“aYeYe” made its debut on South African television screens in January and has kept audiences fixated.
Centred around the lives of three young colleagues who are navigating their way between women and working their way up the corporate ladder in the cutthroat advertising industry, the home-grown drama series plays on DSTV channel 114 Vuzu Amp on Mondays at 9pm.
This coming-of-age story is set in the heart of Johannesburg’s hottest urban neighbourhood and driven by a propulsive creative energy that marks it out as unmistakably contemporary.
It follows the lives of three friends, JK (Thapelo Mokoena), Neo (Sthembiso ‘SK’ Khoza) and Lebo (Mpho ‘Popps’ Modikoane) who share a loft apartment in Maboneng and who all work as rockstar creatives at a hotshot Sandton advertising agency.
The series also stars Bonginkosi “Zola” Dlamini which sees the actor and kwaito artist reunited with Bomb productions, with whom he worked on Yizo Yizo, another gritty, ground-breaking show.
The all-star cast also includes the likes of Vusi Kunene, Khanyi Mbau, Jessica Nkosi, Kaone Kario and Somizi Mhlongo just to mention a few.
Cast member Thapelo Mokoena (who plays JK) told Destinyman.com: “The difference with aYeYe is that it’s provocative. It’s a local interpretation of advertising, of the metropolitan society, of modern-day black success stories in the media. It’s a story that people will identify with easily.”
“I’m privileged to be the lead character, escpecially in a role that has pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’d been looking for something off-centre and aYeYe fulfilled that need.”
Mpho ‘Popps’ added, “aYeYe has challenged the conventional way of making television.”
Sthembiso “SK” Khoza said, “aYeYe is everything you didn’t expect it to be.”
The show debuted to mostly positive reviews. Here are some reactions from Twitter:
“@ayeye what a dope show. I like what is being tried. We need more opportunities for local shows so we don’t just echo the lame and dry.”- Etienne (@Etienne_D)
“#ayeye is amazing! Hilarious, different, captivating! #ayeyebomb” – Leshego Lerutla (@LeshegoL)