Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
SEASONED entertainer Madlela Sikhobokhobo is back on the small screen, and this time he is taking viewers straight to the beating heart of Bulawayo’s oldest township with his hilarious new drama series, Madlela in Makokoba.
After years of ruling the music scene with his signature swagger, Mothusi Bashimane Ndlovu, better known as Madlela Sikhobokhobo, has dusted off his acting shoes for a 13-episode production that captures the hustle, humour and heart of Kasi life.
Filmed right in the real streets of Makokoba, the show spills over with township flavour and everyday drama, from nosy neighbours and market queens to street hustlers and the ever-present chaos that makes life in the hood unforgettable.
Leading the vibrant cast is Madlela himself, joined by Sthandazile Dube, Leonard Phiri, Lucy Mhlanga, socialite Khalanga Lenkosi, uMnikazi WeMpuphu, blogger Kudakwashe Takundwa, Anna “Chibaby” Honde, Bajila and Sipho Mercent Nyathi.
“Before I became a musician, I was an actor and that’s actually how people got to know me,” said Madlela. “So, I felt it was time to return to my roots and give people what they have been missing.”
Working alongside writer Ronald Sibanda, Madlela said Madlela in Makokoba is both a comedy and a mirror to township life.
“My character is that uncle who is always in trouble for the wrong reasons,” he said. “Through him, we teach that crime does not pay and that the daily hustle, no matter how tough, is part of our strength as a people.”
He said Lucy Mhlanga’s role as Margarita, a street vendor raising kids through grit and grace, embodies the spirit of countless Kasi women who survive through sheer determination.
Bringing in socialites like Khalanga Lenkosi and uMnikazi WeMpuphu, Madlela said, was about unearthing hidden acting talent and giving them a platform.
The series, already five episodes in, is streaming on the Madlela Sikhobokhobo YouTube channel, with new episodes dropping every Monday.
