Africa 2000

Kingdom of Swaziland

Swaziland is one of the three monarchies still in existence on the African continent. The other two are its close neighbor Lesotho and far to the north – the Kingdom of Morocco. The dynasty that rules Swaziland goes back over 4 centuries and retains a uniqueness that has always fascinated visitors. It is thought that the Bantu Swazi originally came to reside in Swaziland early in the 19th century after migrating north from currently Zulu populated areas further south.
The political record reveals that the United Kingdom guaranteed the Swazis autonomy. Eventually the British took full control in 1903. Swaziland became independent in 1963. Originally established as a constitutional monarchy, the king in 1973 repealed the constitution and assumed absolute powers. Five years later Swaziland’s political parties were banned. Swaziland, even more critically than neighbors South Africa (18.8%) and Lesotho (23.2%) has been hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The latest data reveals that nearly 42% of a total population of less than 1.5 mln has the fatal virus.
Needless to say, HIV/AIDS has retarded socio-economic development.

Swazi girls burn sex-ban tassels

A pile of thousands of woollen tassels symbolising chastity has been set on fire in Swaziland to mark the end of a sex ban imposed by King Mswati III.
The secret ceremony took place at the crack of dawn. Men were banned.
After the tassels were burnt, some 30,000 Swazi girls danced in the national stadium in front of the king, before feasting on slaughtered cattle.
The ban was started by the king in 2001 to fight the spread of HIV/Aids. Some 40% of Swazi citizens are HIV positive.
However, the ban was ended a year early amid strong criticism. No official reason was given.
Just two months after imposing the ban, the king fined himself a cow for breaking the ban by taking a 17-year-old girl as his ninth wife, sparking unprecedented protests by Swazi women outside the royal palace.
Vulnerable
As they danced, there were mixed feelings about the tassels.
“We are so happy that King Mswati ordered us to take off the woollen tassels,” said 18-year-old Nombulelo Dlamini. “They were no use because some girls fell pregnant while wearing the same tassels.”
She said she had hid hers “because a lot of boys were making fun of us whenever we were spotted wearing them.”
But Bongiwe Nkampule, 16, said she would feel “vulnerable” without them.
“Wearing the tassels was good for us young girls because men were scared to touch and abuse us,” she said.
As they arrived at the Queen Mother’s palace on Monday, before taking off their tassels, they sang in jest: “At last, we can now have sex.”
King Mswati has warned young Swazis that although the ban has ended, they should still not sleep around.
New figures released by the health ministry last week show that 29% of Swazi citizens aged 15-19 are HIV positive.
For pregnant women, the figures are 42%: the highest infection rate in the world.
The BBC’s Thulani Mthethwa in Swaziland says the ban was very unpopular with young Swazis.
He says that few girls in urban areas wore the tassels.
Reed dance
If propositioned by a man, the girls were supposed to throw the tassels outside his house and his family would have to pay a fine of a cow.
But many Swazis were unhappy that King Mswati’s daughters were rarely seen wearing the tassels.
Our correspondent says that in rural areas, the tassels were common because the ban was enforced by local chiefs and some schools insisted that girls wore them to get a place.
The ban ends a day before the start of the annual reed ceremony.
This culminates next Monday, with a reed dance at which the king is set to choose his next bride.
King Mswati now has 12 wives and a fiancee.
His late father, King Sobhuza II, who led the country to independence in 1968, had more than 70 wives when he died in 1982.

"BEAUTY DOES;T MAKE ACTING EASY"

Ethiopian film fans know her very well. She was introduced to the audience in a TV drama which was so popular that it made this beautiful actress Ethiopia’s sweet-heart instantaneously. She dominated the TV commercials that used attractive girls to popularize any of their products, whether they be gums or soaps. As the Ethiopian film industry pampers many talented directors, actors, writers and other professionals, she didn’t find it difficult to earn herself leading roles in popular films like ‘Gudifecha.’ Capital’s Kirubel Tadesse talked to Meseret Mebirate, one of the good will ambassadors who took the responsibility on this year’s World AIDS day, to learn of her acting career which started in high school. Excerpts

Capital: Tell us about your childhood?
Meseret: I grew up in Addis Ababa, around the ‘Gibi Gabreal’ area. I completed elementary education at the Ethiopian Andenet School and finished my high school education at Dagmawi Menelik School. After high school, I took different courses related to acting and I also have a diploma in videography.
Capital: Did you participate in acting while you were in elementary school? Did you have a dream of becoming an actress in your childhood?
Meseret: In many cases, people aren’t aware of their talent in a country like ours at an early age. In schools or other places, we don’t give our children so much exposure through which they can explore and find out their talent; it takes a long period to discover what they love to do. I spent much of my childhood in a church as I was a gospel singer. I used to participate in dramas and other activities were based in biblical stories. I think that the church is a source of art and in it, I learned many things as I spent most of my childhood there. It was in the church that I played my first part. Script writer, Daniel Abebe, saw me acting in a spiritual drama and cast me for ‘Yeshama Enba’, a TV drama.
Capital: Was ‘Yeshama Enba’ your first performance? I thought you acted before; since you were popular, it seemed you had other prior experiences? How old were you then?
Meseret: I get that a lot, every one thinks that I have acted before. I was 17 or 18 at that time. I didn’t even take the E.S.L.C.E. The director saw me and told me that it was me he was thinking of for the character while writing the script. I had no prior experience or acting education. I was afraid that I couldn’t do it but he was sure of success. We did it and we got unexpectedly huge acceptance. It was really amazing to see and meet many people who watched and loved the TV drama. For me it was a turning point where I decided to pursue acting as a career.
Capital: How did your parents react to your choice?
Meseret: For sometime it was difficult. I had to get home late from rehearsal so that didn’t comfort my parents, since I was still in high school but I was really lucky because my first work was successful. Many artists are not successful at first but I guess I was lucky, so when my family saw that they supported me. What your parents wish is for you to be successful at whatever you do so when that happens, I think the support is due.
Capital: Are you now employed in any theater house?
Meseret: I am acting independently. The plays are presented at the National and other theaters. We also go to regions with our plays. We present plays in hotels and other places. When producers cast me for films, after I read the scripts and find them suitable, I do films too.
Capital: In how many plays did you act, you are mostly known for your performance in films…
Meseret: I did an equal number of plays and films. I acted in more than seven plays like ‘Latew’, ‘Kabe Lekabe’, ‘Kezekeza Remete’, ‘Yisake Jember’, ‘Yelebe Esate’, ‘Mehala’ and others. For me I take every role after I am convinced that I can do it well and but you have no way of predicting the audience’s reaction. Sometimes the character which is very difficult for you to grasp and act might not be that successful. The audience could simply say that they don’t understand it. Most of the fans still remember me from ‘Yeshama Enba’, and a few others appreciate my acting in ‘Yefekir Shemiya’ film, which has only been distributed for viewers in video cassette. Actually, ‘Yefekir Shemiya’ was a project that was interrupted for almost a year and I was the one who urged the others to finish it, its acceptance too was amazing.
Capital: As it happened here in our interview, fans want to say hi to you. Does that bother you, especially when it happens when you are with family members or friends?
Meseret: No, not at all. The fans or the audience are very much mature. I think all artists are proud of being appreciated. It isn’t like old times that you are ashamed of being an actor. What keeps us in the art is this support, love and appreciation. We, Ethiopian actors, are not that much satisfied when it comes to payments even compared to other east African countries like Kenya. So it is only the support and love of fans which keeps you going. I don’t even throw away letters from fans, I keep them. I showed some journalists who did my biography for a program which was transmitted in Boston, USA, and they were really surprised to see the letters I kept.
Capital: ‘Gudifecha’ was very well accepted. What was the reason for its success?
Meseret: It was a new experience for audiences. ‘Gudifecha’ wasn’t only popular for being an Amharic film which was rare but it was also an excellent production. The story was also very appealing to Ethiopian audiences. Mostly such family stories are the ones who are found to be very interesting and appealing to our audience. In other countries every film category; horror, romance, drama …etc has its own audience but here the majority is interested to see his or her own life and pain, so no wonder people loved ‘Gudifecha’. Its casting was also one factor for its success, most veteran and young actors were popular and I think they gave it their best.
Capital: How much did you get paid for ‘Gudifecha’?
Meseret: I prefer not to talk about that.
Capital: There was a dispute about the payment and some actors were complaining of under payment. That is what I want you to clarify for our readers…
Meseret: Actually, there was a confusion since most of the actors themselves didn’t know how much was supposed to be paid, that was one problem too. We didn’t know if the film was going to make money, even the producers didn’t. But what was true is that the producers promised us that the agreement signed is just a formality and that if the film becomes financially successful they would consider other payments. So we agreed since they were new and we really loved the group; it was an amazing collaboration and collection. The actors trusted the producers but at the end, the producers failed to keep their promise. We didn’t even say thank you to one another. ‘Gudifecha’ was a huge success, it made millions but at that time, the producers didn’t even want to see us. Rather, they chose to defame our names, which was really surprising to see. To tell you the truth, I would do it all over again. I loved the film. The image I got is worth all the unpleasant things that happened after it.
Capital: What films did you do after ‘Gudifecha’?
Meseret: ‘Negus Nahosenaye, ‘Zema Hiwot’, and the recent one, ‘Moryam Meder’ are some of the films I acted on after ‘Gudifecha’.
Capital: I heard that you were paid a record high for ‘Moryam Meder’, how much was that?
Meseret: I was paid 25,000 ETB.
Capital: Some people say that you are very daring to take on scenes that are kind of bizarre for Ethiopian actors, like kissing scenes I mean. Was that an experience which caused problems?
Meseret: No, it didn’t cause that much problem. But after that I decided not to do such scenes which involve kissing. Every one around you is aware of the sacrifices you make in the profession so that wasn’t a problem. I found that such scenes are not that important. It was totally my own decision but there were some questions. I don’t think such scenes are necessary and for that matter, convincing, to the Ethiopian audience.
Capital: Some say that most producers prefer to cast you because you are good looking? Do you agree with that?
Meseret: I don’t think so. We Ethiopians don’t have a shortage of beautiful women. You don’t have to go to cinemas, you simply look in to streets, and you can see plenty of beautiful Ethiopian ladies. There were many attempts to cast and make attractive girls actresses, but it wasn’t that much successful in most occasions. Everybody loves to see pretty faces but it should be accompanied with excellent acting. It could contribute some but, I think beauty doesn’t make acting easy.
Capital: What should we expect from you in the near future?
Meseret: There is one film, ‘Vacation from America’, the production of which is still under way in Ethiopia and the USA.