New Swahili Telenovela ‘Sanura’ Premieres on Maisha Magic Plus

Sanura, an emotive and thrilling new Swahili telenovela about a young woman caught between preserving ancient tradition and forging her own path has premiered on Maisha Magic Plus.

The telenovela is set on a rich Swahili cultural heritage at the very heart of the picturesque Lamu Island and its sister islands, Pate and Shela. It stars an electrifying cast of young up-and-coming actors as well as established actors, including Eddy Kimani (Country Queen), Ivy Wanjiku, Isack Gerson, Nyota Waziri and Sele Mzamil.

Ivy Wanjiku stars as the titular Sanura, a teenager on the cusp of womanhood who must fight the oppressive patriarchy of her culture when she is ‘won’ by the ruthless fighter Dula (Tanzanian Isarito Mwakalindile) as his prize during a wrestling match. Her father however rejects Dula’s request for Sanura’s hand in marriage, but for his own selfish interests – he wants her married off to someone else to settle a long-standing debt. This causes Sanura and Dula to become unlikely allies in a fight against customs and traditions.

Watch trailer:

Speaking about the launch of Sanura, Margaret Mathore, Maisha Magic Plus Head of Channel said, “This epic telenovela is the latest in Maisha Magic Plus’s commitment to bringing authentic Kenyan stories to the screen. We continue to work with the best Kenyan talent to create premium local entertainment that resonates deeply with our viewers and appeals to their imaginations, while keeping up with their evolving tastes and preferences. We’re proud to add another excellent and compelling premium local show to our lineup, and we have no doubt that it will join the ranks of our audience favourites.” 

Director and executive producer Daudi Anguka said, “Sanura is set in a rich Swahili heritage which defines our traditions and culture which unite us as a people. Telling such stories not only helps to preserve our culture but also solidifies the grasp of our language. I love creating riveting shows and fans of Swahili telenovelas can look forward to Sanura, which will deliver the entertainment they love and showcase the characteristic of award-winning local shows.”

Anguka is also behind the popular Kalasha-nominated Swahili telenovela Pete and the Kalasha-winning comedy Nyanya Rukia.

Catch Sanura premieres on Maisha Magic Plus every Monday to Friday at 7.30pm.

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