Fan starts petition to keep 'Giyani: Land of Blood' on screens
An angry fan of SA's first Xitsonga drama, Giyani: Land of Blood, has started a petition to keep the show on screens after it was announced on Monday that the show will end next week.
The current season of the telenovela, featuring Ndivhuwo Mutsila, Candy Tsa Mandebele and Yvonne Chaka Chaka, ends on Tuesday. It will be replaced by another telenovela, Lithapo, in January.
Fans have reacted to the news with shock, disappointment and anger, with one starting a petition to keep it on air.
Giyani land of blood is not going to be removed @FumaniShilubana South Africa Broadcasting Channel(SABC 2): #KeepGiyaniLand_of_Blood at SABC 2(Against its removal from Telenovela) - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/inEh3KhMEo via @Change
— Meshack Hlungwani (@Meshack_Musa3) November 19, 2019
“The drama has stolen the hearts of multitudes of South Africans and teaches other tribes the ways of the Tsonga, Venda, Mapedi and Balobedu-speaking people's culture and their daily challenges. It has found a way to teach us to unite and acknowledge our differences as tribes,” the petition's founder wrote.
The fan hopes to gather at least 500,000 signatures. Within 12 hours, it had collected 10,000.
Others made their voices heard on social media, with the show trending on Twitter.
Tweets ranged from pleas for the show not to be cut to fans threatening to not pay their TV licences if it is.
Here are some of the reactions:
#GiyaniLandOfBlood
— Rito Sonny Mathebula (@MathebulaSonny) November 19, 2019
Whosoever took the decision to end this giyani land of blood, Bring it back asap🤔.#BringBackGiyaniLandOfBlood@GiyaniSABC2@SABC2@giyaniview pic.twitter.com/7oHFGWVJSi
Remove Generations the Legacy and insert Giyani land of blood. #giyanilandofblood
— The Piper (@LesediKlaus) November 19, 2019
And what so special about the one whose gone replace Giyani land of blood, tribalism on its Best pic.twitter.com/xD9qn780PW
— Mayana the Gershom (@Mayana_Twala) November 19, 2019
@Dstv #GiyaniLandOfBlood
— Crypto Addict®© (@GordasManganye) November 19, 2019
Can you please make means for Giyani land of blood... SABc they are happy to see People unemployed! pic.twitter.com/HJxZkjjzid
It's not about Xitsonga or Xichangana, but is about the people of South Africa, who are yearning not only to watch Giyani Land of Blood, but want to know more n are thirsty with regard to this culture. Pleeeeeaze, Bring back''' '... Land of Blood or another Tsonga Drama! Plz!!!!
— THE BIG G (@Biggwm) November 19, 2019
We demand Giyani land blood or none payment of TV licenses
— Collen Maluleke (@CollenMalulek10) November 19, 2019
Big no please don't end a Giyani Land of blood please please please please
— livers vambhiza (@vambhiza) November 19, 2019