Q&A with ‘Blood Psalms’ and ‘The Wife’ star Zikhona Sodlaka

Mthatha-born actress Zikhona Sodlaka shared more on her characters in The Wife and Blood Psalms in a Q&A. 

ZIKHONA SODLAKA DUBBED A ‘FAN FAVOURITE’

Actress Zikhona Sodlaka has earned DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Award and SAFTA nominations this year for her fan-favourite role as Mandisa in The Wife. Now she’s also stealing scenes in the African fantasy epic Blood Psalms.

She plays Sithenjwa, the mistress of Senator Jabari of the mighty Great Nziwemabwe in Blood Psalms. When The Wife returns in November for Season three, expect Twitter to be singing Zikhona’s praises for Blood Psalms every Wednesday and The Wife every Thursday.

ALSO READ: ‘Blood Psalms’: Q&A with Jahmil XT Qubeka and Layla Swart

Q&A WITH THE ACTRESS 

Who’s your favourite Zulu brother? 

My best little brother is only Nqoba. The others are fine. They know their lines and stuff. But it’s like Abdul [Khoza] is the moon and everyone else is on Earth. 

You have an amazing on-screen chemistry with Abdul as Nqoba. What’s he like to work with? 

First of all, thank you. What an incredible opportunity it is to work with such a talented man. I think our chemistry works because of how dynamic yet similar our characters are. The one is a female version of the other and vice versa. It then becomes completely unfair that we get to play so much on set. He is the scene partner I didn’t know I needed. 

Viewers are wondering if there will ever be a Mandisa and Nqoba spin-off. Is this something you would consider?

I think it’s a fantastic idea! I think the reason why people want a spin-off is because they do want to see that kind of love. That imperfect identifiable kind of love. The kind of love that is usually written about is fantasy. It’s like, ‘Oh, I wish I could be as pretty as…’ or ‘Oh, I wish I could cry as beautifully as…’ But with Nqoba and Mandisa, it’s very relatable. I think the spin-off would be dope. 

How does Mandisa differ from the roles you’ve played before?

I think Mandisa is probably the most honest character I’ve ever portrayed. I love how extremely brave she is and how she’s unafraid of wearing her heart on her sleeve. They don’t write characters like Mandisa on television. Every woman has to be perfect, neat and speak a certain way. Mandisa is the opposite of what women characters in South Africa are written as. But I know a lot of Mandisas in real life. 

Q&A WITH ZIKHONA SODLAKA ON ‘BLOOD PSALMS’ 

Tell us about your character in Blood Psalms in comparison? 

Sithenjwa poses as a concubine but she’s more than what meets the eye. Her entire mission is to continue the legacy of her family and set things right by her sister and the gods. 

It’s a very powerful story that sets women as epic powerful creatures. It leans a lot towards the times of the Queendom and when the world was led by powerful women. Just imagine the immense power of what the world was when Queens used to run the world.

How would you describe Blood Psalms? 

I call it the African Game of Thrones because it’s an epic. It’s a game changer. 

Blood Psalms looks action-packed. Did you get to do some stunts? 

Yes, everyone was excited to be part of all that kicking and fighting. It’s just so cool. I actually think that, personally, I’m leaning towards that way of life: getting more into action and stunt work. 

What do you hope the audience will take away from Blood Psalms?

I hope people will be reminded one way or another of who they are, and who black people were before colonialism. It’s pre-everything! It is pre-colonialism, pre-borders, and it is before the division of the countries in the continent. It was free rein. People could travel from any part of the continent to another. I hope that we get that vision of ourselves while watching the series.

ALSO READ: ‘Another level’: Richard Lukunku on ‘Blood Psalms’ creators