''Zora'' is a Kenyan

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 ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

television series, produced by TV Anchor Lulu Hassan's ''Jiffy Pictures'', that premiered March 22, 2021 until March 7, 2022, airing weekdays at 7:30 PM EAT ( UTC +03:00) on

Citizen TV Citizen TV is a Kenyan free-to-air news television channel owned by Royal Media Services and broadcasting mostly in English and Swahili. It was started in 1999 and relaunched in June 2006. News and programs Citizen TV airs a variety of genre ...

and also on the station's on-demand streaming platform, Viusasa.

Plot

The series puts focus on Zora, who is the titular character, her family including the husband, Fella and son, Simba. Difficulties both in their marriage, and in bringing up their son, are further complicated with the arrival of Madiba. Notwithstanding the scolding of her mother, the support of her best friend Nana gives Zora the power to overcome her problems, while the story line navigates a dramatic set of events.

Cast and characters

Sarah Hassan Sarah Hassan (born 5 September 1988) is a Kenyan actress, model and former TV host who has appeared in several films and television series. She is notable for her role in Citizen TV series such as, ''Tahidi High'',''The Wedding Show'' and '' Zo ...

, as Zora * ''Blessing Lung'aho'', as Madiba * Robert Agengo, as Fella * ''Brenda Mitchell'', as Alma * ''Jackie Matubia'', as Nana * ''Neema Sulubu'', as Neema * ''Quincy Rapando'', as Kwame * ''Eunice David'', as Hamida * ''Patrick Gatimu'', as Oscar * ''Joseph Gachanja'', as Mzee Chibale * ''Bridget Shighadi'', as Yola

Reception

While hailed for its good production quality, and drawing diverse reactions from viewers, there is a consensus that the show is 'for more mature audiences' than its predecessor,

Maria (TV series) ''Maria'' is a Kenyan prime-time romantic television drama directed by Julian S. Mwanzele. It stars Yasmin Said depicting the eponymous character, alongside Brian Ogana and Bridget Shighadi, in their first television series. It premiered on 10 Oc ...

was. The Media Council of Kenya has asked the show's producers to be more mindful of their scripting, especially when dealing with sensitive or traumatic subject matter, such as infertility and sexual abuse.

References

{{reflist Swahili-language television shows Kenyan television series 2021 Kenyan television series debuts Kenyan television soap operas 2020s Kenyan television series Citizen TV original programming