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Botswana: Survival Targets Botswana Movie
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
14 March 2008
Posted to the web 17 March 2008
Tshireletso Motlogelwa
Gaborone
Survival International, a non-governmental human rights organisation is targeting the premier of the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in its continuing demonstrations against the government of Botswana.
The film, part sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, is scheduled to screen today in South Bank, London, in a screening that will include selected guests, most of whom are involved in the tourism sector. Survival has been a campaigner for Basarwa rights for years. A marathon court case between Basarwa and government over the relocation of Basarwa from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve culminated with the High Court declaring the relocations illegal. In a statement released yesterday the NGO indicates that it will bring to the international audience the adverse effect of the relocation on Basarwa.
SI has often targeted Botswana diamonds for its public demonstrations but now it is turning to the film. The film, which has been lauded by critics as a departure from the negative portrayal of the continent in mainstream film, is billed to cultivate Botswana's largely positive image internationally. The film is an adaptation of writer Alexander McCall Smith series by the same name. It is directed by Anthony Mighella with American neo-Soul musician/poet Jill Scott in the lead role. A press release explains that the NGO will target the movie because, "McCall Smith's books portray Botswana in a very rosy light, but the reality for the Bushmen is very different. Their experience is one of repression, bullying and persecution by a government which seems determined not to let them go home, despite what their courts say." A production of a TV series based on the film is slated for the near future. Media reports indicate that US and British producers have joined forces to create the television series.
US network HBO is reported to have signed up for 13 episodes of the series for the American market. Meanwhile the BBC is scheduled to air the two-hour movie on Easter weekend.
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