The historical South African series is among the winners of the Septimius Awards held in Amsterdam annually.
“Shaka iLembe” Wins Best Make Up & Hairstyling At Septimius Awards
Shaka iLembe has won Best Makeup & Hairstyling at the prestigious Septimius Awards 2025, held from September 3 to 4 in Amsterdam.
The award was presented to Queen Motlatle, founder of House of Queen Makeup, for her exceptional work on the historical drama, which chronicles the life of legendary Zulu king Shaka kaSenzangakhona.
Starring Nomzamo Mbatha as Queen Nandi, Shaka iLembe is widely acclaimed for its rich storytelling, cultural authenticity, and high production value. Motlatle’s House of Queen Makeup, known for its expertise in prosthetics, body painting, and special effects, plays a key role in shaping the visual identity of the series.
The win marks a significant moment for South African television, as Shaka iLembe joins a list of celebrated productions recognized at the Septimius Awards, which also honored Old Righteous Blues as Best African Film, Nisrin Erradi winning Best Actress for her role in Everybody Loves Touda and Idir Benaibouche as Best Actor for his performance in Front Row.
Other notable winners include Vermiglio as Best European Film, Streets of Glória as Best American Film, Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors for Best American Actress and Actor, Alma Pöysti and Tommaso Ragno for Best European Actress and Actor, and Mahnaz Afshar and Tovino Thomas for Best Asian Actress and Actor. The awards also celebrated One Hundred Years of Solitude as Best Series and The Most Precious of Cargoes as Best Animation.
The third and final season of Shaka iLembe has been confirmed as the principal photography recently began. It is available to watch on DSTV and Showmax.