Nomzamo Mbatha Shares First Look at ‘Shaka iLembe’ Season 3 as It Goes Global

Last Updated: October 2, 2026By Viwe Ntlebi

Nomzamo Mbatha has celebrated a major milestone for Shaka iLembe as the acclaimed South African historical drama prepares to make its international market debut, with StudioCanal taking the series to global television buyers.

The actress, who stars as Queen Nandi and also serves as an executive producer on the series, shared the news on X on 1 October, reposting an announcement about StudioCanal’s international rollout of Shaka iLembe: Zulu King.

“A dream come true,” Nomzamo wrote, adding a praying-hands emoji and the hashtag #ShakaILembe.

The announcement comes ahead of MIPCOM 2026 in Cannes, France, where StudioCanal will present the series to international buyers outside Africa for the first time. The distributor has also released a first look at Season 3, giving audiences a glimpse of the next chapter of the epic drama.

Produced by Bomb Productions for MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, Shaka iLembe tells the story of the rise of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona and the formation of the Zulu Kingdom through an isiZulu-language production created from an African perspective.

The series has already made its mark locally. Its first two seasons became DStv’s highest-rated drama series, while the show was the most-searched TV series in South Africa in 2023. It also holds the South African Film and Television Awards record for the most wins by a drama series in a single year, taking home 12 awards, including Best Drama Series.

Season 3 picks up four years after the events of the second season, with Shaka’s kingdom having established significant power across Southern Africa. However, the new season introduces fresh political pressure through British expansion and growing European influence.

The story will also expand beyond the Zulu kingdom, bringing the emerging Basotho Kingdom of Moshoeshoe, King Faku’s Mpondo Kingdom and the settlement of Port Natal into the narrative. Queen Nandi and Shaka’s aunt, Mkabayi, remain central to the story.

The third season also introduces new characters played by Lerato Mvelase, Aiden Scott, Conrad Kemp and Wonder Ndlovu. Lerato takes on the role of Queen Mpikase, while Scott plays Aiden trader Henry Francis Fynn, Kemp portrays Lt Francis Farewell and Ndlovu joins the cast as Prince Mpande.

Nomzamo has been part of the series both in front of and behind the camera, the international expansion represents another chapter for a production that has already achieved significant success at home.

“Shaka iLembe: Zulu King is proof of what African storytelling can achieve when it’s given the room to be ambitious, told at scale, and shared from the inside out,” Nomzamo said in comments released alongside the international announcement.

The actress also described portraying Queen Nandi as an honour and a career highlight, while highlighting the contribution the production has made to South Africa’s creative economy.

The international push follows the show’s existing reach across Africa. Its first two seasons have already been made available in Francophone Africa through CANAL+ Afrique/MAGIC, with 24 episodes from the first two seasons available to audiences in the region.

While StudioCanal is taking the franchise to international buyers at MIPCOM this month, sales for Season 3 are scheduled to begin at the London Screenings in 2027. A South African premiere date for the third season has not yet been announced.