Reuben Odanga Debuts New Telenovela ‘Lazizi’ Three Years After ‘Selina’

In 2022, the beloved Swahili telenovela Selina concluded after four years of captivating fans with its star-crossed love story between a wealthy heir and a village girl. For director and producer Reuben Odanga, Selina was validation of what was possible. For its mother channel, M-Net’s Maisha Magic East, it was a ratings hit that drew audiences across Kenya and East Africa. For leads Pascal Tokodi and Celestine Gachuhi, it was the star-maker that turned even lesser known actors like Gachuhi into household names. And for the wider industry, it was a gamechanger that revived the Swahili telenovela genre and paved the way for others to follow.

Since then, Odanga has released a number of projects, including the 2024 Netflix series Mo-Faya. Now, three years after Selina, Odanga returns with another telenovela, Lazizi, which premieres premieres on Maisha Magic Plus on 6 October.

Lazizi follows Mark Mbotela (Mwaniki Mageria), a sugarcane mogul who has his eyes set on politics but when ghosts from his past resurface, his polished image begins to unravel.

“I was heavily inspired by the flora and fauna of this country, especially the beautiful landscapes of Muhoroni which I recall from my school days,” says Odanga. “I wanted to tell a story from that region, something we haven’t done before. It felt right to give the people there a story that would be closer to home and very relatable.”

Known for reviving the Swahili telenovela genre with Selina, Odanga is looking to infuse more local languages with Lazizi, alongside Swahili and English – specifically Luo as a way of making the telenovela “even more relatable to the local audience.”

“We are excited to continue showcasing compelling local stories that resonate with our audiences. Lazizi is another testament to our investment in Kenya’s creative industry,” says Maisha Magic Channel Head Margaret Mathore. “Just like Selina, we are confident the show will captivate viewers and affirm the strength of homegrown productions on our platforms.”

Lazizi is directed by Odanga (who also produces) alongside June Ndinya (MTV Shuga Mashariki) and Davis Nato. Clifford Okumu (Pete) serves as head writer, with Joseph Akwiri, Wanjau Wachira (Selina), Mitchell Gitonga and Lucia Shikuku (Makutano Junction) also writing.

Meet the cast of Lazizi

• Mwaniki Mageria (The Chocolate Empire) is Mark Mbotela – Mark comes from a humble background which fuels his ambitions.
• Jackie Nyaminde (Country Queen) is Amina – Mark’s ex with whom they had a son, Shaffie. She is an alcoholic struggling with depression due to abandoning Shaffie.
• Helen Keli (Single Kiasi) is Bridget Mbotela – Mark’s controlling wife and mother to his stepson, Richard. She feels entitled to the family fortune and is grooming Richard to take over the business.
• Isaac Okoyo (Reckless) is Shaffie Mbotela – Mark’s free-spirited son born out of his affair with Amina. He constantly feels like an outsider and yearns for a father’s understanding; he finds himself having a complicated relationship with women and is hedonistic.
• Zander Adika (MTV Shuga Down South) is Richard Mbotela – Mark’s stepson who is being groomed to succeed him in running the company.
• Evelyne Gitonga (One in a Million) is Natasha – Richard’s girlfriend but despite being in love with him, her love is unrequited.
• Vivian Nyawira (Njoro wa Uba) is Sophie – Amina’s daughter and Shaffie’s half-sister. Having grown up with an alcoholic and depressed mother, she learned at a young age to only rely on herself to get things done.
• Joel Otukho (Country Queen) is Juma – Loyal to Mark and has a soft spot for Amina. Having worked with the family and company for many years, he is privy of information that could be used against them.

Watch the trailer of Lazizi below.

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