Nigerian schmodel who's on the cusp of being famous.
* Flashes of the set *
All the inside scenes are filmed on sets built at Urban Brew studios. Flashes of the Mthetho's home ...
(double click them for high-res pics to get the full effect):
For more about all of the characters, see: TVSA's iNkaba Mini-Site