#Pamela nomvete

[avengersome]

Samuel West - The War Doctor Rises: Morbius the Mighty (behind the scenes for Big Finish)

Samuel West, Pamela Nomvele & Gareth Armstrong - The War Doctor Rises: Morbius the Mighty (behind the scenes for Big Finish)

[ddesole]

ANDOR 1.12 “Rix Road”  

[andorshitdaily]

Character Appreciation Friday - Jezzi

Name: Jezzi Played by: Pamela Nomvete Appearances: One Way Out, Daughter of Ferrix, Rix Road

Happy Friday, y'all! This Character Appreciation Friday is for celebrating Cassian's favorite gay aunt family. Tell me what you love about the one and only Jezzi!

Next week: Taga!

[thecastingcircle]

The 21st century has ushered in a new era of super heroes across film, TV and comics. Now, Netflix viewers are introduced to the tech-fueled young African heroines of Supa Team 4 in the brand-new official trailer. Premiering on July 20, the stylish CG action-comedy is created by Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema, who originally pitched the concept to Cape Town studio Triggerfish during an open call for African creators.

Synopsis: Four teen girls living in the neo-futuristic African city of Lusaka are recruited by a retired secret agent still committed to saving the world… even if it’s on a budget. In their journey from school girls tackling homework to undercover superheroes fending off supervillains, they’re transformed from a motley crew of friends into Supa Team 4!

Supa Team 4 features the voices of Zowa Ngwira (Mpali), Namisa Mdlalose (Bypass), Kimani Arthur (Shimmer and Shine, Nella the Princess Knight), Nancy Sekhokoane (Abraham Lincoln, The Woman King), Pamela Nomvete (Andor, Gangs of London) and John MacMillan (House of the Dragon, The Great).

The series is produced by Ciara Breslin, CAKE Entertainment and Triggerfish, with animation provided by Superprod Animation Studio. Executive producers are Anthony Silverston, Mike Buckland, Tom van Waveren, Edward Galton and Amy Keating Rogers.

Sharp eyed readers should remember when we posted about this when it was called "Momma K's Supa Team".

[historyhermann]

Supa Team 4 Season 2 Spoiler-Filled Review

Supa Team 4 is a computer-generated superhero action-comedy series. Malenga Mulendema is the series creator and co-executive producer. Trigger Fish Animation Studios, known for the recent animated series Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes, and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, and various television specials and films. The first season was released in July 2023.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the sixty-second article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on January 14, 2024.

The second season picks up where the first one left off. The four protagonists (Temwe Chiti, Komana Mwinga, Zikomo "Zee" Phiri, and Monde Wamunyima) are trapped in an abandoned mine. They are confronted by Bad Magz (voiced by John McMillian) and fellow villain Prof. Greenthumbs (voiced by Abena Ayivor), with the former angry they keep ruining his plans. Mama K (voiced by Pamela Nomvete) can't get in touch with Team 4 and thinks the Principal Nkwashi (voiced by voiced by Abubakar Salim) is up to something, until he admits he only wants to help Temwe (voiced by Kimani Arthur). The heroes use makeshift weapons and detain Prof. Greenthumbs. Mama K helps them escape, but not before Bad Magz photographs the van. Later, his assistant Ms. Prudent confirms that Zambinite was there. He is intrigued by the ring on Mama K's hand. And that's only the first episode!

The kidnapping of the four protagonists impacts all of them. It may have heightened Temwe's jealously toward Zee (voiced by Nancy Sekhokoane). The latter results in them "switching places," so they can recognize each other's struggles. There is no doubt that the kidnapping deeply impacted Komana (voiced by Zowa Ngwira). Later, she is comforted by Monde (voiced by Namisa Mdlalose). More directly, photographic analysis causes Bad Magz to track down Chi (voiced by Chi Mhende), a blind man who is Mama K's comrade, and snatch a computer, blueprints, and disc, even as he lets Chi flee. Also, this episode shows Temwe and Zee sympathizing with each other's struggles. That's something you don't always see in TV series.

Bad Magz is one of the most devious villains. His public form, Lee Magadzee, is outwardly an African nationalist who wants to return power to "the people." Later, he flirts with Monde's sister, Likando (voiced by Chipo Chung), who holds him to his promise to end load shedding. Putting aside his somewhat developed hacking skills, he can be harsh toward his subordinates. For instance, Alley Gator (voiced by Yinka Awoni), finds the Zambinite for him. However, Alley Gator wants to be with Prof. Greenthumbs instead.

The actions of Team 4, in Supa Team 4, are reactive. They resembling the Pretty Cure in the franchise of the same name. Team 4 fight villains, save people from sinkholes (called by Ally Gator), and promise to support one another. They don't face the one behind everything. Bad Magz is not a villain equivalent of Bell in Power of Hope: PreCure Full Bloom, a mysterious guardian angel who traveled back in time to prevent a town from being destroyed by humanity. The consequences of his actions matter little to him. He agrees to freeze Zambinite because it is combustible. This mineral gives off a bad smell before energy is extracted. He ignores Pro. Greenthumbs before she points out the hazardous and toxic waste byproduct.

Bad Magz's harsh managerial techniques bleed over into his feelings for others. In the fifth episode, he plans to go on a date with Komana's sister, Likando, which the girls of Team 4 are happy for. But he stands her up! This makes her suspicious of him (she only knows him in his public persona of Lee), and his secrets, and mysteries. She even points out that secrets, like those of powerful people, always get out. This causes Komana to investigate and discover that Storm Drain (voiced by Ashley Zhangazha) is freezing the Zambinite.

Komana is the first one, of Team 4, to be openly suspicious of Bad Magz's public persona. Monde refuses to believe her. Likando's love of Lee causes her to assist him, throwing her logic out the window. This directly parallels Click. He is unhealthily obsessed with Temwe after the third episode. Clearly, the lesson is that obsession with other people can cause you to lose sight of what is important. Later in Supa Team 4, this all comes to a head, for Bad Magz, Komana, and Team 4.

Bad Magz sees everyone as toys to be manipulated. He says gaining control of the Mayor will be "automatic" with Likando's trust. In his public persona of Lee, he promotes "Magz Power" as the "solution" to the power cuts in Lusaka. He claims it will end load shedding and blackouts. He challenges his scholarship recipients to sign up, as many people as possible, for his Magz Power system, saying those who bring back the most signatures get an internship at his corporation. This too-good-to-be-true presentation makes Komana a willing pawn in his scheme. She is unaware that this power source has toxic waste as a byproduct (conveniently not mentioned by Lee). She sees the internship as a way to advance her own career.

The sixth episode is one of the best in Supa Team 4. There's a parallel between Komana's dad suffering from asthma and Lee turning on his "alternate energy source" which fills Lusaka with light. In one case, he is suffering from a chronic health condition. In the latter, Lee is hiding the truth behind an action which casts him as a "savior." Whether he is directly aware of it or not, he is responsible for Alley Gator dumping toxic waste, from Zambinite processing. Written by Gloria Huweiler, and directed by Valentina Ventimiglia, this episode is outwardly cynical of demagogues. While people in the crowd chant "power to the people," Bad Magz thinks of ways to gain more power for himself. Undoubtedly, he is worse than Huey Long.

The final two episodes raise the stakes. In the first of these episodes, Komana abandons Team 4 so she can work for Lee, distressing her teammates. The remaining heroes put together the pieces. Without a doubt, they are worried about the people of Lusaka. People are coughing, scratching themselves, have rashes, and inflammation in eyes. As a result, everyone is leaving because they are sick, in what looks to be a commentary on COVID-19. This is more direct than the "missing" episode of Cleopatra in Space, entitled "Quarantine".

In episode seven, Komana wants to warn Lee about toxic waste from the Zambinite. She is shocked out of her role as a willing pawn. She learns that he lied about his past. As a result, she comes to the conclusion he is behind everything. This happens at the same time as Mama K. She sees Bad Magz in front of her before he kidnaps her. In a parallel development, the girls decide to bust into his corporation. Likando agrees to give the contract (which gives Lee full rights to the city's electric grid) to Lee personally.

In the final episode, the girls fight against Prof. Greenthumbs (and her monster). Mama K and Chi are in Lee's office. Mama K calls him a "monster" and "worse than a villain." The truth is finally revealed. His mother was in the Intelligence Agency of Zambia. His real name is Limbani. He claims that Mama K "made him" who is is today. Elsehwere, Monde reveals her hero identity for the first time to someone other than her fellow teammates: to her sister Likando. Both agree to talk about her hero identity later.

He is confronted by Team 4. They demand he turn off his power source, saying it is hurting city residents. Instead of listening to Team 4, he ignores them and continues his own agenda. He blames Mama K for causing the memory of his mother, Towela, to be erased. Following this, he places the device on Mama K's head, allowing him to access her memories. While they are horrified, Team 4 can do nothing. It is only when the memory showing Towela was mind-wiped by Chusi that he realizes his mistake. He uses the same device to restore his mom's memories. She recognizes Chi and Mama K and tearfully embraces Lee. Following this touching scene, Likando rightly punches Lee (for being a lying jerk). She has the police arrest him.

Of course, this is not the end. In a strange juxtaposition, Prof. Greenthumbs' ZambiMonster causes a cave-in, and captures Komana. I found it awkward to have this after an emotional moment which could bring you to tears. In any case, Lee shows that he is not fully a villain. To the chagrin of Prof. Greenthumbs, he saves Komana (he recognizes her voice) after Greenthumbs' monster explodes. He frames his next steps as an attempt to amend his past wrongs. He says he will do whatever he can to fix things. In a coded manner, he hopes that Komana's spirits aren't dampened. However, no one believes his declaration at face value.

In many ways, Lee's declaration is one of restorative justice. Traditional / retributive justice systems are clearly stated throughout this series. They are symbolized by police arresting villains and keeping them behind bars. Surely, there are laws that have been broken, villains who broke the laws, and methods for punishment of said lawbreakers. Lee is attempting to repair the harm caused. He knows who has been harmed and how he can repair or address those harms. In response to one of the key questions of restorative justice ("who should address or repair the harms?"), that person is clearly Lee.

Lee will likely face criminal punishment for what he did and may face his victims. He is on the road to understanding the impact of his actions on other people, taking responsibility for his actions, comprehending how he harmed people, and behaving with basic respect for others. It would allow him to become a better person. This would make Supa Team 4 one of the few series which depicts restorative justice principles, apart from Steven Universe.

The episode ends with her teammates showing their camaraderie for each other. They comfort Komana. Everyone supposedly has a "happily ever after." The villains are locked up. The corrupt mayor is arrested. Likando runs to become the next mayor of Lusaka on an anti-corruption agenda. Komana's device makes the city's energy clean, and green. It runs on Zambinite but does not produce toxic waste. The episode closes with all of them meet at headquarters where they welcome Komana back. Mama K boldly says everyone is worthy of redemption (not sure this is entirely true). Chi says that Lee is trying to right his wrongs.

I also liked that in this series, characters such as Marjory (voiced by Celine Tshika) appear to be on the road to villains. She blames everyone for ruining her party (including Team 4), and causing well-known performers, like Click, to depart. The fourth episode emphasizes this. She said she disliked Team 4, even though they saved her, and harshly commanded the majorette team. Everyone else on the team picked Monde as captain instead. This left Marjory, under a lot of pressure from Principal Nkwashi, behind.

Although Monde comes up with a new routine, she tells her fellow teammates that even though Marjory bullies them, it isn't right to bully her back. The episode ends with Monde and Marjory, having a heart-to-heart about working together as a team, and they use this to take down the hypnotizing rapper, Snap Back (voiced by Sne Dladla) and saving them all. Marjory later apologizes to Team 4.

There is the possibility of a third season. In a final scene of the episode, Chusi says he is back, after 20 years. He declares he wants Lusaka to burn. He fades away, into the smoke. It is a bit of a cliffhanger, akin to the scene with the Triumverate in High Guardian Spice, a series which should receive a second season. A second season may focus on fighting with Chusi and Lee's attempts to rebuild the city from the damage he caused. Perhaps it could resemble the aftermath-of-victory concept that is present in Steven Universe Future, where the protagonists have no villains to fight, but are trying to make the world (and universe) better.

Although I liked this series, my enthusiasm was severely dampened, as compared to season one. It came at a bad time. Other anime series such as I'm in Love with the Villainess (ended on December 19), Kizuna no Allele (ended on December 21), Spy x Family (ended December 23), Stardust Telepath (ended on December 25), and The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess (ended on December 30), were ending. This series seemed too compressed. It should have been longer.

I wish 1-2 episodes were released weekly rather than a huge episode dump on December 21. This method makes clear that Netflix cares little about the creators, fans, or anyone else who worked on Supa Team 4. Furthermore, the binge model itself is a detriment to creativity itself. It encourages crunch conditions to complete series. If two episodes had been released a week, Supa Team 4 could have finished by January 11. If one episode had released a week, it could have finished by February 8. That would have been preferable.

Supa Team 4 can be streamed on Netflix.

© 2023-2024 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[picolin]

Coriolanus

by Willam Shakespeare

dir. Lindsey Turner

2024年9月28日 NT Olivier

リンジー・ターナー演出、デヴィッド・オイェロウォがタイトルロールを演じる。

美術はベネディクト・カンバーバッチの 『ハムレット』 でもターナーと組んでいたエズ・デブリン。一見巨大な立方体が舞台上に載っているように見えるが、実はいくつもの柱の集合体になっており、場面によって一部が上がったり全部が競り上がることで大小の部屋を作り分ける。時折ローマの遺物が博物館のように配置される。戦争シーンはヘリの音がする割には直接の殺陣は剣と盾によって行われ、衣装共々ちょっと中途半端かもしれない。シーンによっては立方体の表面にライブもしくは録画の画像が投影されるが、カメラワークそのものに工夫があるわけではないのでやや古臭く見える。

オイェロウォはさすがの説得力で、百��錬磨の軍人から本人の意思に反して合わない政治家になり、護民官に煽動された民衆の扱いに戸惑いついには嫌うことになる、間違った時に間違った場所にいてしまった人物という解釈が大変にしっくりくる。妻の存在をかなり削った一方で母ヴォルムーニア（Pamela Nomvete）は堂々としており、特に後半の懇願シーンでは泣き叫んだりせずに一貫して滔々と息子を説得する演出でとてもよかった。このプロダクションが発表されたのは今年の春なのだが、政権交代後に実務家が首相に就任し、あまり人気が上がらない中で富豪の支援者との関係を問われている現状下でこの作品を見るのは大変に奇妙な気分になったことを書き記しておく。

[blackfemmecharacterdependency]

All the Black Femmes || Avenue 5

Edited to add Season 2

[scenesandscreens]

Sometimes in April (2005)

Director - Raoul Peck, Cinematography - Eric Guichard

"Yes, is April again... Every year in April the raining season starts. And every year, every day in April... The haunting emptiness descends over our hearts. Every year in April, i remember how quickly life ends. Every year, i remember how lucky i should feel to be alive. Every year in April... I remember."

[mandisa-dizz]

I C O N S 

[aprokopage]

Pamela Nomvete Biography - Date of Birth, Husband

Pamela Nomvete Biography – Date of Birth, Husband

Veteran Ethiopian actress Pamela Nomvete popularly known for Coronation Street (1960), Sometimes in April (2005) and Zulu Love Letter (2004). She recently joined a new season of #Lockdown on MzansiMagic. Plays prison governor ‘Deborah’ READ: Mulatu Teshome Biography

She got married to Collins Marimbe in August 23, 2002.

[capetownpeople]

Locked down with Pamela Nomvete: Getting to know the veteran actress - Pamela Nomvete has revealed that as much as the lockdown period has treated her well, it has also affected her career…

[hairstylishe]

A first look at Sophie Lichaba in Lockdown

A first look at Sophie Lichaba in Lockdown

  We finally have a first look at actress Sophie Lichaba‘s character in prison drama, Lockdown season 5. This comes three months after the star joined the SAFTA award-winning show. The star joins the show’s star-studded cast which includes Dawn Thandeka King, Lorcia Cooper, Pamela Nomvete and Linda Sebezo.

  Sophie shared a little bit about her role saying in part, “Palesa’s a broken woman who’s…

[fromhouseleft]

Growing Diversity Amidst a Parliamentary Vote

It seemed fitting somehow to watch The Convert as British Parliament voted down Theresa May’s Brexit deal last night. Set in what is now Zimbabwe just as British imperialists began a nearly 100-year colonial rule, the play focuses on Chilton (Paapa Essiedu) a black African attempting to convert his own people to Christianity and his protégé Ester (Letitia Wright) as she struggles to follow Jesus while watching the British destroy her people.

A mostly white audience sat in rapture at the Young Vic for three hours, as four educated Africans individually realized that no matter how smart or how well-versed in the Queen’s English they were, they would always be second class citizens.

Written by the multi-talented Danai Gurira (the actress of Black Panther fame), The Convert is a sweeping saga that questions faith, family, and what is right and wrong without ever choosing a side. On the surface, it’s a history lesson on a time and place rarely covered by the Western Canon, but it’s also more elemental. Gurira tackles impossible questions often reserved for theological debates: is there a grey area between good and evil? Does one bad deed beget another? What is redemption and who deserves to be redeemed?

She complicates the matter by engaging in a gendered conversation giving the strongest words to Ester, Mai Tamba (Pamela Nomvete), and Prudence (Luyanda Unami Lewis-Nyawo) during a time when women were still considered property by all races. As most contemporary works still struggle to portray strong female characters, it’s a pleasure to see so many dynamic women on stage at once. Much has been said about Wright’s performance as Ester and rightfully so; she is the play’s moral compass and the audience’s lens into an old world. Wright carries the play with grace and dignity, but Nomvete and Lewis-Nyawo shine just as bright, all three eclipsing any man on stage.

Ola Ince, another badass woman, directs The Convert with a vision that encompasses every corner of the theatre. Using light and shadow to punctuate a complicated story with a lot of historical nuance, Ince moves the action swiftly forward making a long play feel manageable. As with all plays at the Young Vic, the theatre-in-the-round offers certain challenges that could have been handled better. While the space allows for more natural movement, I spent more time staring at actors’ backs than I would have liked. While normally not an issue, the number of searing monologues mixed with the brilliance of the ensemble made me wish to see every moment on every actor’s face.

The Convert, revived from a production at The Gate last year, is part of  Kwame Kwei-Armah’s debut season as Artistic Director. He is making a major and welcomed statement with the production, which could be considered a niche play, but it seems to be paying off. On a cold Tuesday in the midst of one of the biggest Parliamentary votes in UK history, a line snaked out the door as people of all ages vied for a spot on the waitlist. It’s almost hard to imagine that this UK is the same as those voting to leave the European Union. Despite the standing ovation for The Convert and the growing diversity of work like it, the nay vote in Parliament is a painful a reminder that true equality is still a long way away.

[artsvark]

Renos chats to Mike Van Graan about Another One’s Bread

Tune in to Saturday’s Role With Reno: O Rolos Tou Savattou Me Ton Reno, Saturday mornings on The New Pan Hellenic Voice – Greek Community Radio 1422MW from 8am to 11am

On Saturday morning’s edition of Saturday’s Role With Reno, host Renos Spanoudes spoke to Mike Van Graan about Another One’s Bread.

Mike van Graan

Another One’s Bread.

The complex dynamics of food insecurity, nutrition and hunger will play out on stage at the Market Theatre from 10 January in a new theatre production written by renowned South African playwright, Mike van Graan (When Swallows Cry), and directed by award-winning veteran TV actress, Pamela Nomvete.

Another One’s Bread

Described by Van Graan as “a dark comedy about funerals, feeding and faking”, Another One’s Bread serves up the complexities associated with acquiring food and nutrition using humour, fact and the downright outrageous.

Commissioned by the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE), the play explores various themes related to hunger in the context of the relationships between four women, (a retired teacher, an estate agent, a writer and an unemployed youth). What keeps these disparate women from Khayelitsha together is their membership of ‘The Substitutes’, a group of professional mourners, hired to provide mourning or mourning-related services at funerals.

Listen to Renos’ interview with Mike Van Graan here:

Tune in to Saturday’s Role With Reno: O Rolos Tou Savattou Me Ton Reno, Saturday mornings on The New Pan Hellenic Voice – Greek Community Radio 1422MW from 8am to 11am

Renos chats to Mike Van Graan about Another One’s Bread was originally published on Artsvark

[historyhermann]

Supa Team 4 Spoiler-Filled Review

Supa Team 4 is a computer-generated superhero action-comedy series. Malenga Mulendema is the series creator and co-executive producer. Trigger Fish Animation Studios, known for the recent animated series Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, and various television specials and films.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the forty-fifth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on August 21, 2023.

This series shows its Zambian roots from the get-go, beginning in Zambia's capital, Lusaka. A reporter, Geoffrey (voiced by Sne Dladla) talks about a mysterious tornado striking the city. Former secret agent Mama K (voiced by Pamela Nomvete) brings together all the protagonists. They include a gutsy and agile girl with hair parted into two box-like sections named Temwe Chiti (voiced by Kimani Arthur) who is a bit of a juvenile delinquent" and troublemaker; a smart, organized, and creative techy girl named Komana Mwinga (voiced by Zowa Ngwira); a brainy, industrious, athletic, and tall girl named Zikomo "Zee" Phiri (voiced by Nancy Sekhokoane); and a physically strong, calm, and wise girl with an afro tied at the top named Monde Wamunyima (voiced by Namisa Mdlalose). Each has their own superhero names. Temwe is T-Mlilo, Komana is K-Bongo, Zee is Za-Mpezi, and Monde is M-Kozo.

In some ways, Supa Team 4 is like other teen superhero series in recent years (DC Super Hero Girls, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Young Justice) and classic series from the 2000s (Static Shock and My Life as a Teenage Robot). It comes at a time there are is growing number of Black animated series, like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, My Dad the Bounty Hunter, Craig of the Creek, Central Park, Iwájú (upcoming), Iyanu: Child of Wonder (upcoming), and Karma's World. The latter series ended in September 2022. There are indie animated series focusing on Black stories such as Defenders of Alodia, Jumbie, Captain Zero, LimeLight, and Diver: The Animated Series. Most are in development or on hiatus like Diver.

The difference with this series is that its stories are completely Zambian and said to be "something special for Zambians." Even so, it is relatable to everyone, like Kizazi Moto, a series primarily produced by the same animation studio. In both cases, the shows bode well for the development of the African animation industry. Supa Team 4, like Kizazi Moto, emphasizes the importance of family, Monde is close to her sister Marjory (voiced by Celine Tshika), sports (through Zee), and political corruption. City residents call for Mayor Sikazwe (voiced by Sne Dladla) to resign, which the villain exploits. Temwe's love of eating food may be relatable.

Like any other superhero series, there is a need for them to keep their real identities secret, even from those that they know well. This is accomplished through their transformation into superheroes wearing specialized super suits ala magical girl style. Unlike any other transformations I've seen, each transformation has upbeat music and a distinctive flair, making it stand apart.

All four girls are chosen after being watched for weeks. It echoes Jerry's reasoning for bringing in Sam, Alex, and Clover in Totally Spies! or "choosing" the Mew Mews  in Tokyo Mew Mew New. Different from that series, Mama K lets the girls choose whether to be superheroes. The girls in that series were experimented on without their consent and forced into the superhero role. In this series, the girls have gadgets to entrap and defeat villains. Temwe's ribbon wand reminds me of Mega Pearl's weapon in Steven Universe Future or Cure Parfait's rainbow ribbon in Pretty Cure.

There is one other similarity between Tokyo Mew Mew New and Supa Team 4: the importance of preserving the environment. Komana builds a carbon-capture machine in the first episode, allowing her to capture a tornado. She receives a scholarship from Lee Magedzee (voiced by John McMillian), owner of a local energy company, Magedzee Power Corporation (MPC). He is impressed by her portable invention. It purifies carbon dioxide into safe carbon-based fuels. He later praises her solar-powered "smart art" that can charge phones and other devices.

Having an A.I. like T.O.M.I. (voiced by Thabe Ntebe), otherwise known as Technical Operations Management Interface, is not unique. Other series have featured A.I. as well. This A.I. is not a be-all-end-all. It is only one of the tools they use against villains, such as Storm Drain, Locus Pocus, Snap Back, Alley-Gator, Trash Man, Otherwise, I liked the role of Mama K's goat, Chomps (voiced by Gary Martin) throughout the series. It is even revealed that he is a secret agent!

Through the series, there is a push-and-pull of responsibilities to family and school. Temwe manifests this by her often run-ins with the school principal, Nkwashi (voiced by Abubakar Salim), who has it out for her. She gets suspended when Nkwashi thinks her ribbon wand might hurt someone. She later learns how to use her "hangry power" during battles rather than provoking Nkwashi's ire during the school day.

The series encourages viewers to believe Nkwashi is the shadowy villain, Bad Magz (voiced by John McMillian). There are hints. He has files on every student at Kamiji Secondary School. In the final episode, Temwe thinks that Nkwashi vanished like smoke. She is convinced he is the villain, after he declares she can't volunteer with Mama K (cover for their secret activities) if she fails a chemistry test. The girls don't buy her hair-brained explanation.

The series opening, first shown when the second episode begins, makes each episode pop. While the series music is by Ben Onono. Sampa the great does the theme music, in collaboration with Mag 44. It has to be one of the best opening sequences that I've seen in some time, and I watch a lot of anime series.

Following the first episode, Supa Team 4 turns to subjects like nanotech. The team reverse engineers some nanotech locusts for their own purposes. The obsession with popularity, homesickness (in the case of Monde and Marjory), garbage/rubbish collection, vlogging, value of art, education, and mind control are other topics. In the first half of the series, the villain is a shadowy figure not unlike the character of the same name in OK K.O.: Let's Be Heroes!. But, this person is more malicious.

He wants everyone in the city to lose electric power. This leads to random power cuts (load shedding) to compensate for electric energy loss after the hydroelectric dam is damaged. This allows Lee Magedzee to step in, declaring his wind farm will be upgraded and generate more electricity. At the same time, the villain exploits anger against the mayor for his own benefit. All the while, people hanker for more solar power.

Mama K has her own secrets. Formerly, she headed a crime-fighting team at the Intelligence Agency for Zambia (IAZ) and had the code name of Mkango. She, a computer expert named Rhino/Chipembele/Uncle Chi and a confidante (and inventive genius) named Towela, worked to bring down Chusi.

Even worse, this villain steals top-secret information, uploading the information to his mind, and destroys the original documents. As a result, the government didn't have access to their own intelligence! This ends sadly. Chusi used their device, the Brainstorm, to wipe the memories of Towela. It gives her amnesia. He also blinds Chi. Mama K is alone. The four protagonists cheer her up, convincing her they can all take down Chusi, also known as Bad Magz, together.

The Supa Team 4 season one finale blows everything wide open. Chusi gets, thanks to Professor Greenthumbs, some of the tech that Team 4 is using. Principal Nkwashi says that his own goal is to help Temwe. He is worried that she will become like him. He was a feisty and spirited kid who lacked focus. The four team members follow a Baobab tree to an abandoned mine. Greenthumbs deactivates their super suits, takes away their weapons, and pulls them into an underground lair! The biggest reveal is not that Nkwashi isn't the villain, but that Chusi is Lee Magedze!

This unexpected twist shows how devious the writers and animators were, leading the audience to believe that the Principal was the villain. The fact that Lee Magedze is the villain means he has the duality of being a Black leader who is trying to increase people's power and trying to take it away. My prediction is that he will attempt to unseat the mayor. The citizens would elect him if he ran on a Black empowerment platform. Once in office, he will have even more power, as the villain and the mayor.

There are reports that Supa Team 4 will have at least 25 episodes. In fact, the Director of Production at Triggerfish Animation Studios, Mike Buckland, confirmed a second season, writing "hold your breath for Season 2, because it just gets better from here." Such a season will undoubtedly continue to center on African stories, without any White characters, and remain relatable to Black girls and Zambians. The series may lean more into romance as well, as Zee's friend, Chipo Hamoonga (voiced by Daniel "KStar" Lyapa), has a crush on her, and a boy has a crush on Temwe.

Furthermore, the series may influence more Africans to tell their stories through animation, as they may see themselves, and their experiences represented, even as some Zambians claimed the character accents weren't authentic. Supa Team 4 is indicative of how collaboration is important in Africa, as the animation industry deals with many challenges, that "anyone from anywhere can be a superhero," and the great storytelling traditions on the continent. At the same time, I'm glad that the series was renamed from the original title ordered in 2019, Mama K's Team 4, as the current title makes the less about Mama K and more about the team.

Significantly, the series is dubbed in isiZulu. Mama K voiced by Linda Sokhulu. Many of the same voice actors re-appear. This dub promotes accessibility to a new audience. It provides the opportunity for people within South Africa, and other areas where Zulu is spoken, to connect with the characters within the series.

I find it funny that some complain about threats and violence in this series, since that is common in animation. Such complaints make the series appear more mature than the reality. It is more accurate to say Supa Team 4 is an all-ages series full of adventure, action, and humor, with a diverse cast. In addition, it defies oft-stereotypes of Africa. Others reported that the series draws visual inspiration from hip-hop girls groups and retro 1990s R&B groups. Malcolm Wope, an artist from Cameroon, does the visual design. The series has distinct characters, a real world but futuristic setting, while working through the girls' interpersonal issues.

Despite calls by Morrow for sharing the show, which she called a "project of passion," there is little chatter about the series on Reddit, and only one mature fanfiction written on July 30. There is more chatter on X/Twitter, with one account even as an unofficial fan page. Furthermore, on Tumblr, fans praised the show's animation, described the series as relatable, cute, have listed LGBTQ+ headcanons, drew fan art, and liked the magical girlesque transformations of the four protagonists. There may be chatter on other platforms, like Mastodon servers, but I am not personally aware of it.

Like they do with many series these days, Netflix did the fans of Supa Team 4 a disservice. All eight episodes dropped the same day on Netflix. While this makes it easy to binge the entire season, it creates a situation of catch-up among fans who run the risk of seeing spoilers on social media for episodes they haven't watched. This severly limits the possibility to discuss each episode without spoilers and can ruin pacing for a series. Netflix should have followed the model used for anime: dropping one episode each week. That would have allowed for more community to build around the show, than dropping it one day and moving on. It is irresponsible.

Although I wasn't familiar with series writers Ng'endo Mukii, Khadidiatou Diouf, Voline Ogutu, Maame Boateng, Omotunde Akiode, Tshepo Moche, or Gloria Huwiler, I knew of Vanessa Kanu. She directed the third episode/film of Kizazi Moto entitled "Moremi." It centered on the frailty of the human condition, family togetherness, and the value of one's soul.

Series director Dave Osburne, assistant director Tabitha O'Connell, production designer /art director Alessandro Chirico were names. I did not know series producer Ceri Barnes, head writer Amy Keating Rogers, and story editor Cindy Morrow either. Rogers worked on other girl-power series like The Powerpuff Girls and My Little Pony: Friendship. In addition, Osburne has worked on his share of animated series since the mid-1990s, as did O'Connell. At the same time, Chirico worked on Black Mirror, a series based upon The Twilight Zone. Barnes has been producer since the late 1990s.

For many voice actors, this may be their first voice role. Arthur previously voiced Willow in Nella the Princess Knight. MacMillan provided his voice for video game characters, as did Martin. Salim voiced Zanror in The Legend of Vox Machina. Animators have worked on series such as Kazazi Moto, Star Wars: Visions, and The Amazing World of Gumball, and films (Seal Team and Storks).

I excited to see where the series goes from here. Maybe Mama K will practice Nichiren Buddhism like her voice actor. Perhaps Zee will have Cuban roots like her voice actress or some of the main cast of Supa Team 4 will be queer. Looking through the social media of the protagonists, I am seriously doubting the latter.

In Zambia, same-sex sexual activity, for men and women, is illegal, a legal measure inherited from British control, and reportedly many queer people are closeted. Unfortunately, there is a slim chance for change. The Zambian High Court upheld acquittal of a human rights activist, who called for the country to recognize rights of sex workers and LGBTQ+ people, in 2013. However, a public opinion poll, released in 2010, indicated widespread disapproval of "homosexual behaviour."

Even so, the series is primarily produced in South Africa. After the end of apartheid, it outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation. Furthermore, it is the only African state to legalize same-sex marriage. In addition, there are legal protections for LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in employment and elsewhere. At the same time, the creators may want to avoid making the series controversial and won't have any queer relationships so the show can appeal to all Zambians.

Ultimately, I hope Supa Team 4 reaches new heights in season 2. Maybe it will pave the way for African animation in the Africanfuturist, superhero, comedy, adventure, action, and other genres.

Supa Team 4 can be streamed on Netflix.

© 2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[camploah]

It’s February which means that on the 14th of this month specifically, we must demonstrate to our significant others just how much we love them. Roll on all love everything; everywhere. Supermarkets offering cheap deals for obvious flowers (sorry roses). Then chocolate box collections reminding us of cheesy commercials mimicking daring MI6 spies (even sorrier Milk Tray!) – and let’s not forget the fizz leftover from Christmas, camouflaged in ‘hen-night-pink’ bubbles.

Television is an oasis of inspiration as we gaze through its lens for representations of love! Scheduling tends to give those of us for and against this whole one day of love thing, lots of options. Lots of favourite couples making or breaking it for TV Series drama. Or the abundance of classic RomComs for us to flick through. But for us black folks in Britain, on screen representations of love on this blessed day we call Valentines are conspicuous by their absence. We can’t help but look to North America as Black couples in its media are aplenty. Many of them are almost household names on mainstream TV. Black-ish, Atlanta, Insecure, Empire, Everybody Hates Chris, My Wife and Kids – and that’s without going too far into American TV history for examples (The Cosby Show anyone?).

But all’s not lost, we decided to forage into British TV history to find our favourite TV couples. We had to dig deep for examples (but we won’t go over the hoary details, that’s a rant for another day). So here’s to you, our British Blacklist Valentines, our list of what was promised, what was delivered and some of what happened in between.

In no particular order (or age of programming)… Enjoy.

Norman Beaton and Carmen Munroe in Desmond’s.

Rochelle and Marvin Humes, sometime presenters of daytime TV’s This Morning.

Angela Wynter and Rudolph Walker as Yolande and Patrick Trueman in EastEnders

Robbie Gee and Jo Martin as Roly and Natalie Crouch in The Crouches.

Richard Blackwood and Tameka Empson as Kim Fox and Vincent Hubbard again in EastEnders.

Sophie Okonedo and Adrian Lester in the acclaimed Undercover.

Norman Beaton and Corinne Skinner-Carter as Everton and Hortense Bennett in Empire Road.

Craig Charles and Pamela Nomvete as Lloyd Mullaney and Mandy Kamara for Coronation Street.

Babyfather – David Harewood as Gus who got loved-up with Angela Griffin’s Chantelle. Don Gilet as Johnny found himself entangled with Diane Parish’s Lesley and Petra Letang’s Pauline. Fraser James as Linvall and Wil Johnson as Beres.

Don Gilet and Diane Parish as EastEnders couple Denise Fox and Lucas Johnson.

Wale Ojo and Yetunde Oduwole as Meet The Adebanjos Bayo and Gladys Adebanjo.

Do you think we’ve missed any couples? Let us know who you think should be added to the list!

Black British TV couples list (cishet edition)