{"id":17012,"date":"2022-09-15T15:44:21","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T13:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=17012"},"modified":"2022-09-15T15:44:23","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T13:44:23","slug":"bongile-mantsai-on-playing-hlengu-his-complete-opposite-in-blood-psalms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2022\/09\/15\/bongile-mantsai-on-playing-hlengu-his-complete-opposite-in-blood-psalms\/","title":{"rendered":"Bongile Mantsai on playing Hlengu – his \u201ccomplete opposite\u201d – in Blood Psalms"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In Blood Psalms<\/em>, the epic Showmax Original African fantasy launching on Wednesday, 28 September 2022, Bongile Mantsai stars as Hlengu, the second-born son of the chief of the Ku\u2019ua, a nomadic tribe of wandering warriors.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Screen<\/a>
Bongile Mantsai, as Hlengu, second-born son of the chief of the Ku’ua.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Blood Psalms <\/em>marks Mantsai\u2019s third collaboration with director Jahmil X.T. Qubeka after the South African Oscar entries Knuckle City<\/em> and Sew The Winter To My Skin<\/em>. Mantsai won Best Actor at both the SAFTAs and Durban International Film Festival as ageing boxer Dudu Nyakama in Knuckle City<\/em>, which also earned him an African Movie Academy Award nomination. Mantsai also has SAFTAs for his performances as Vija in the Oscar-shortlisted The Wound (Inxeba) <\/em>and Mthunzi on Scandal!<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Blood Psalms<\/em>, the likes of the Akachi and Great Nziwemabwe look down on the Ku\u2019ua for their simple existence. Hlengu longs to return his tribe to their former warrior glory. Although his father, jolly chief Xemantso (Vusi Thanda from The Queen<\/em>), made peace with the Akachi, Hlengu believes war is the only way. First, though, he\u2019ll have to find a way to inherit the throne ahead of his level-headed brother, Qotha (two-time SAFTA winner Hamilton Dlamini from Five Fingers For Marseilles<\/em>). But Qotha\u2019s wife, Lala (Soso Rungqu from Isidingo<\/em>, Generations: The Legacy<\/em>, Tjovitjo<\/em>), is determined to be queen \u2013 whatever it takes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other key Ku\u2019ua characters include Kuthala (SAFTA winner Thishiwe Ziqubu from Tell Me Sweet Something<\/em> and Hard To Get<\/em>), the tribe\u2019s fiercest warrior, and Toka (SAFTA winner Zolisa Xaluva from Gomora<\/em>), who has turned his back on the Ku\u2019ua to become general of the Akachi army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blood Psalms<\/em> producer Layla Swart says the Ku\u2019ua are the forefathers of the Nguni tribes. They’re easy to identify in Blood Psalms<\/em>. \u201cThe Ku\u2019ua Kingdom is pretty much a leather and skin kingdom,\u201d says SAFTA-winning costume designer Pierre Vienings (Five Fingers For Marseilles<\/em>). \u201cTheir great warriors are bare-chested. We want to show their scarification and their physique, so you understand that these are the great warriors that travel the plains of Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n