Netflix is really moving into the African scene as it promised late last year, and they don’t’ seem to be slowing down anytime soon. After announcing it’s be renewing it’s fan-favorite Queen Sono, Netflix’s first African Original Series starring Pearl Thusi, the streaming giant announced that it’s now working on its next African Original Series titled JIVA!.
According to OkayAfrica, JIVA!, a South African slang term which translates to ‘dance’, is a drama series which will tell the story of a talented street dancer called Ntombi, who while juggling the demands of a dead-end job, family responsibility and complex love life, realizes that her choreography could be her ticket out of her working-class neighborhood in Durban. However, in order to succeed, she must first overcome her fears, thrash her rivals, and attempt to resolve some of the problems in her family.
JIVA! is created by award-winning writer, director, and producer, Busisiwe Ntintili of The Ntintili Factory responsible for one of South Africa’s highest-rated television shows, the Peabody Award-winning drama “Intersexions” and hit movie “Happiness is a Four Letter Word.”
The series is directed by Scottnes L. Smith (“Hear Me Move”), Mandla Dube (“Kalushi”) and Mmambatho Montsho (“Emoyeni”). Meanwhile, the cast includes break-out star Noxolo Dlamini playing the lead, Candice Modiselle (“Generations”), Sne Mbatha (“So You Think You Can Dance”), Stella Dlangalala (“Funny People Africa”) and veteran actor Tony Kgoroge (“Invictus,” “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”).
[…] to renew Queen Sono for a second season and a new third series, precisely a dance drama – JIVA!, starring Noxolo Dlamini as the lead […]