Everything We Know About Netflix’s Next African Original & Street Dance Drama ‘JIVA!’

2020 truly is the year for the African entertainment industry, as Netflix announces that its next African original series is in production.

“JIVA!” will be a local African production, from script to screen, and will showcase an all-African cast and crew.

“JIVA!” is a fun and energy-packed drama series that follows the life of the talented street dancer Ntombi, who while juggling the demands of a dead-end job, family responsibility and a rocky love life realise that her dance moves could be her ticket out of her working-class neighbourhood in Durban. But first, she must overcome her fears, beat her rivals and sort out the chaos that is her family.

Busisiwe Ntintili, of The Ntintili Factory, is the creator and showrunner of “JIVA!”. She is an award-winning writer, director and producer with 20 years of television and film under her belt, including South Africa’s highest-rated television shows, the Peabody Award-winning drama series “Intersexions” and the box office hit movie “Happiness is a Four Letter Word”.

Scottnes L. Smith (“Hear Me Move“, “There’s A Bluebird In My Heart“, “Long Street“), award-winning director Mandla Dube (“Kalushi“) and award-winning director, Mmambatho Montsho (“Emoyeni“, “Lockdown“) will join the directing team of the series.

The series stars a dynamic all-local cast, including break out star, Noxolo Dlamini (Sarafina Stage Production, “Isibaya“) playing the lead, Candice Modiselle (“Generations“; “The Legacy“), Sne Mbatha (“So You Think You Can Dance“), Stella Dlangalala (“Funny People Africa“), Zazi Kunene (“Pinky Pinky“), Anga Makubalo (“Generations“), Given Stuurman (“Shuga“), Ntuthuzelo Grootboom (“PE’s Finest Dance Crew“), Zamani Mbatha (“Isithembiso“) and veteran actor, Tony Kgoroge (“Invictus“, “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom“), who will be joined by other well-known local talents.

Bontle Modiselle, dancer, actor and radio personality and Tom London, founder of South Africa’s top dance crew Soweto’s Finest, join the creative team as choreographers for the series.

“JIVA!” will be produced by Cape Town-based production team, Blue Ice Africa with Busisiwe Ntintili, Adam Friedlander and Tebogo Maila as executive producers.

Watch the teaser: