A CLASH of cultures, a love story and traditional family politics all come together in a highly-anticipated comedy, Lobola [Bride Price], which premieres in Harare on Thursday.
The movie, featuring Big Brother Africa star Munyaradzi Chidzonga, is a celebration of “locally-inspired content with world class quality and international appeal”, its producers said.
The movie, written by Joe Njagu, tells the story of three brothers born to a rich United States-based Zimbabwean family who travel to the country of their parents on holiday, before deciding to get married.
Sean Muza, played by Chidzonga, is the heir apparent to a vast fortune from his father’s granite-import company.
He falls in love with Dalma Chiwereva’s character, Christine Moyana, in the “ghetto” of Chitungwiza and decides to marry after a brief courtship.
Not fully accustomed to the rituals of traditional Zimbabwean marriage, Sean Muza ropes in equally-ignorant brothers Curtis (Sean Ray) and T-Bone (Tonderai Hakuna), and his Zimbabwe-resident uncle, Sekuru Magaya (Anthony Tongani), as assistants.
The movie is an account of the day on which the Muza boys cross town from their affluent vacation home to the Moyana residence in Chitungwiza where the marriage drama unfolds.
The Moyanas, meanwhile, are a family not without its problems. Christine’s brother, William, played by Eddie Sandifolo, is seen as something of an outcast -- he does not live at home, is not productively employed like everybody else, and he is not invited to the lobola ceremony as with all family gatherings. But William will stop at nothing to make his presence felt.
Several of Munya’s former Big Brother housemates are expected at the premiere on Thursday evening at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale.
Tickets to the premiere are available at 7 Arts Theatre, Avondale; Rainbow City Cinemas, R. Mugabe Rd; Easy Ticket, Fife Ave Shops at $5 and $25 for VIP.
Lobola Credits
Writer: Joe Njagu
Director: Joe Njagu
Producer: Rufaro Kaseke
Co- Producer: Susan Makore
Producers: Rufaro Kaseke, Joe Njagu, Nyaradzo Muchena, Munya Chidzonga
Executive Producers: Supa Mandiwanzira, Nyaradzo Muchena, Joe Njagu, Munya Chidzonga
Cinematographer: Nyaradzo Muchena
Cast: Munya Chidzonga, Dalma Chiwereva, Joe Pike, Edmore Sandifolo, Charity Dlodlo, Anthony Tongani, introducing Tonderai Hakuna, Sean Ray and Alice Makaya
LOBOLA MOVIE TRAILER