Bushbuckridge-born filmmaker King Shaft has described the recent screening debut of Baka Ngwane at the Mpumalanga International Film Festival (MIFF) as a heartfelt homecoming.

Beaming with pride, King Shaft, whose real name is Lehlogonolo Moropane, attended the film’s first South African screening at Ster-Kinekor in Ilanga Mall last week. Baka Ngwane is a historical biopic that tells the story of the Swati people as they face displacement and war. Their leader, King Matalatala, is forced to make an impossible decision of leading his people across the treacherous Zambezi River or sacrifice his only daughter, iNkhosatana, to secure their future. The film is a powerful tale of love, duty, and the birth of a nation.

“As someone born in this province, it truly felt like a homecoming. What better way to celebrate than by inspiring others and proving that we can create work of this magnitude? I’m proud to share my accomplishments with the people of Mpumalanga, and I hope this serves as a yardstick for aspiring filmmakers to aim high, produce exceptional work, and create films with commercial potential that can reach global audiences while showcasing the culture and pride of our province,” said King Shaft, adding that Baka Ngwane will resonate with fans of historical epics such as Shaka Zulu, Vikings, The Woman King and Barbarians.

He has also committed to supporting MIFF in the future as part of his mission to grow the film industry in Mpumalanga. “I will make myself available for film training, workshops, panel discussions, or premiering new films shot in the province.”

Fun-fact: King Shaft’s work portfolio

Films: 1960, The Last Fight and Baka Ngwane

TV productions: Isibaya, Uzalo, eHostela and Uzulu Nomhlaba

Commercials: MTN eSwatini Mobile and Inyatsi Construction

Corporate videos: SA Rugby, Telkom and Total