Deadline is reporting that Charmaine Bingwa, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Tony Kgoroge, Sindi Dlathu and Bahle Hadebe are the latest names to join the cast of epic drama series King Shaka at Showtime.

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King Shaka (formerly known as Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation) will centre around one man’s personal journey from stigmatised childhood to warrior king. Rooted in actual events, the series tells the story of Shaka, the founder of the Zulu Empire and his unlikely rise to power, uniting multiple tribes across vast stretches of southern Africa in the early 19th century to transform his power into legend. The outcast son of a Zulu Chief, Shaka is a visionary who is prophesied to become a king like none before him.

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Charmaine Bingwa (whose credits include The Good Fight and Black Box) will be playing the role of Isisa, a fierce and formidable warrior whose loyalty is thrown into question by a fateful encounter. Nkeki Obi-Melekwe (whose credits include short film Deleted and Bull) will be playing the role of the Locust Queen, the mysterious leader of a nomadic tribe of outcasts who uses her deep knowledge of the spiritual world to her advantage. Tony Kgoroge (whose credits include Invictus and Recipes for Love and Murder) will be playing the role of Chief Senzangakhona, the proud leader of the Zulu people who denies Shaka’s birthright. Sindi Dlathu (whose credits include The River and Muvhango) will be playing the role of Inyoni, a council leader and midwife. Bahle Hadebe will be making his debut as young Shaka.

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The series is written and created by Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika, who also serve as executive producers alongside Antoine Fuqua, Bridget Carpenter, Propagate’s Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Rodney Ferrell. King Shaka is set to commence production next month in the historic KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Africa province, the birthplace of King Shaka, and will be completely shot in South Africa. King Shaka is set to debut on Showtime in 2023.

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The new additions join a cast that includes Charles Babalola, Aïssa Maïga, Thando Dlomo, Thapelo Mokoena, Warren Masemola, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Mustafa Shakir, Terry Pheto and Lerato Mvelase.