After a dramatic season two finale last weekend, MultiChoice Africa has confirmed that Shaka iLembe will return for a third and final season in 2026. The historical drama, centered on the rise and reign of the Zulu king Shaka, will premiere on Pearl Magic Prime.
Nomzamo Mbatha, who has anchored the series both on-screen and behind the camera, will continue in her dual role as executive producer and as Queen Nandi, the mother who shaped Shaka’s destiny.
The scale of Shaka iLembe has made it unlike anything else in African television. The show is MultiChoice’s most ambitious production to date, employing more than 8,000 people on its first season and over 16,000 in its second. It has also picked up a record number of awards at South Africa’s Film & Television Awards and won recognition abroad, including in the Netherlands.
Produced by Johannesburg-based BOMB! Productions — the company behind Isibaya and Yizo Yizo — the drama has been praised not just for its spectacle, but for sparking broader cultural conversations.
The first season followed Shaka (played by Lemogang Tsipa) as he came of age, with Queen Nandi (Mbatha) refusing to be silenced in her defense of her son. Season two carried the story into his reign as king, exploring his vision as a leader while weaving in neighboring histories, including Swati storylines.
The final season, MultiChoice says, will bring Shaka’s reign to a thunderous conclusion. According to the production, the season opens with the grandest Ijadu in Zulu history, where rival kings gather for song, dance and power. But when an assassin’s spear draws royal blood, suspicion and betrayal begin to unravel his court. A campaign against the Mpondo intensifies, Queen Nandi guards a devastating secret, and the arrival of British forces at Port Natal signals the reach of colonial expansion.
“When we announced the first season, we were confident that Shaka iLembe would set a new standard for African storytelling and travel well into international territories,” said Nomsa Philiso, CEO of MultiChoice General Entertainment.
She added: “More than speaking to the heritage of the Zulu Nation, it took the story of a dynasty created from scratch by one man to the world, endorsed by the King’s descendants and told from an African perspective.”
Executive producer Desiree Markgraaff of BOMB! Productions said season three would expand “the universe of kings and queens, warriors, healers and leaders.” She called it “a legacy for all Africans to honour and celebrate.”
For Mbatha, the show is both professional and personal.
“The pressure is high,” she said. “Shaka iLembe has been a beloved show for the past two seasons and the project of my career. This third season is the culmination of a world that African viewers have found deep love and admiration for.”
She described it as “a triumphant telling of Nguni history on an epic scale” — one that blends an all-conquering reign, sweeping love stories, the founding of a new nation, and the arrival of colonists.
The ensemble cast includes Wiseman Mncube, Dawn Thandeka King, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Mondli Makhoba, Mpilo Mbatha, Anele Nene and Vuyo Biyela. The show also introduced audiences to Ntando Zondi, who played young Shaka. New cast members for season three are expected to be announced later.
For now, viewers can revisit season two — episodes one through twelve are available on MultiChoice’s Catch Up service until Sept. 28.
