Swazi Observer

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ANOTHER TELENOVELA COMING TO ESWATINI TV

By NONDUDUZO KUNENE | 2020-07-09

ESWATINI TV is slowly but surely becoming the home of local content. Eswatini Television Authority (ETVA) has officially launched yet another new drama series dubbed ‘Emabulawo’.

This was revealed by the producer drama series Celiwe Dlamini yesterday during a press briefing which was held at Thokoza Conference Centre in Mbabane.

‘Emabulawo’ (loosely translated; Generational Curse), according to Dlamini was written by Eswatini veteran author Modison Magagula. Dlamini revealed that she co-produced the drama series with Bheki Howe. The series has an all local cast that includes the likes of Qibho Intalektual.

Despite launching digital platforms where programmes of the station will be accessed, Emabulawo will only be exclusive to Sigujana (Set-Top Box) owners not online.

Dlamini said the series was still at its pre-production state which dates back last year April. It is worth noting that there is an ongoing workshop for the cast of the new drama series before its production commences. Dlamini said the drama series came at a time when the nation was hungry for locally produced stories.

This was because story telling times in homesteads was eliminated by the introduction of TVs of which in most cases they tell western stories. After western story tellers exhausted their stories, they have turned into telling African stories but according to their understanding.

“This is a golden opportunity to tell our own stories from our perspective,” she said. Dlamini said in as much as Eswatini was a small country but it has its own unique stories to tell, hence Emabulawo was one of the country’s unique stories.

She added that it was high time that the country turns entertainment and passion into money. “We are in the process of showing the nation that it is possible to make a living through arts,” she said.

Furthermore, Dlamini said the team that would be working during all the stages of production of the drama series would be engaged full time like everyone who is employed in an organisation. The drama series will be shot from Monday to Friday.

She acknowledged local companies such as Global paints, Slomoes Corporation, Molly’s House of grill and Mr Price Home for partnering with the production team.

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