Amasoja in the Hood Part 2

This is Part 2 of a two-part blog on “Hood” Movies.

The million dollar question is why? Why would international audiences want to watch such a movie? Frankly its a hard sell. What we need then is not a movie, but a TV-serial. South Africa’s own Breaking Bad. Currently, parts of Africa consume Generations, which is a portrayal of a the new rich South Africa. It’s about glamour and rich blacks, who own media advertising companies. Can;t it be a law firm, or something else? Anyway, what we now need is grit, the ghetto living. District 9 had the right idea.

South Africa has been getting quite a bit of media recently, why not capitalise? Why not place our protagonist in an unassuming Forest Gump type role? His main objective would be of course, the cliché, to release a Kwaito album. But he will need to break bad to raise the funds to release it, and also to survive during its creation.

Apart from showing ghetto life, incorporate some other elements into the show. Like, have it taking place during the 2010 world cup, along with an encounter where our protagonist sells some fake tickets and gets in trouble. Show the gap between urban Sandton life and Soweto Ghetto, but juxtaposing the celebrations and unity of the South Africa vs. Mexico game, with it being watched by the happy and tax-paying, as well as at the local shebeen with a shocking activity at half-time involving a crime. Have the protagonist find himself visiting a friend at Marikana mine and get into a “conscious” discussion then suddenly trigger unrest that leads to mine strike. He will go along with the illegal strikers and unemployed characters that were looking to take advantage during the strike. Have the protagonist work for a taxi boss for a period and we understand the horrors of that job, were one fears for his life to meet the daily quota. Have him jealously puncture one of the Sushi King’s auto-mobiles after his girlfriend is “consumed”.

Episodes of encountering racism when trying to simply enjoy a holiday in East London. Experiencing xenophobia in Alex Township when wrongly identified, helping out a Zimbabwean friend. The possibilities of encountering different gangster ethnics; coloureds in Cape town, hardened whites in the Zeff side, Indian gangsters in Durban and Fordsburg, the Hillbrow Nigerians, and  then the likes of Brett Kebble, and the more powerful gangster squad, the police.

There will of course be the later episodes when our protagonist is now in the music industry, and white women become a prerogative and a vice. Along with drug lines, models and TV personalities and then more darker episodes showing the threat of HIV when one is a superstar in Africa.

What will this series be trying to show or highlight? Nothing specific, but just to show the world more of South Africa. The world of the hustle, the ethnic groups, the ironies of the rainbow nation.

But there must also be a strong view of the positives and light-heartedness of the country and the people. The universal mothering of all elderly women to young black men and women, the white folk that fluently speak African languages, the Blue Bulls initiative in Orlando Soweto, the comedy of some of these rugby fans, the weddings and “steps” bridal arrivals, the Pirates vs. Chiefs matches, with their support churches and ridiculous clothing and chants, the Kwaito concerts, the 10 year old gamblers who can crush you in foosball, the pastors and charismatic churches, the “gusheshe” trademark gangster ride, BMW 3-series spinning battles, the “Chesa Nyama” braai and parties, the dancing strikes and stayaways, nationwide concerts one could call them, and of course, the politicians.

The Americans have the ability to provide shock-value at the end of each season. So this will be necessary to compete, as well as on the series pilot. Think first few minutes showing our protagonist completely naked, sitting on a toilet seat. Panicking and sweating, gun in hand, emerging out into a lavish house in Riverclub Sandton, and the still warm corpse of a silver haired white man on the ground in the lounge, face flat, blood spoiling a leopard skin rug. Another dead viscos wearing black man sitting slumped in a couch, pointy shoes, and snake skin pants. Dogs barking outside. A classic soprano playing over the sound system in the lounge. And our character just remarks with concerned face, “Eish”, and we run back to 12 months earlier.

Quality directors will be needed to show just how gritty the country can be, and how warm as well. The contrasts. The rainbow.

It can be South Africa’s Boyz n the Hood, but the boys have to get out of the hood as well. Lacing it with South African stereotypes as well as secrets. The amasoja’s of the hood.

South Africa is ripe with the content. One just needs to attend a single Parkers comedy session to know the country is ripe with content. The country needs a series to take it to the world, let’s bring them in.

-Takunda (@takunda)