''Generations'' was a South African
soap opera
A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
which first premiered on
SABC 1
SABC 1 is a South African public television network operated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) which carries programming in English and Nguni.
It was created in 1996, after the SABC restructured its television channels. SABC ...
in 1993. It was created and produced by Mfundi Vundla and aired weekdays at 20:00
UTC+2
UTC+02:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +02:00. In ISO 8601, the associated time would be written as 2020-11-08T23:41:45+02:00. This time is used in:
As standard time (year-round)
''Principal cities: Cairo, Pretoria, Cape ...
(
South African Standard Time
South African Standard Time (SAST) is the time zone used by all of South Africa as well as Eswatini and Lesotho. The zone is two hours ahead of UTC ( UTC+02:00) and is the same as Central Africa Time. Daylight saving time is not observed in e ...
) on
SABC 1
SABC 1 is a South African public television network operated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) which carries programming in English and Nguni.
It was created in 1996, after the SABC restructured its television channels. SABC ...
. Set against the backdrop of the
advertising industry The advertising industry is the global industry of public relation and marketing companies, media services and advertising agencies - largely controlled today by just a few international holding companies (WPP plc, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, Interpub ...
, this drama celebrated the hopes and dreams of South Africans who aspire to a better future.
The show received overwhelmingly positive reviews, being among the most-watched local
television show
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed betw ...
s throughout its long run. Production on the show stopped on 11 August 2014, when 16 principal actors began withholding their services following
wage
A wage is payment made by an employer to an employee for work done in a specific period of time. Some examples of wage payments include compensatory payments such as ''minimum wage'', '' prevailing wage'', and ''yearly bonuses,'' and remune ...
disputes, a cut of R500 million in
royalties and three-year extended
contract
A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tran ...
s.
From 30 September 2014 to 30 November 2014, the series was put on a highly publicized hiatus, following the dispute with 16 actors, who were fired from the show on 18 August 2014 after a week-long strike. Fans were urged not to watch the show in support of the 16 actors. The South African Audience Research Foundation confirmed that instead viewership increased from the usual seven million to 10 million viewers a night prior to the announcement of the subsequent sacking.
''Generations'' returned on 1 December 2014, rebranded as ''
Generations: The Legacy'', with some of the old cast members from the original series. The show received generally negative reviews and low ratings in its first week of airing, but the viewers warmed to the revamped show in the next couple of weeks following its return. When it returned in December 2014, it starred
Connie Ferguson and
Rapulana Seiphemo
Rapulana Seiphemo (born 4 November 1967) is a South African actor and filmmaker. He is primarily known for his role as Tau Mogale in the long-running soap opera '' Generations'' and its continuation, '' Generations: The Legacy''.
Early life
He ...
and also starred Musa Ngema and Asanda Foji.
Plot
The backdrop of ''Generations'' is the advertising industry, with a storyline that celebrates the dreams and aspirations of
South Africans
The population of South Africa is about 58.8 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. The South African National Census of 2022 was the most recent census held; the next will be in 2032.
In 2011, Statistics South ...
. As in most soaps - rivalry,
treachery
Treachery is the betrayal or violation of trust.
Treachery may also refer to:
*Treachery (law), an offence in several countries, related to treason
* Treachery (''Revenge''), the eighth episode of the American television series ''Revenge''
* ''Tr ...
and
blackmail
Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fa ...
between siblings, friends and foes alike are common. Suspense, intrigue and tension are the order of the day as the plot unfolds and romance influences relationships between warring parties. Its just the reality of the present generation's lifestyle, where conflicts are ubiquitous and endless. With themes of
witchcraft
Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have us ...
and
magic
Magic or Magick most commonly refers to:
* Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces
* Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic
* Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
, it includes African influences.
Ratings and other news
The previous ''Generations'' was the most viewed soapie on South Africa television throughout its run, with over seven million viewers. However, after being rebranded as ''Generations: The Legacy'', ratings dropped to three million viewers. However, after a few weeks back on air the viewership improved once again with the show occupying 60.2% of the market share during the 20:00 timeslot.
''Generations'' is the first TV series in South Africa to partner with real corporations and companies to advertise their products and services on the TV series. This was done in a manner where these partners were included in some part of the scripts. This has already happen with three
South African companies i.e.
Pep Stores,
Capitec Bank
Capitec Bank is a South African retail bank. As of August 2017 the bank was the second largest retail bank in South Africa, based on number of customers, with 120,000 customers opening new accounts per month.
Overview
The bank maintains 850 ...
and Smart Gym.
Controversy
In 2008, the show's producer Mfundi Vundla snubbed the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) by rejecting any nomination for the soapie and its cast. Vundla has apparently taken the fight back to SAFTA, who had snubbed him by not having a single winner from ''Generations'' the previous year despite the fact that it was, in his opinion, the best soapie on
local television and allegedly boasts some of the best actors in the country.
In a letter addressed to his staff, Vundla reportedly requested that they do not attend the awards function "to avoid creating the impression that Generations in any way supports SAFTA." Vundla also criticized the judging procedure for not being properly administered or transparent and said politics influenced the adjudication process. He also complained that certain nominations were "inaccurate or simply absurd".
Vundla has been accused of advertising the use of witchcraft and adultery during the course of the show.
Music
The show has had changes in the opening sequence, including to the title music of the show. The 2007 change from the original
Jonas Gwangwa
Jonas Mosa Gwangwa (19 October 1937 – 23 January 2021) was a South African jazz musician, songwriter and producer. He was an important figure in South African jazz for over 40 years.
Career
Gwangwa was born in Orlando East, Soweto. He firs ...
composition, followed by
Mandla "Spikiri" Mofokeng's theme music. Before the introduction of ''Generations: The Legacy'', the title music was by
Trevor Jones. The theme song for ''Generations: The Legacy'' was composed by
Jonas Gwangwa
Jonas Mosa Gwangwa (19 October 1937 – 23 January 2021) was a South African jazz musician, songwriter and producer. He was an important figure in South African jazz for over 40 years.
Career
Gwangwa was born in Orlando East, Soweto. He firs ...
and
Claude Gombard Claude may refer to:
__NOTOC__ People and fictional characters
* Claude (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Claude (surname), a list of people
* Claude Lorrain (c. 1600–1682), French landscape painter, draughtsman and etch ...
(stage-name
Claude King
Claude King (February 5, 1923 – March 7, 2013) was an American country music singer and songwriter, best known for his million selling 1962 hit, "Wolverton Mountain".
Biography
King was born in Keithville in southern Caddo Parish south ...
). It was recorded and mixed by Claude Gombard at his
Claude King Media Productions recording studio in Johannesburg, during the month of November, 2014. Jonas Gwangwa is featured on trombone and Claude Gombard on guitar, in the piece, which is titled
Nomakanjani
Nomakanjani is the fourteenth studio album by South African singer Brenda Fassie, released on 15 November 1999 by CCP Records and EMI Records.the production of Nomakanjani incorporated the use of kwaito elements and Afropop. On the project Brenda ...
(meaning "anything and everything").
International broadcast
Up until 2020, ''Generations'' aired in
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
, on
Television Jamaica (TVJ), which was four years behind in episodes. Four episodes were aired on Sundays back to back at 1:00pm local time and repeated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:30am and 12:30pm local time (one episode for each day).
''Generations'' premiered in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
on eIndia which broadcast on Mondays - Fridays at 20:30, from 15 February 2012.
Cast
The cast members of ''Generations'' prior to when it went to a hiatus in 2014 were; In 2005, the actress
Precious Simelane who played the role 'Zanele Bhengu' has died and in 2021, the actor
Menzi Ngubane
Menzi Ngubane (28 August 1964 – 13 March 2021) was a South African actor, best known for playing the role of Sibusiso Dlomo in the soap opera '' Generations'' from 2003 to 2014. Ngubane played numerous roles on other South African TV shows, i ...
who played the role 'Sibusiso Dlomo' has died.
References
{{reflist
1994 South African television series debuts
South African television soap operas
SABC 1 original programming
1990s South African television series
2000s South African television series
2010s South African television series