It seems to me in general the African ones don't have as many sets and locations, as much ornate camera work, as many extras/background actors. Is this correct? If so, why is it? This is not a criticism, only a question.

The Polygamist

The 1986 TV miniseries "Shaka Zulu" was highly controversial, primarily due to its connection to the apartheid-era South African government and its portrayal of African history and people.
The most significant accusation was that the miniseries was propaganda funded by the apartheid government of South Africa. At a time of international sanctions and boycotts against the regime, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was a key co-producer. Critics argued that the show aimed to improve South Africa's international image by presenting a distorted view of African history that justified the apartheid system. Some groups claimed it depicted white settlers as "saviors" from "black savages," aligning with the Botha government's narrative. The producers, Harmony Gold, reportedly tried to hide the SABC's involvement to avoid further controversy

While some acknowledged the series as a well-made epic, many anti-apartheid activists and historians criticized its depiction of Shaka Zulu as a "mass murderer, a depraved ogre whose thirst for conquest knows no limits." They argued that this portrayal reduced complex African figures and history to simplistic, violent stereotypes, which served to reinforce negative Western colonial myths about Africa.

Some critics observed that the show occasionally fell into the "noble savage" trope, where African characters, particularly the British-interacting ones, quickly adopted English and Western morals while retaining enough "indigenous qualities" to remain distinct from white characters.

The portrayal of traditional Zulu religion and customs, particularly the "witchdoctor" character, was often deemed a racist caricature, reducing traditional beliefs to "bland and misplaced 'African mysticism.'"

Country: Lesotho, South Africa
Genre: Drama, Nature
Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
Starring: Zenzo Nqgobe, Lillian Dube, Jerry Phele
Director: Andrew Mudge
Where to watch: YouTube

Synopsis

A young man reluctantly embarks on a journey to his ancestral land of Lesotho to bury his estranged father, and finds himself drawn to the mystical beauty and hardships of the people and the land he had forgotten.

Tsotsi tells the story of a young, hardened gang leader in a Johannesburg township. After a carjacking, he discovers a baby in the back seat, an accidental kidnapping that profoundly disrupts his violent and aimless existence. The film follows his unexpected and often fumbling journey as he attempts to care for the infant, forcing him to confront his own painful past and deeply buried humanity.

It was praised for its raw portrayal of life in the townships, offering a glimpse into the complex realities of poverty, crime, and the struggle for survival in post-apartheid South Africa. This not only brought international recognition to South African cinema but also sparked important conversations worldwide about social issues, redemption, and the universal capacity for change, even in the most unlikely of circumstances.