Hola Mpinji! is a South African youth drama television series produced by Black Drop Productions and based on a series of youth novels by Zachariah Rapola which follows Stanza, a young man from Alex, Johannesburg, whose dream is to form a new kind of Gospel group.
The series is in seSotho with English subtitles. Rapola also wrote the screenplay. The series was co-written, produced and directed by Sechaba Morojele.
The series originally aired on SABC2 and later on SABC1. There are 13 half-hour episodes in one season. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Hola Mpinji! originally aired on SABC2 from 13 April to 6 July, 2010, on Tuesdays at 21h30. New episodes broadcast weekly.
The series later aired on SABC1 from 28 August to 20 November, 2013, on Wednesdays at 20h30. New episodes broadcast weekly.
Synopsis
Hola Mpinji! is about Stanza, a young man from Alex, Johannesburg, whose dream is to form a new kind of Hip-hop/Rap/Gospel group. He has to fight against all odds to get his own music and his own group up and running.
The lack of money for costumes and registration fees to enter into competitions is a huge concern and the group gets drawn into delivering cakes, that unbeknownst to them is part of a drug syndicate's deliveries.
Main Characters
Stanza Nareng
(played by Jabari Makhooane)
Stanza is in his early twenties and was raised by his elder brother, Vusi after they lost their parents. He has conflicting personae: one minute can be calmness itself while the next he’ll be reckless. Impulsive and temperamental at times, he gets impatient when things don’t go his way.
He has a warmth and cheerfulness that people, especially girls, find attractive. An avid reader, his hobbies include writing poetry, poetry performance, rapping and dancing.
He resents everything about Stjwetla informal settlement and is in a desperate hurry to move out and hopes to do that with his rapping talents. His ambition is to make it commercially and put Stjwetla on the national and international map.
Stanza sells papers for one of the local newspapers.
Bra Sporo
(played by Patrick Shai)
Commonly known by his nickname, Bra Sporo's real name is Shepard Diale.
In his early fifties, Sporo is a man of appearance. A natty dresser, he likes Afro tops and suit trousers, sparkling shoes (Florsheims) and such brands of yester-year.
He is separated from his wife Ebony and son Arabie. A jazz aficionado, he stays alone in his two-storey mansion, which is filled with hangers-on and freeloaders of all types.
He has a deep affection and respect for his elderly mother, Mme Diale.
Pinkie "The Pinkies" Mojeki
(played by Gabisile Tshabalala)
Nineteen years old, beautiful but with average intellect. What she lacks in brain cells she compensates with talent.
Pinkie has a great singing voice that can scale the highest octave. Admired and loved by all people who think she has a huge music career ahead of her.
Pinkie is proud and comfortable with her surroundings – people. She is secretly in love with Stanza and is frustrated by the fact that he is oblivious of her feelings for him.
Has one weakness and that is of “catching” - she substitutes real love for flirtatious relations with different men that often get her in trouble.
Last Born
(played by Motlatsi Mafatshe)
Last Born is in his middle twenties and likes everything about the military; he likes dressing in military gear and loves to carry himself like a commander and commands his gospel unit as if they are in the barracks awaiting their strike orders.
Very dogmatic in his approach to gospel and believes in pure and unadulterated gospel. Does not view it as a hobby, but as a route to salvation, and as such has imposed very strict rules.
Boys and girls who dare smile at each other during rehearsals earn themselves the immediate punishment of a "klap". His disciplinarian no nonsense attitude has endured him to most adults who occasionally contribute cash to assist with expenses of the choir.
Seasons
Season 1 (13 episodes)
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 13 Apr 2010 | Finale: 6 Jul 2010 | Tue, 21h30
Channel: SABC1 | Premiere: 28 Aug 2013 | Finale: 20 Nov 2013 | Wed, 20h30