Blood Psalms is an epic, action-packed fantasy series set in Africa a thousand years after the fall of Atlantis. The first season introduces the houses of Kemet (now Egypt) comprised of the Akachi, the Uchawi, the Ku’ua, the Chini and Great Nziwemabwe who are beset with fears surrounding a coming apocalypse.
It's epic first trailer promises full-fledged fantasy and action-adventure, conjuring up the majesty of Black Panther with the scale and multi-faction storytelling of Game of Thrones. Shot in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and North West provinces, Blood Psalms combines some of South Africa's most picturesque backdrops with detailed wardrobe and visual effects to create an otherworldly tale of ancient mythology.
The series comes from creators Layla Swart and Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, the dynamic filmmakers behind the intense South African Oscar selection as well as SAFTA and AMMA award-winning boxing drama, Knuckle City. Qubeka's films have screened across the globe and include: Of Good Report, Sew the Winter to My Skin and the short, Stillborn. Blood Psalms draws on elements from "a multitude of African mythologies and looks at various different tribes" says Swart.
According to Nomsa Philiso, executive head: programming at MultiChoice, "“Blood Psalms is the biggest and most ambitious series we’ve ever made". Blood Psalms was "created as a reimagining of ourselves as Africans" says series lead Bokang Phelane, "done in a very entertaining way, with a lot of drama and action". Having worked with actors who inspired Phelane to pursue acting, this was a chance for the ensemble to act with dialogue purely in African languages, a challenge considering how often English forms part of the mix.
The stellar and burgeoning ensemble includes: Bongile Mantsai (Knuckle City), Hamilton Dlamini (Five Fingers For Marseilles), Hlubi Mboya (Dora's Peace), S’dumo Mtshali (iNumber Number), Siv Ngesi (DAM), Thishiwe Ziqubu (Hard to Get), and Warren Masemola (The Republic), as well as SAFTA nominees Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (Rockville), Niza Jay (The Wound), Richard Lukunku (Back of the Moon), Sello Maake kaNcube (The Herd), Thando Thabethe (Reyka), Thembekile Komani (Knuckle City) and Zikhona Sodlaka (The Wife).
As if the cast of Blood Psalms couldn't get any better... it's rounded off by Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) nominee Faniswa Yisa (Knuckle City, DAM) and film and TV stars such as Faith Baloyi (Flatland), Lemogang Tsipa (Shaka Ilembe), and Thabo Rametsi (Kalushi, Silverton Siege).
The Showmax and CANAL+ co-production is set to open MIP Africa where it will have its world premiere in Cape Town on 24 August before unleashing weekly episodes on Showmax from 28 September.
