MTV Shuga Down South’s second season tackles hard-hitting issues

MTV Shuga: Down South is set to return to local screens next year as viewers discover how their favourite characters from the previous season have grown. The second instalment is part of a three-year partnership between Unitaid, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation (MTV SAF) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to introduce and evaluate storylines on HIV innovation, including HIV self-testing and preventive drugs (PrEP) into the award-winning drama series.

The drama series announced a slew of new characters and a fresh, dynamic series look to amplify its message. Nine new actors were selected from thousands of hopefuls that came to try out for the new season. Some of the winners include Ayanda Mkhize, Rosemary Zimu, Cwenga Ndaba, Lebohang Msiza and Malibongwe Mdwabe.

“I think for me I understood what MTV Shuga’s mandate is, I understood what it stands for and that it’s not just a show, it’s more of a movement. And those things are very important when you go into any audition, you need to know why you’re going there,” said Mdwabe.

Multi-award-winning director Thishiwe Ziqubu has been brought on board to creatively direct the impactful new season. Ziqubu said the season sees the characters grow up.

“They are not in high school anymore and they’ve led us to the city where the hustle is real. It’s not a pretty or idealised version of what Joburg looks like, but it’s the truth of the grungy difficult Joburg,” Ziqubu said.

Over the past 10 years, MTV Shuga has not shied away from tackling hard-hitting issues head on, and this season is no different. In conjunction with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Unitaid, this season will deal with real-life topics such as HIV self-testing, pre-exposure prophylactic (PREP), toxic masculinity, abusive relationships and transactional sex.

“The MTV Shuga directive is to educate young audiences on sexual health and engage with them on real issues that they face in their daily lives. We’re grateful to bring audiences MTV Shuga Down South 2 together with Unitaid where these tough conversations are brought to the fore. We’re looking forward to the response from the continent’s youth,” said Georgia Arnold, executive director for the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and executive producer on MTV Shuga.

Alex Okosi,  executive vice president and managing director for Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) and BET International, said the show was a powerful catalyst for education and change.

“The movement led by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation together with MTV Base has proven to impact youth across the continent by informing and ultimately changing their behaviour so they can live safer and better lives. This edutainment instalment of MTV Shuga Down South together with the upcoming series from Nigeria and Côte D’Ivoire continues our effort together with our partners to empower the youth of Africa,” Okosi said.

The brand-new season of MTV Shuga Down South is set to premiere on 12 February 2019 on MTV Base.  (DStv channel 322).