Finding relevance for Gambian actors in the face of telenovelas

No TV soap captures the soul of a nation like Shades of Sin does The Gambia, maybe. One may wonder what is unique about this Brazilian telenovela, (originally titled Da Cor do Pecado), that once it was taken off-air to make way for the three-week long Kanilai Festival, many were disappointed, and some began the frantic search to find alternative sources of buying it. For them, only one thing was important: how does it all end?
Preta de Souza (Tais Araujo) is the protagonist of our play, facing a serious battle of the mind, and of possession of Paco/Apollo Lambertini (Reynaldo Gianechinni) with Barbara Campos Sodre (Giovanna Antonelli). This romance evolved into tragedy, that is, the supposed death of Paco, and the crisis that followed of who really is Paco’s son between Rai (Preta’s son) and Octavius (Barbara’s troubled son). It progresses into the deadly games that Tony (Barbara’s husband) plays with everybody’s life. The comic scenes of Mr. Eduardo, (Barbara’s father), his wife and Bekao, and that of the Sardinhas and so on and so forth, are the stock in trade of Shades of Sin.
If one may ask, what is that glued the people to it for so long?
Some avid followers of the soap are in concert that ‘Shades of Sin’ has something to offer though it has its downsides. According to an art critic and writer, Edward Carayol, “Shades of Sin is a very educational and electrifying soap, which glues one to the TV as soon as one starts watching it. Its theme is thick, and its scenes are edited such that one cannot wait for another episode as one finishes.” In other words, one could say the production is ‘tight’. Edward continues: “It is a nice soap, which contains comedy, action and romance. It also depicts plots of deception which makes it all the more interesting.” Edward’s view was shared by many people.
However, not everybody agrees with his analysis. Another respondent, Alhassan Darboe, Political Science major at the University of The Gambia said: “It is a silly film full of deceit, use of vulgar words, lessons and settings from which our children stand to learn nothing from.” He has a right to his opinion. In fact, Alhassan was happy that the soap, along with others like ‘Two Sides of Anna’ and ‘Passion’ were taken off-air to make way for the Kanilai Festival. Don’t try to gauge his disappointment as the shows breezed back into our homes.
There are others who are not in support like Edward, and neither in antagonism like Alhassan. Kebba Ansu Manneh, who has his interests in the promotion of tourism in The Gambia, represents this group when he says: “My impression of the films is truly mixed. Though they are really enjoyable, educative and entertaining, but they do interfere with the precious time of children to focus on their studies.” Mark Kebba’s words. Kebba was concerned that many children who have become the most ardent lovers of these soaps waste their precious times delaying homework and avoiding house chores because ‘Preta is here again!’.
Within these subtle prisms, it is important to look at what is in it for us. It is entertaining, yes; educative, maybe; consumes time, an emphatic yes. While everybody could give the GRTS (Gambia Radio and Television Service) the kudos for making us glued to our national TV now, (there had been times that some people know RTS (Senegal TV’s) schedule more than they do GRTS’; some have been considering what big investment and cultural gain it would have been for The Gambia if local artistes have been organized and sponsored to make such soap. I am proudly a member of this group.
First, the millions of dalasi that go into the sponsorship of these soaps could be invested in local artistes. By so doing, we build the abilities of Gambian actors to partake on the global stage, building their resilience and confidence to compete wherever actors compete. We do not need actors from other countries to ‘help’ us make films, but to ‘collaborate’ with us in making films. A word for ‘Big Brother’ Nollywood there.
Second, the fact that the GRTS is now on satellite gives us that comparative advantage to show to the world what we have got. It does make little gain for us if we promote Brazilian soaps on our satellite. Rather, people should see what is Gambian on our Gambian TV. Let us draw an example from Nigeria, not because it is better, but because it offers a model we can adapt. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is the national TV of Africa’s most populous country. While it has at least a station in each of the states of the federation, it still has national stations and also the international arm on satellite. (The other smaller NTAs also are on satellite.) On NTA International, it’s rare that you see programmes that promote other cultures except Nigerian and African culture. Don’t ever dream of a Brazilian soap opera on the NTA International. It won’t happen!
The same way, the national TV here could ensure that rather than showing all these Southern American soaps to the outside world, our home-made, specifically funded local movie productions are shown. This is the cultural advantage we talk of.
There are challenges, however. Foreign soaps are cheap to acquire; they are better produced, and they offer something entirely new to our cultural experience. I capture some of Kebba’s thoughts here: “The fact that these films are of higher standard than the local ones; people do have a stronger appetite for them than ours. This tends to kill our own growing acting industry.”
Edward shares Kebba’s thoughts. For him, however , the Southern American soap operas do not kill the local industry, because that local industry is inexistent. Edward is wary of some of the ‘foreign’ and undesirable traits that these soaps may leave with us. We have seen some people who have taken up the character of Ruby (remember the wayward girl and protagonist of the soap opera ‘Ruby’) since the soap ended. Edward was worried: Imagine how it would be to see a Gambian child behaving like Mr. Eduardo, a weird old man, who combines lechery with pick-pocketing. It is disastrous! That’s Edward’s declaration. Edward is in a way explaining the power of the television. Children model themselves after their heroes. Mr Edward or Bekao could be someone’s hero, note that.
Another respondent, Jami even points at indirect effects of these soaps. Mothers have left children uncatered for because they are glued to their TV. Hey, Preta is back, and don’t disturb! Don’t forget the fact that businesses are also affected; workers sneak an eye on the TV, productivity reduces etc. Some children know the names of the actors in these soaps more than they know the names of teachers in their schools.
While we cannot rule out the fact that right now, we have these visitors in our homes, even if we do not invite them, are there ways that there could be collective gains. Yes. Amadou Camara, a political science student at the University of The Gambia believes that Gambian artistes can learn from the professionalism of our dear Brazilian actors and make this reflect on their own careers. He believes that once they refine their act, then we can take over from Preta and company. For Edward, it is high time that cinema halls are built. According to him, the presence of a space to act makes it the more endearing for actors and actresses to gather and make good use of their talent. Many tourism pundits would agree with Edward. The presence of a cinema house would rake in additional revenue for Gambian artistes. Tourists love to pay a few bucks for some nice performance. Many people would also agree that part of the millions of dalasi that is being spent sponsoring these soaps can also be used in building more sustainable structures for Gambian artistes to take their rightful space in the movie world.
While we welcome Preta and friends back into our homes, we would like to canvass for ways of making our artistes replace them in the nearest future.