“This is really remarkable considering that the Soul City TV dramas are ‘entertainment – education’. This means that they are carefully crafted into dramas that educate while entertaining. It is a sign of the keenness of the South African population to be educated that they love and support Soul City,” says Sue Goldstein, senior executive for Soul City’s SA Programmes.
| Soul City *ARs (position) | Love Stories *ARs (position) | |
| Week 1 | 20.8 (3) | 19.2 (5) |
| Week 2 | 21.4 (3) | 20.9 (4) |
| Week 3 | 20.8 (3) | 20.1 |
John Molefe, Soul City Institute's senior executive for marketing and public affairs explains, “It’s exciting to see how well Soul City Institute’s products and products from our regional partners are performing. Soul City offers programmes with messages that create positive behaviour change. Viewers follow them because they can identify with the characters. They clearly have a voracious appetite for locally made content and SABC1 has been greatly supportive of our edutainment model.”
The tenth in the Soul City series highlights the dangers of excessive alcohol. The series weaves Phuza Wize messages into the storyline which is aimed at creating safe drinking spaces and alcohol free zones and reducing the violence related to alcohol. This year the series stars Vusi Kunene, Fana Mokoena, Jafta Mamabolo and Harriet Manamela. Viewers are following the Miyas, the Maponyas and the Gumedes, three families whose lives are touched by tragedy as a result of alcohol abuse and unsafe drinking.
Love - Stories in a time of HIV & Aids consists of ten half hour films made for television from ten Southern African countries. These stories speak of love and desire, secrets and lies in a time of HIV & Aids. The series forms part of the OneLove campaign, the largest cross border HIV prevention campaign in the region which is tackling the issue of multiple concurrent partners. Each episode is a stand alone film.
These Love Stories showcase films from Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Namibia. All films have English subtitles.The series is sponsored by BP and DFID.
Soul City 10: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Soul-City-10/106927379345122?ref=ts
Phuza Wize: http://www.facebook.com/pages/pages/Phuza-Wize/358648022070
Love Stories: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Love-stories-in-a-time-of-HIV-AIDS/111156052238285?ref=ts
Country; Zimbabwe
Tagline: Meeting the other woman
Language: Shona and English
Broadcast date: Wednesday, 12 May 2010
When Shingi’s husband Simba, tells her he is taking a second wife, she is devastated. Simba tells her it is tradition and he still loves her. But Shingi won’t accept his explanation and decides to find out the truth about his new bride. In her quest to find out more she discovers a hidden secret, she wishes would go away.
Country: Mozambique
Tagline: Two is too many
Language: Portuguese
Broadcast date: Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Andre and Teyasse are in love but both have secrets. One day they decide to break with tradition and start afresh being honest with each other. But as the truth unravels it is not so easy to come clean. Can they work it out and save their relationship?
Tagline: It takes courage to protect the ones you love
Country: Namibia
Language: Afrikaans and English
Broadcast date: Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Set in Windhoek’s Khomasdal township, Granny Mouton survives by barbequing meat on the streets. It’s tough making ends meet. So it’s a dream come true when the owner of a successful car wash offers her a place to cook for his customers. But things take a nasty turn, when it appears that his real motive is her beautiful and innocent granddaughter, Jenny.
Country: Tanzania
Tagline: Honesty is the safest policy
Language: Swahili
Broadcast date: Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Amani and Faraja are in love and they have just moved in together. One night, Amani stays out all night drinking in a bar with his friends. Faraja is angry but forgives him. Will Amani have the courage to tell her what really happened that night? Will their relationship survive if he does, but how will she be safe if he doesn’t?
Broadcast date: Monday, 17 May 2010
Dimpho and Menzi clear up the misunderstanding. Phil snubs a Community Policing Forum meeting but is shocked to see Mandla’s condition in hospital. Thoko buys whistles for herself and Thembi, telling her little sister to blow the ‘magic’ whistle if she’s ever in danger. Will she need it?
Broadcast date: Monday, 24 May 2010
Dudu launches the Phuza Wize campaign to make drinking places safer. Can Tifo really listen rather than talk at the meeting? Meanwhile, risky sexual behaviour is being fueled at the overcrowded Nellie’s Tavern, where there is under-age drinking as well.
Broadcast date: Monday, 31 May 2010
After a heavy night of drinking, Beauty is horrified to find Jo-Jo in her bed in the morning. Nomsa finally stands up to Jo-Jo, with serious consequences. The case against Kagiso is dropped. Phil secretly visits Mandla – can these two ever get along?
Broadcast date: Monday, 7 June 2010
Jo-Jo begs Nomsa to take him back. Can she remain firm? The Phuza Wize Watch patrols the streets and they witness a murder at Nellie’s Tavern. Phil introduces new safety measures at the Corner Tavern. Lindiwe offers to teach Lucky how to rap. Is there a new romance brewing?
Broadcast date: Monday, 14 June 2010
Mandla utters his first word since slipping into a coma. Angry that Kagiso has not been punished, Nontsi plots her revenge with Thoko. Lucky helps Nomsa prepare and sell food at The Corner. Can the Phuza Wize Watch diffuse a tense situation at Ma Thuli’s? Phil and Tifo are stunned when they learn what Menzi and Dimpho have done. ENDS
For further information on either series or for hi res photographs or interviews, please contact Michelle K Blumenau, michelle@onyxmarketing.co.za, 011 728 5004 / 083 273 9891 or Despina Harito, Despina@onyxmarketing.co.za, 084 453 1755