Popularity of Chinese shows and TV series continues to rise across Africa, Deng Zhangyu reports.
When producer Liang Zhenhua was filming a scene for the Chinese TV series Welcome to Milele in Zanzibar, Tanzania, he got help from the local actors association to assemble 1,200 extras for a key scene involving an ambulance navigating a traffic jam caused by a marathon at Zanzibar's busiest intersection.
Over the past few years, the 35-episode series about a Chinese medical team dispatched to Africa has received substantial assistance from its African counterparts. Since July, the Swahili-dubbed Chinese series has been broadcast on major TV stations, and become popular on streaming platforms in Kenya and Tanzania.
Liang, who was also the scriptwriter for the series, explains that "Milele", the name of the village where the Chinese medical team settled, means "forever" in Swahili, and symbolizes China's commitment to foreign medical aid. Liang and his team traveled to locations around Tanzania to capture scenes of beauty, including of people diving from platforms on Zanzibar Island, the great migration of wildebeests across the Serengeti Plain, and Mount Kilimanjaro.
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"During field research for the series, I could clearly sense the desire of local residents for more Chinese TV productions to come to Africa. They particularly enjoy our dramas about everyday life and are eager to see the daily lives of Chinese people," says Hu Yating, co-scriptwriter of the series.
Hu visited several cities in Africa in search for inspiration for the drama two years ago. She says that ratings increased rapidly in August.
"I believe that human emotions are universal, and Africans especially want to understand China through TV dramas. Our series can provide experience for future joint productions telling touching stories involving China and Africa," Hu says.
More than 1,400 actors participated in filming, with around 190 making guest appearances. Zambian actor Kawawa Kadichi plays the key role of a medical student. He recently received lots of messages from Tanzanians who watched the drama, saying that they really liked it, that it has helped them understand China better, and that it has strengthened the friendship between China and Africa.
This is not the first time Kadichi has participated in a Chinese production. He is also in the epic sci-fi film The Wandering Earth II, adapted from famed writer Liu Cixin's novel.
"I believe there is tremendous potential for film and TV cooperation between China and Africa. I expect more collaboration in the sector," says Kadichi.
He says that China has extensive experience in film production, advanced technology, and professional teams, while Africa boasts vibrant cultures, beautiful natural scenery, and exciting story material. Both sides can collaborate in areas such as scriptwriting, production, and actor training to create films and series with Chinese and African characteristics.
By the end of last year, the National Radio and Television Administration had translated and broadcast 237 audiovisual works and 180 episodes of agricultural programs in African countries, including TV dramas, animations, documentaries and variety shows.
There were 50 television channels in Africa broadcasting Chinese programs as of last month, in 11 languages including English, French, Portuguese, Swahili and Hausa. Chinese companies have 16 television channels airing Chinese programs in Africa, and their satellite and digital channels cover 31 countries.
Cao Shumin, director of the administration, said at the 6th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation last month that collaboration will be strengthened through a range of support policies to encourage the joint production of programs, series and shows by companies from both sides, short-film competitions will be funded, and the exchange of programs promoted.
In 2015, China began the "Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages" project, to connect 10,000 villages to satellite television.
According to Guo Ziqi, vice-president of the Beijing-based StarT-imes media company, which ran the project in Africa, 9,915 villages in 20 countries enjoy free access to TV programs and people can watch football matches, TV dramas, animation and documentaries.
Five hundred of these villages are in Burundi. Leocadie Ndacayisaba, Burundi's Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media, says that residents in remote areas have access to digital TV programs with China's help. The service offers people in remote regions entertainment with good picture quality.
As a core supporter of the series Welcome to Milele, the Beijing Municipal Radio and Television Bureau started to introduce Chinese programs and dramas to Africa in 2014. In all, 170 Chinese films and TV dramas have been broadcast to 51 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, reaching over 80 percent of the region's population.
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The bureau also set up a film and television translation center in 2020 to better serve audiences. It now has the capability to translate Chinese into more than 10 languages, including English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, and Hausa. Dubbed Swahili and Hausa versions of Chinese series and programs are specially made for African viewers.
Apart from broadcasting through TV stations and online video-sharing platforms, the bureau has held activities to invite celebrated actors to communicate with the African audiences face-to-face.
Wang Jiequn, director-general of the bureau, says that they will use new technology to improve communication and make the most of Beijing's online media resources in the future. "By focusing on microdramas, short videos, and livestreaming, which are popular among young people, we aim to create more opportunities for China-Africa online interaction. Our goal is to connect people better, especially the younger generation in Africa," she says.
Shao Xinying contributed to this story.
Contact the writer at dengzhangyu@chinadaily.com.cn
