Long ago, all the animals in the land were the same dull brown colour. They lived in harmony, respecting one another. Among them was a wise and magical Queen Mother Tortoise, loved by all and known as Fudukazi.

One fateful day, Fudukazi decided to share her special gift. With her gentle singing voice, she turned an ordinary summer’s day into an enchanted, joyful one. As each creature closed their eyes and made a wish, something incredible happened.

By sunset, the name of the wise old Queen Mother Tortoise was forever etched in the memories of every creature she had touched. Storytellers sang her praises for generations to come.

Listen to Gcina Mhlophe bring this magical tale to life in the latest episode of African Story Magic.

Episode 6 credits:

Voice of Fudukazi (English) – Carol Ofori

Voice of Fudukazi (isiZulu) – Khosi Zwane

Voice of Hyena (both) – Ndabe Zondi

Voice of Leopard (English) – Natarah Nadesan

Voice of Leopard (isiZulu) – Gcinokuhle Malinga

Voice of Giraffe (English) – Danny Guselli

Voice of Giraffe (isiZulu) – Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Production team:

Production engineer: Lango Cele

Production assistant: Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Executive producer: Diane Macpherson ECR website channel page

Kudala, zonke izilwane ezazihlala emhlabeni zazinemibala efanayo ensundu engathi ayinampilo. Zaziphila ngokuthula, zihloniphana. Phakathi kwazo kwakukhona unina wazo ohlakaniphile futhi onobugugu, iNdlovukazi uFudukazi, othandwa yizo zonke izidalwa.

Ngelinye ilanga elibalulekile, uFudukazi wanquma ukwabelana ngesipho sakhe esiyigugu. Ngezwi lakhe elithambile, waguqula usuku olujwayelekile lwasehlobo lwaba usuku olugcwele umlingo nenjabulo. Njengoba isilwane ngasinye savala amehlo senza isifiso, kwenzeka isimangaliso.

Lapho ilanga lishona, igama likaFudukazi, iNdlovukazi ehlakaniphile nenamandla omlingo, labe selihlala phakade ezinhliziyweni zabo bonke abathintwe nguye. Abaxoxi bezinganekwane baqhubeka bemdumisa izizukulwane ngezizukulwane.

Lalela uGcina Mhlophe elandisa le ndaba emangalisayo esiqeshini se-African Story Magic.

Episode 6 credits:

Voice of Fudukazi (English) – Carol Ofori

Voice of Fudukazi (isiZulu) – Khosi Zwane

Voice of Hyena (both) – Ndabe Zondi

Voice of Leopard (English) – Natarah Nadesan

Voice of Leopard (isiZulu) – Gcinokuhle Malinga

Voice of Giraffe (English) – Danny Guselli

Voice of Giraffe (isiZulu) – Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Production team:

Production engineer: Lango Cele

Production assistant: Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Executive producer: Diane Macpherson ECR website channel page

This is a story about a lonely chameleon who lived on a riverbank a long time ago. All the other river animals shunned him. They mocked and disliked him, calling him ugly and a disgrace. The chameleon always tried to hide and be alone, away from all those who hated him.

But one day, a big change came into his life, all because of his special talent: the gift of music. On that day, he was playing a small instrument called the imbengwe and singing with his beautiful voice! Before he knew it, all the other animals had gathered around him to listen to his special performance.

That was the day he received acceptance and respect for the very first time.

His music gave him a sense of identity—he became known as the Singing Chameleon.

Credits:

Voice of Chameleon: Sbongiseni Nkatha

Voice of forest animal: J Sbu

Voice of old man: Andile Tsotetsi

Production Team:

Production engineer: Lango Cele

Production assistant: Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Executive producer: Diane Macpherson ECR website channel page

Lena indaba yonwabu oluhlala lodwa osebeni lomfula kudala. Zonke ezinye izilwane zasemfuleni zazimgwema. Bemubhuqa, bengamthandi, bembiza ngomubiza nehlazo. Unwabu njalo wayezama ukucasha futhi abe yedwa, kude nabo bonke ababemzonda.

Kodwa ngolunye usuku, kwafika ushintsho olukhulu ekuphileni kwakhe, konke ngenxa yethalente lakhe elikhethekile: isipho somculo. Ngalolo suku wayeshaya insimbi encane ebizwa ngokuthi imbengwe futhi ecula ngezwi lakhe elimnandi! Ngaphambi kokuba azi, zonke ezinye izilwane zase zibuthanele kuye ukuze zilalele ukudlala kwakhe okukhethekile.

Ngalolo suku athola ukwamukelwa nokuhlonishwa okokuqala ngqa.

Umculo wakhe wamenza wazizwa ukuthi ungubani—wabe esebizwa ngokuthi Unwabu Oluculayo. ECR website channel page

Gcina Mhlophe brings to life the heartwarming tale of a young herd boy with a big dream — to go to school and church like the other kids in his village. But his father has other plans, insisting he stay home to look after the cattle. Refusing to give up, the boy starts learning the alphabet with the help of a friend.

One day, he prays to God in a way that’s unique to him — by reciting the alphabet out loud. A passing man hears this heartfelt “prayer” and is so moved that he steps in to speak to the boy’s parents. His plea works, and the boy finally gets to attend school.

With a mix of hard work and determination, the boy thrives in his studies and finds a way to balance his education with his family responsibilities. It’s a touching story about perseverance, faith, and how small acts of kindness can change a life.

Listen to this episode now in English or isiZulu

Credits:

Voice of the young boy: Bandile Gumede

Voice of the young boy's father: Asanda Qumbisa

Voice of young boy's mother: Ellaine Phungula

Voice of Priest: Msizi Maphumulo

Voices of church ladies: Ellaine Phungula, Khumbu Mkhulisi, Thobekile Honono.

Production Team:

Production engineer: Lango Cele

Production assistant: Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Executive producer: Diane Macpherson ECR website channel page

UGcina Mhlophe uveza indaba ethinta inhliziyo yomfana omncane ongumalusi onephupho elikhulu — ukuya esikoleni nasesontweni njengezinye izingane zasendaweni yakubo. Kodwa uyise unamanye amacebo, uthi akasale ekhaya elusa izinkomo. Enqaba ukuyeka, umfana uqala ukufunda izinhlamvu ngosizo lomngane.

Ngolunye usuku, uthandaza kuNkulunkulu ngendlela ehlukile kuye—ngokuphindaphinda izinhlamvu zamagama ngokuzwakalayo. Indoda edlulayo izwa lo “mthandazo” osuka enhliziyweni futhi ithinteka kangangokuthi ingenela ukuze ikhulume nabazali bomfana. Isicelo sakhe siyasebenza, futhi umfana ekugcineni uya esikoleni.

Ngokuxutshwa kokusebenza kanzima nokuzimisela, umfana uyaphumelela ezifundweni zakhe futhi uthola indlela yokulinganisa imfundo yakhe nemithwalo yemfanelo yomkhaya. Indaba ethinta inhliziyo emayelana nokubekezela, ukholo, nokuthi izenzo ezincane zomusa zingayishintsha kanjani impilo. ECR website channel page

Celebrate the holidays with African Mother Christmas, a truly local story from African Story Magic with Gcina Mhlophe.

Set against the scenic backdrop of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, near Hillcrest outside Durban, this uplifting story reflects the hot KZN summers, the end of the school year, and the excitement of Christmas festivities.

Thando and Buntu love the long summer days swimming in the river and taking the train to Durban for Christmas shopping—a cherished tradition and the only time they get new clothes.

But this Christmas holds a magical surprise, as African Mother Christmas brings joy and wonder to the valley in a way no one could expect.

“This special story was inspired by our own African way of life in the not-so-distant past, where we celebrated the end of harvest in late August, and September was our New Year in the African calendar. We would be giving thanks for the richness and fertility of our land,” says Gcina Mhlophe.

Listen to this episode now in English or isiZulu and share this special festive story with your family!

Episode 3 Credits:

Author and Storyteller: Gcina Mhlophe

Voice of Thando: Snovuyo Ntuli

Voice of Thando's Father & Rickshaw man: Sky Tshabalala

Voice of Father Christmas: Darren Maule

Voice of Durban store owner: Carmen Reddy

Production Team:

Production Engineer: Lango Cele

Production Assistant: Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Executive Producer: Diane Macpherson ECR website channel page

Gubha amaholide ngo-Mama uMasoKhisimusi wase Afrika, indaba yasendaweni ngempela evela ku-African Story Magic noGcina Mhlophe.

Njengoba ibhekene nesizinda se-Valley of a Thousand Hills, eduze kwase-Hillcrest ngaphandle kweTheku, le ndaba eyakhayo ikhombisa ukushisa kwehlobo lase-KZN, ukuphela konyaka wesikole, kanye nesasasa lemikhosi kaKhisimusi.

UThando noBuntu bayazithanda izinsuku zasehlobo ezinde bebhukuda emfuleni futhi bagibele isitimela esiya eThekwini ukuyothenga ngoKhisimusi—isiko elithandwayo futhi okuwukuphela kwesikhathi lapho bethola khona izingubo ezintsha.

Kodwa lo Khisimusi uphethe isimanga esimangalisayo, njengoba uMama uMasoKhisimusi wase Afrika eletha injabulo nokumangala esigodini ngendlela okungekho muntu owayengayilindela.

“Le ndaba ekhethekile igqugquzelwe indlela yethu yokuphila yase-Afrika esikhathini esingengakanani esidlule, lapho sasigubha khona ukuphela kwesivuno ngasekupheleni kukaNcwaba, kanti uMandulo kwakuwuNcibijane wethu ekhalendeni lase-Afrika. Sizobe sibonga ukunotha nokuvunda komhlaba wethu,” kusho uGcina Mhlophe.

Lalela lesi siqephu manje ngesiNgisi noma ngesiZulu bese wabelana ngale ndaba eyisipesheli yamaholide nomndeni wakho! ECR website channel page

‘Sisanda's Gift’ is about a young girl named Sisanda who lives near a game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, where both her parents work. When Sisanda hears about a young giraffe calf that has lost its mother, she’s heartbroken. Her parents, understanding her sadness, allow her to visit the calf. Sisanda brings a special gift from her school bag—a beloved book. She sits with the baby giraffe and reads to it, and the young calf listens as if it understands every word. This becomes a daily routine for Sisanda, who is often accompanied by her grandfather. Her gentle connection with the giraffe captivates even tourists, who take pictures, amazed by the unique bond they witness. The story explores themes of compassion, healing, and the power of empathy. Sisanda’s act of kindness toward the orphaned giraffe demonstrates how small gestures can make a big difference, while also showing the beauty of human-animal connections.

Please listen to the end for the bonus content from Dr Mhlophe, who explains why she enjoys this story so much.

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Credits:

Storyteller: Gcina Mhlophe

Voice of Sisanda: Nqobile Ntuli

Voice of Sisanda’s Grandfather: Hopewell Mncwangi

Voice of Sisanda’s Father: Langalethu Cele

Voice of Sisanda's Mother: Pinky Ntuli

Production Team:

Production Engineer: Lango Cele

Production Assistant: Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Executive Producer: Diane Macpherson

#AfricanStoryMagic ECR website channel page

‘Sisanda's Gift’ is about a young girl named Sisanda who lives near a game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, where both her parents work. When Sisanda hears about a young giraffe calf that has lost its mother, she’s heartbroken. Her parents, understanding her sadness, allow her to visit the calf. Sisanda brings a special gift from her school bag—a beloved book. She sits with the baby giraffe and reads to it, and the young calf listens as if it understands every word. This becomes a daily routine for Sisanda, who is often accompanied by her grandfather. Her gentle connection with the giraffe captivates even tourists, who take pictures, amazed by the unique bond they witness. The story explores themes of compassion, healing, and the power of empathy. Sisanda’s act of kindness toward the orphaned giraffe demonstrates how small gestures can make a big difference, while also showing the beauty of human-animal connections.

Please listen to the end for the bonus content from Dr Mhlophe, who explains why she enjoys this story so much.

.

Credits:

Storyteller: Gcina Mhlophe

Voice of Sisanda: Nqobile Ntuli

Voice of Sisanda’s Grandfather: Hopewell Mncwangi

Voice of Sisanda’s Father: Langalethu Cele

Voice of Sisanda's Mother: Pinky Ntuli

Production Team:

Production Engineer: Lango Cele

Production Assistant: Ntsikelelo Khanyile

Executive Producer: Diane Macpherson ECR website channel page