Programme Summaries: Africa SFCG

Each episode has a running time of 30 min.

Programme 1

Thokosa Video Dialogue (South Africa)
South Africa's Thokosa township is still one of the most violence-ridden areas of the country. In this segment, video cameras are given to two commanders, one from the ANC aligned Self Defence Unit, the other from the Inkatha-connected Self-Protection Unit. Once mortal enemies, these two commanders take on the shared task of making a video about the killings that have wracked their communities. Their stories are tracked over a six-month period. A rough edged film with authentic grit and drama, this is the story of two warriors seeking an end to madness

Programme 2

When Things Fall Apart (Congo)
In the waning days of the Mobutu regime, people in Kinshasa return to traditional mechanisms to resolve conflict. We witness a tribal court, in which the plaintiff, the accused, the lawyers, judge, and jury put their dispute into song and dance - and come up with a solution that the whole community accepts.

Breaking the Cycle: Domestic Violence (South Africa)
Everywhere in the world, including Africa, domestic violence is a hidden horror. In South Africa's Alexandra Township, we meet abusers and victims working to break the vicious cycle. Crucial to their strategy is involving men as part of the solution.

Programme 3

Reconciliation Radio (Burundi)
Neighboring Rwanda is Burundi, where animosities between Hutus and Tutsis have already resulted in thousands of deaths. In Burundi, as in Rwanda, hate radio has been used to incite ethnic violence. But in Burundi, radio is also being utilized as a means of building understanding and promoting reconciliation. At Studio Ijambo, Hutu and Tutsi journalists work together to provide balanced news, features, and even soap operas. This episode spotlights journalists who risk their lives for reconciliation in Burundi.

Democracy or Disruption - Wangari Maathai and
Green Belt (Kenya)
Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi has described her as "a madwoman" and a "threat to the order and security of the country." Her friends and supporters have urged her to stay away from Kenya or to stay underground. Founder of the Green Belt movement which organizes rural women to plant and raise trees, Professor Wangari Maathai is a globally recognized environmental leader and an outspoken opponent of the entrenched power structures in Kenya. What does she represent for Africa and African women?

Programme 4

The Hunt for Witches (South Africa)
Today, people are still being killed in South Africa on suspicion of being witches. How can the new South Africa deal with this challenge? This segment looks at efforts aimed at stemming witchcraft-related violence. Must the government deny the legitimacy of traditional beliefs? Or can the power of traditional healing be used to stop the killing and promote human rights for all?

Programme 5

A. T. Toure and the Peace Flame (Mali)
We visit with Mali's General A. T. Touré, one of only two military rulers in sub-Saharan Africa to have voluntarily turned his nation over to democratic governance. A winner of the 1996 Africa Prize for leadership, A. T. Touré is increasingly seen as a key leader, peacemaker and role model for a new generation of African leaders. He helped resolve the Tuareg rebellion centered in Tombouctou and is now acting as a mediator in several regional ethnic conflicts. General Touré shares with us his views on the future of his country and the role he hopes to play in bringing about a real democracy in Mali.

Water Water Everywhere (Lesotho)
The small nation of Lesotho, surrounded on all sides by South Africa, has but one major resource - water. The Lesotho Highlands Dam project seeks to tap this wealth, providing water for thirsty Johannesburg, and money and development for poverty-stricken Lesotho. Yet, those whose lives are most directly affected by the project have been largely left out of the decision-making process. Africa: Search for Common Ground brings together community and government leaders to discuss how all those concerned can benefit from this massive endeavor.

Programme 6

Under the Baobab Tree (South Africa)
For generations the ancient baobab tree stood at the heart of the Makuleke community, bringing shelter, nourishment, and a place of meeting. Yet, since 1969, when the Makuleke were forcibly relocated by the South African government, their land has been part of the Kruger National Park. Today, this tree has once again drawn people together to discuss their differences. On one side are the Makuleke people seeking restitution for the land they lost; on the other is the National Parks Board seeking to preserve the country's land and national resources. In this segment, the two parties try to reconcile the need for conservation with the needs of the Makuleke community.

Making the Peace Song (Angola)
Throughout the civil war in Angola there have been UNITA musicians and Government musicians. For someone on one side to hum a song from the music of the other was sometimes seen as a sign of disloyalty. Today, there is new hope for peace in Angola, and popular musicians on both sides have come together to sing a song for peace. We go behind the scenes to see the making of the Peace Song and video. Here we see people who have been separated for decades come together, work together, and create together.

Programme 7

Between Confession and Prosecution: Truth and Reconciliation (South Africa)
Former policeman Wouter Mentz has applied for amnesty from the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission for his role in 21 murders, including that of Brian Nyalung, a turned ANC operative (askari) who worked at the notorious dirty tricks base, Vlaakplaas. Can the truth heal his wounds and those of his victims? We witness his testimony before the Commission, and his struggle to find a new life in the new South Africa.

Programme 8

Mozambique/Angola: Cleansing the Past
Years of civil war has scarred and isolated those who fought each other in Mozambique. This episode follows the drama of a young man - a former soldier in the rebel FRELIMO army, as he seeks to rejoin the community he left behind. His family is dead and the people of his village remember him only as a killer. The village puts him through a rite of exorcism, and he is able to resume his life as a fisherman.

Making the Peace Song (Angola)
Throughout the civil war in Angola there have been UNITA musicians and Government musicians. For someone on one side to hum a song from the music of the other was sometimes seen as a sign of disloyalty. Today, there is new hope for peace in Angola, and popular musicians on both sides have come together to sing a song for peace. We go behind the scenes to see the making of the Peace Song and video. Here we see people who have been separated for decades come together, work together, and create together.