When we think of the continent of Africa we think of countries ravaged by AIDS, corrupt governments, civil wars, famines, and poverty. This is only one side of the story. There is also vibrant cultures, music, and people determined to succeed in the business world.
It is this other side of Africa that Zimbabwean born Galway singer Lucia Evans went in search of for a new documentary, commissioned by RTÉ especially for Africa Day 2009, entitled African A-List, which will be shown on Tuesday May 19 at 10.15pm on RTÉ 1.
“We are bombarded with images of poor Africa, but what about the celebrities, the business people, the middle classes? What about its popular culture? What about its media industry?” says Lucia. “All these exist, and I want to present a picture of them, not to negate the very real challenges and humanitarian disasters still afflicting the continent, but to add some colour and shade to a currently very monochrome picture.”
Travelling to the show business capital of East Africa – Kampala – Uganda’s capital city, Lucia meets those who live a different kind of life in Africa, those who seek fame and fortune, and those who assist in creating Africa’s own brand of mediated escapism.
In the programme Lucia meets Gaetano Kagwa, who appeared in the first Big Brother Africa and who is now a successful pan-African radio and TV presenter; Sylvia Owori, a fashion designer with her own chain of shops and editor and founder of the magazine African Woman; and Julianna, Uganda ’s answer to Victoria Beckham.
“Africa has problems but there are signs too that it can stand on its own,” says Lucia. “Vast portions of African society want the same things as many of us here in Ireland – to go out at night, to have fun, to eat in nice restaurants, and listen to music. Increasingly, a more urbanised population is seeking out such a lifestyle and confounding our image of poor farmers and warlords.”
