Genesis cast members let the media and fans into their set world

News24

05-06-2025

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Genesis is produced by Singavision Productions, and it airs on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161).
Cast members of the show include veteran actors such as Buyile Mdladla, Baby Cele, KB Motsilanyane and Sibongile Nojila.
MultiChoice recently invited the media and some fans to the show's set.
It is always interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes during the making of our favourite television shows. Recently, we visited the world of the Gigabas, and the Sedibengs on their Genesis set in Gauteng.
The telenovela that took over from My Brother's Keeper from April is all about the world of gospel music. It follows Felicia Thabethe (played by Baby Cele) who built an empire, Genesis Records, with her late husband Muzi Thabethe. She later married Gabriel Gigaba (played by Buyile Mdladla) who joined the family business.
The couple is faced with secrets and betrayals, including Gabriel's hidden child with the record label's superstar, Mmarona (played by Gaosi Raditholo). The truth only came out after the child's death while Felicia's son, Bonko (portrayed by Nay Maps Maphalala) was in preparation to marry Mmarona. Gabriel also has an affair with one of the record label's board members.
Through all the betrayal, Felicia tries to keep the secrets to protect the family empire, while Gabriel tries to push her out of the business. Within all the mess, Wendy Sedibeng (Keabetswe Motsilanyane) tries by all means to ensure that her daughter, Mmarona, marries into the Gigaba family so that she would be her ticket out of poverty.
The media and ten DStv Rewards winners had an early call time as we joined the cast and crew of the show. We were taken on a tour of the gigantic house that is used for the Gigabas, and just a few metres away from it was the house used for the Sedibengs.
Speaking to City Press during the tour, former 7de Laan actress Motsilanyane said she had not thought she would be able to pull off the toxic mother character; she was grateful to the producers and other crew members for the support.
She said that, when she saw the make-up, wigs and clothes Wendy would wear, she fell in love with her.
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The Mzansi Magic and DStv Rewards teams invited us to witness the hard work that goes into the making of Genesis 😁 We caught all the behind the scenes action, and loved every minute of being on set with the cast and crew. Watch the full video on our YouTube channel: City Press #genesismzansi #mzansimagic #dstvrewards #genesismzansimagic
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'I feel like I've been lucky, because if they had allowed me to chicken out of it, I would have,' she said.
The songstress said, deep into the character, she found her fun, but sometimes she would cry on her way home because of the character's stunts. The reception from viewers had been humbling, because Wendy was relatable.
Wendy has two daughters, but she cannot stand the eldest because she was unemployed.
The number one rule about any character you play is that you have to be an advocate for them. Even though, as a person, you don't share the same principles, once you get into character, you have to agree with this person 100%. I allow myself to just get into that space. It takes a lot of preparation and work.
KB Motsilanyane
It was interesting to see the results of the thoughts and hard work the wardrobe and make-up departments put into bringing each character to life. We were taken through mood boards for each character and how the colours of the clothes must represent the status and emotions the person is going through in a particular episode.
Seeing one scene being done over and over again to get the perfect one made us understand why our actors are fighting tooth and bail for the Performers' Protection Amendment Bill as well as the Copyright Amendment Bill. They really have to get those royalities, because the dedication and passion are a beauty to witness.
Maphalala said moving from Umkhokha: The Curse and having to strip down Mkhululi to make way for Bonko had not been too hard because he could relate to both the characters, and it was exciting for him. The only difference was the types of churches.
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One of the executive producers of the show, Sinini Nyathi-Mati, who worked with veteran producer Duma Ndlovu on almost all his shows, said now that she was wearing the boss hat, she understood why Duma would often say he had hardly slept.
Nyathi-Mati has served other executive producers for 20 years in the industry. She said, although one could never be fully ready for the position, it was nice to experience it. She told City Press that she had learnt to pay her dues.
'We started developing Genesis a year ago because the development was intense. We had to go all out with the research and speak to gospel artists, fallen heroes of the gospel industry and successful people. That we are now here as executive producers is a humbling experience. We are improving the story every day, so we hope people will love the show,' she said.
Kagiso Mogale, who met Nyathi-Mati on Stained Glass TV's eHostela, also wrote some of Ndlovu's shows, including Umkhokha: The Curse and My Brother's Keeper, is now the executive producer and head writer of Genesis.
Some of the show's cast members include Kealeboga Masango, Sibongile Nojila, Josias Moleele, Kaabo-Ya-One Mokhine and Craig Nobela, to name but a few.
Produced by Singavision Productions, Genesis airs on Monday to Friday on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) at 7.30pm.