‘Life With Kelly Khumalo’ Season 3 Director Kuda Jemba Opens Up About Show, Grateful for SAFTA Win

• Life with Kelly Season 3 director Kuda Jemba opened up about working with Kelly Khumalo on the award-winning reality show
• Jemba told Briefly News how they worked as a team to ensure the reality show was a hit among the viewers
• They shot Season 3 during the public outrage regarding Senzo Meyiwa's murder trial, but they had to be strategic about the show

The director of Season 3 of Life with Kelly Khumalo, Kuda Jemba, has provided insights into the intricacies of working with the singing sensation.

Kuda Jemba on shooting hit reality show

The talented director said shooting the reality show was his first experience with reality TV. He started out as a music video director and then, through the help of a friend, transitioned into TV.

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Directing such a show and winning at his first attempt is something Jemba is mostly proud of.

Kuda Jemba told Briefly News that they all worked as a team to ensure the show became a success.

"It’s an honour to be recognised for the three months of hard work we put in as a team and it’s given me more incentive to go harder in my next chapter."

They were also very strategic in how they portrayed the Khumalo family, looking at how the past two seasons ended.

Life with Kelly Season 3 won a South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) for Best Structured Soapie Reality Show.

How Jemba landed the gig to shoot Life With Kelly

Jemba's life changed for the three months they shot the hit reality show. He mentioned how he landed the gig, and it was through his good friend Bongani Morgan.

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"I remember getting a call from a friend Bongani Morgan, and he told me, 'Bro, I’ve put your name out there to direct Kelly's reality show, and I know you can do it'. The confidence he had in me, knowing that I’d never done anything remotely close to reality TV, was enough incentive for me just to take on it and learn as I go."

How the team reacted to the major win

Explaining how they created when they initially got the call that they won the award, jemba said he was in disbelief.

Mainly because they were nominated among other hit productions.

"A few weeks prior to winning the show I had a dream that we won the show and I'd gotten a call from Kelly, when I woke up I was like to myself that’s a bit far-fetched hey, we are up against tough competition.

"Fast forward to the day of the craft awards (I didn’t attend the show) I got a call from my Production Manager Mpho Kunene and she told me we won! I was like, stop joking dude! It took a bit of a second to click that man 'I'M A SAFTA AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR'."

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Kelly Khumalo is grateful for the SAMA29 recognition: "Lord your sense of humour is impeccable"

They shot Season 3 during the public outrage regarding Senzo Meyiwa's murder trial, but they had to be strategic about the show.

Kelly Khumalo celebrates SAMA nomination

In a previous report from Briefly News, Kelly has been nominated twice for the South African Music Awards (SAMA) 29. She is up for the awards of Best Pop Album and Best Female Artist.

Taking to Instagram, Kelly thanked God for the wins.

"Lord, your sense of humour is impeccable. #BestFemaleSAMA29 #BestAfroPopAlbumSAMA29 nomination #FromAGodToAKing."

Source: Briefly News