Muvhango takes viewers down memory lane as it celebrates 25 years

When writer and executive producer Duma Ndlovu introduced Muvhango to television viewers 25 years ago, he wanted to change the face of SA television.

It was a monumental occasion in the history of SA television since there had never been a programme of any kind in TshiVenda language on local television. This week, the Venda soapie celebrates 25 years on air. It made its debut on Monday April 7 1997.

To celebrate the milestone, the show will take viewers down memory lane through a silver jubilee-themed Riya Hayani, meaning “we are going home”. With Riya Hayani viewers will see characters from early seasons being invited for cameo appearances.

Speaking to Sowetan on Monday, Ndlovu said it has been an amazing journey which started small and kept getting bigger. “When we started, we arrogantly said we wanted to change the face of television. When we got in, there were discriminatory terms referring to Muvhango as ishow yama Venda (show for Venda people).

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“In fact, it was possible that the language itself had never been spoken on the small screen even just in passing. Until then those amazing people from northern part of our country did not have a valid reason to buy television sets. Hence when Muvhango went on air, that part of the world exploded in hysteria and unbridled joy! I remember a friend of mine telling me that Ellerines (furniture shop) had run out of television sets and there was a waiting list,” says Ndlovu.

“We had to change the face of Muvhango. Before long, Muvhango was known for a number of things, whether it was breaking beautiful actress who could act and being number one. In terms of producing talent, If you can look at other TV shows … be it drama, soapie or telenovela, you are likely to see names of people who were developed by Muvhango. When we started, the industry did not have black producers. But today we have many black producers who were trained by Word of Mouth Pictures.”

To get the public’s attention, Ndlovu said they pitted a Sotho woman, Vho-Catherine, (mosadi wa pampiri) with a traditional, customary wife, Vho-Masindi, and had them fight for the right to bury their polygamous husband Vho-Mashudu.

“SA was hooked. The drama was on steroids, and I am not sure if we would have achieved what we achieved if the drama had been mediocre and weak. Because of that popularity, SABC was forced to increase the drama, first to 26 episodes, and then to two days a week, and eventually to a full-blown soapie that is now on five days a week,” said Ndlovu, who is the founder of Word Of Mouth Pictures.

On celebrations, he said: “This silver jubilee will be a celebration of 25 years of bringing tears, smiles and laughter to homes across the country. The year-long celebrations will commemorate the anniversary of the soapie by engaging passionate fans and igniting audiences’ excitement.”