Remember When... with Andile Ndlovu Andile Ndlovu

ENJOY! 

[Audio clip(s) courtesy: etv.co.za]





Please! Did you heat that amazing theme song? It brings back so many memories of evenings spent on the couch in front of the TV, watching eTV’s youth drama “Backstage”.

It's true, many of the guests who have appeared on this show are not always the most obvious or expected, but I went with a woman who, when things were falling apart both on-screen and behind the scenes at Backstage, embodied resilience and remained integral to the story.

Grace Mahlaba (now the Creative Producer of #etvScandal) played Ipeleng Theledi right from the get-go, leading the young, beautiful and talented students of Vulindlela College - a school for the performing arts. It was almost like our FAME or in more recent times, Netflix’s Tiny Pretty Things. These students were ambitious and desperate enough for success to go for it no matter the ramifications. That was the same on Backstage. It was written by Collin Oliphant, who was at Mfundi Vundla’s Morula Pictures, and it introduced us Bonnie Mbuli who, believe it or not, was making her acting debut as the super bitch “Zandi”, there was Katlego Danke (currently on Gomora), Dini Nondumo (who’s now Head of Commercial Insurance at Standard Insurance Limited), and KB Motsilanyane (whose music I’ve always loved).

Ipeleng ran Vulindlela with the help of Katlego Rathebe, Naomi Singh, and Charmaine Jacobs.

I spoke to Grace Mahlaba about making the move to Cape Town to join the show, the shocking deaths of cast mates, the disruption caused by lawsuits between eTV and the show’s producers which a ultimately saw the show move to Joburg, and when she knew it was time to go.

Enjoy!

HOW TO REACH ME:

Email: andile.1987@gmail.com

Twitter: @vida15

Instagram: @phuckyoairbrush

Some might argue that the Miss SA Teen pageant NEVER mattered, but don't forget that it gave us some queens who have gone on to make big waves in their respective careers. Sure, there have been some forgettable periods and winners, but the pageant also gave us Gina Athans, Phuti Khomo, Zizo Beda, and Celeste Khumalo. 

The latter was the las winner of the Miss SA Teen pageant in 2011. We talked about how her reign brought with it some traumatic times - including the return of her estranged (read: opportunistic) father, untrustworthy sponsors, public criticism of her TV acting abilities, her businesses going bust, and how being under lockdown has helped her reassess her career goals. 

This woman packed bags at Spar near her home while in high school, just so she could have cash for the Miss SA Teen 2008 pageant (she was a top 12 finalist and needed money for the trip and some clothes). Ultimately, she made top 5 that year - only to return to win it three years later.

I've also liked Celeste. I hope you like this episode. 

Enjoy!

HOW TO REACH ME:

Email: andile.1987@gmail.com

Twitter: @vida15

Instagram: @phuckyoairbrush

 

Now, I don’t mean to attack the public broadcaster here, so please don’t misconstrue the point of this episode.

However, there was this period between 2004 and 2009 when it seemed like the commissioning editors there were suddenly made aware that queer people exist in this country and because of their mandate to reflect our society in all its divergent cultures and identities, there was an obvious gap in terms of the representation of queer people on its platforms.

So, June 2004 Yizo Yizo 3 gave us Thiza and Thabang fell in love in varsity. You may remember Thiza had previously been in a romantic relationship with high school sweetheart Hazel.

In December 2006, just after the newly passed law that made same-sex marriage legal in SA, Steve Stethakis and Luke got hitched.

Weeks later, Society (also on SABC 1) gave us lesbian romance between Beth and Thuli

Then they set tongues wagging when they introduced us to China, Bokang, and Hector- who were in a complex love triangle. It was the first series to deal with the controversial topic of black gay men living on the DL - that is keeping their gay identity separate from the rest of their lives - for fear of excommunication among other worries.

If that was controversial because of its homoerotic content, the country’s favourite prime time show at the time, Generations rattled cages further when Senzo and Jason fell in love and went on to get married.

I should mention that in 2008, eTV also gave us the brief story of Stone and Thula on Rhythm City - where the former loathed himself for kissing another man and even turned to physically abusing Thula, before hopelessly turning to the church to seek deliverance.

It would take a few years before InterSEXions had Two-Step and Sizwe, and Zabalaza on Mzansi Magic had Victoria and Mapule, among others.

I reached out to Emmanuel Castis, who played Steve Stethakis on Isidingo, and Sechaba Morojele, the creator of After 9 to talk about these two pioneering projects and how it impacted their respective careers.



Enjoy!

HOW TO REACH ME:

Email: andile.1987@gmail.com

Twitter: @vida15

Instagram: @phuckyoairbrush

Before we all became too cool for school, we all wanted to be part of the Soul Buddyz Club. No? Just me, then. But whether you joined the club or not, I'm certain you never missed an episode of Soul Buddyz on SABC 1. Hamilton (with those dreadlocks) being bullied. Thapelo losing his parents to AIDS and having to bring up his younger sister. Avril having to face the same uncle who used to sexually abused her when she was younger. But also, the tremendous camaraderie between the Buddyz. Are you kidding me? It was great TV! 

I caught up with actor, Jafta Mamabolo (who played Thapelo) to talk about how this role solidified his dream of becoming a revered screen actor, being a child star, and how his career has played out since that breakout role. 

Enjoy!

HOW TO REACH ME: 

Email: andile.1987@gmail.com

Twitter: @vida15

Instagram: @phuckyoairbrush

In the inaugural season of the Castle Premier League (now known as the DStv Premiership), Gordon Igesund led Manning Rangers to the impossible dream: the league winners title. Previous winners of the league (then known as the National Soccer League First Division) included Cape Town Spurs, Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, and Mamelodi Sundowns - and the smart bet on the winner of the newly established competition would have been one of those clubs. But it was to be the team which had finished 12th in the season prior, which would shock all and sundry. 

How did they do it? 

George Koumantarakis, the man whose 17 goals helped Chatsworth-based Manning Rangers clinch the title that season, recalls how it all unfolded.

HOW TO REACH ME:

Email: andile.1987@gmail.com

Twitter: @vida15

Instagram: @phuckyoairbrush