Preparations for Shungu Dzemoyo, an epic series set in the pre-colonial Zimbabwe are at an advanced staged with the production team already with shooting season one.
The season, a brainchild of heartbroken youths who were tired of the exploitative nature of local film-makers and producers, touches on struggles encountered by two orphans who lose their parents at the hands of a king.
Speaking to 263Chat, film director and script supervisor Brighton Mapfumo said besides immortalizing locals of their roots, Shungu Dzemoyo (Grieving Heart) also seeks to reprieve the abuse of the girl-child.
“As people continue to modernize chances of ignoring our traditional roots are quite high and so we decided to take it upon ourselves to remind our fellow generation of where we came from with this epic setting. Shungu Dzemoyo also seeks to protect the girl-child whom people abuse while hiding behind culture when in actual fact it is for selfish gains,” he said.
The series entails of, “Tavonga (a young boy) and Netsai (the sister), who are left in the custody of a stepmother after the King executes their parents on unfounded allegations of witchcraft.
“Left in the hands of a ruthless stepmother, Netsai is betrothed to Marova, an old man thereby triggering Tavonga’s wrath. In trying to find solace, he embarks on a cross-country journey in search of his father’s relatives who live far away. The journey brings to him a bagful of unwanted turmoil, hunger, arrest, forced labor, and despair.
“He comes across king Chidya, a very cruel and no-nonsense man who has a daughter, Revai, with a soft spot for Tavonga. King Chidya’s neighbor, King Gwenure, is into practicing black magic and the two kings make life unbearable for Tavonga.”
Shungu Dzemoyo has a cast of 97 people with its shoot locations in Domboshava. The target launch date is April 2019.
