A new Xhosa drama debuts on Mzansi Magic in early July and it's tackling one of the world's most taboo topics. Something no-one talks about (not even
TLC): mommy's boys who love their mother "too much".
It's called Isikizi which means "disgrace" in Xhosa and centres round the honourable but impulsive Sizwe, played Phila Madlingozi (Intersexions, Single Galz). Sizwe runs away from home to escape a very problematic prophecy that's been made about his life.
According to Reneilwe Sema, M-Net's Head of Drama for Local Entertainment Channels: "This is essentially a love story, but a demented love story that is going to get people talking about things that are seen as taboo in our society. We want viewers to be conflicted about who the hero of this story is…"
The channel's remaining very tight lipped about what the taboo is but we're convinced it's going to deal with the mommy's boy thang because it's a "demented love story" and the series is inspired by the mythical Greek story of Oedipus, which goes like this:
Oedipus accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby bringing disaster to his city and family.
It's impossible to imagine that anyone could get themselves into this situation when they
know it's going to happen in advance and don't want it to happen at all but it happened to Oedipus and it seems Sizwe faces a similar fate.
What Mzansi Magic have confirmed is that the show will be tackling issues of true love and its consequences, fate versus free will, the power of fear and the importance of honouring one’s heritage.
The series is produced by Paw Paw films and also stars Tina Jaxa, Timmy Kwebulana, Zandile Msutwana, Chris Gxalaba, Bongo Mbutuma, Ayanda Dlamini, Andrea Dondolo, Vicky Kente and Khayakazi Kula.
It premieres on Monday, 11 July at 20h00.