Did Beyoncé foreshadow the release of her landmark visual album Black is King in her Feeling Myself verse? Knowing Queen Bey, quite possibly! The highly anticipated film will air on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) on Saturday, 1 August at 20:00. As a special treat for those not yet subscribed to Premium, it will be open to DStv Compact Plus, Compact and Family subscribers for two hours. Plus, Black Is King will be available on Catch Up for Premium subscribers only for 30 days.
Featuring myriad talented African creatives, the film includes homegrown South African stars like Connie Chiume (Gomora), Nandi Madida (The Road), Nyaniso Dzedze (Binnelanders) and Warren Masemola (The River). We epically hold our own next to international names like Naomi Campbell, Pharrell Williams, Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, Kelly Rowland and JAY-Z. These talents bring the storyline to life, following the tale of a young king’s journey of self-discovery.
Be sure to mark your calendar for this global event and join the worldwide conversation #BlackIsKing.
SAMAs 26
Monday-Friday, 3-7 August on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) at 21:30
Music lovers are in for an exceptional virtual experience that will capture the fervour, excitement and magic associated with the SAMAs. After announcing their postponement in March, the 26th annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs) are back on track but will be moving to the virtual world due to the coronavirus pandemic. The awards this year take on a unique format in that they will be broken up into five episodes airing between 3 and 7 August at 21:30. The first four episodes will be 30 minutes long, while the fifth one will be a 45-minute grand finale.
Life with Kelly Khumalo S1A
Available on Showmax from Thursday, 6 August
Famed musical darling, Kelly Khumalo is the latest local celebrity to welcome South African audiences into her life, with her new reality show ‘Life with Kelly Khumalo’. Enjoy an intimate glimpse into the life of the woman behind the headlines: “A single mother juggling parenthood, the build-up to her new album and the launch of her new gin. Produced by BarLeader, the company behind Being Bonang and Somizi & Mohale: The Union, the show reveals a side to Kelly no one has seen before.
Playmobil: The Movie
Saturday, 1 August on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) at 15:15
An awesome animation, inspired by the Playmobil toy brand and starring the talented voices of Daniel Radcliffe, Adam Lambert, Anya Taylor-Joy and Megan Trainor. Marla (Anya) and her younger brother Charlie (Gabriel Bateman) find themselves magically transported to the fantastical world of Playmobil. While there, they encounter robots, Vikings, knights, pirates and other colourfully amusing characters. When Charlie winds up in the clutches of an evil emperor, however, Maria joins forces with a bumbling secret agent and an adventurous truck driver to rescue her beloved sibling.
Warrior Women with Lupita Nyong'o
Monday, 3 August on BBC Earth (DStv Channel 184) at 19:00
Oscar-winning Lupita Nyong’o discovers the Warrior Women’s incredible secrets. In this immersive TV documentary, the actress journeys across Benin, West Africa to uncover the remarkable truth behind the women who helped to inspire the Dora Milaje of Marvel’s film Black Panther. While venturing on a deep, emotional road trip, Lupita discovers that an army of African female fighters existed in West Africa and are still remembered there as the ‘Agoji'—or as Europeans labeled them, the 'Amazons'.
Briarpatch S1
Monday, 3 August on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) at 22:00
A surreal crime drama starring Rosario Dawson, that promises to keep you hooked in the lead up to a classic finale. Based on the Ross Thomas novel of the same name, ‘Briarpatch’ follows Allegra Dill (Dawson), a dogged investigator who returns to her border-town home in San Bonifacio, Texas. What begins as a search for her sister's killer turns into an all-consuming fight to bring the corrupt town to its knees.
