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Blockbuster Movie 'The Matrix Revolution'was banned in Egypt for religious reasons. In America, the Mecca of the film industry, movies like the 'Life of Brian' were banned in some States for political, cultural and religious reasons. In 1999, New York City stopped funding the Brooklyn Museum for what the BBC then referred to as 'gory images of dismembered limbs and explicit pornography. Rudy Giulliani, the major of New York City at the time argued that "if you are going to use tax payers' money, you have to be sensitive to the feelings of the public". The courts reinstated the funding but a clear statement of principle had been made. Works of art sometimes provoke severely intense emotions. The case of Salmon Rushdie's Satanic Verses is a case in point. The book was banned in India and Iran. In Iran, a Fatwa (death sentence) against Rushdie was issued. In 1999, the Japanese translator of the book, Hitoshi Iqurashi was stabbed to death, the Italian translator, Eltorie Capriolo was seriously stabbed and the publisher, William Nygaard survived an attempted murder. Lately, A Danish cartoonist has stirred controversy of epic proportions by his work of art depicting Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Unto Him) in unfavourable light. One is reminded of these literary works by the airing of a Btv drama series named Thokolosi. This piece of artwork has angered and enraged many Babirwa. The drama series, which is obviously fictitious has with equal mixtures of naivety and mischief, chosen the village of Bobonong as its setting. The choice of Bobonong as the story setting, one is inclined to contend, has been informed by a prevailing stereotype that characterises the village as a stronghold of magic and witchcraft. For many years, the village has been stigmatised as home to Bo-Matholwane, some imaginary mythical creation that supposedly runs all sorts of errands for Babirwa. With patience, tolerance and humour, the people of Bobirwa have been able to ward off this stigma. Purveyors of these blasphemous superstitious beliefs were defeated and Thokolosi might as well serve as the tonic for resuscitating and reinforcing the stereotypes and myths that have diminished and demeaned Babirwa as a people and a culture for many years. After surviving the dark days of Matholwane mythology, many feel they cannot carry any more burden occasioned by misperceptions about their village and culture. I have met many Babirwa in Diaspora who feel that the Thokolosi drama series has turned their village into an object of ridicule, amusement and laughter. They feel terribly aggrieved by the abuse and assault visited on a culture and a village that holds immeasurable sentimental value to them. By associating Bobonong with evil, many feel that their sense of self and identity is obliterated. They feel that their integrity is violated and their pride injured. Btv's prime time beaming of evil messages about Bobonong through Thokolosi has another nasty dimension. It traumatises children from Bobonong. Some children from Bobonong have been constantly tormented by their schoolmates since the screening of Thokolosi on Btv. Others have been insulted and yet others have been subjected to and hounded by silly inquiries about the authenticity of the claims made by Thokolosi. The young impressionable minds of young children particularly those from Bobirwa are being put under immense burden. Children are developing suspicions that their parents are being economic with the truth regarding their place of origin. It would not be surprising if some children could choose not to visit Bobonong anymore because of the revelations of Thokolosi. The social worker in me believes that Thokolosi and its depiction of Bobonong as a site of evil and witchcraft can have serious emotional and psychological implications for children coming from that part of the world particularly when faced with torrential taunts and persistent remarks about the absurdity of their village to which they ascribe a lot of importance. The development of children's self-esteem may be severely affected by this kind of situation. Art is a potent tool for information dissemination and entertainment yet if handled without due regard to cultural, political and religious sensitivities of particular groups, it can cause irreparable harm and regrettable repercussions for society. Thokolosi is one such dangerous piece of art. It places profiteering above the protection of human dignity. The drama series must be condemned by all for its extreme recklessness and transgression of literary ethics. All people of goodwill should continue to show outrage at the way Thokolosi is packaged. And for what it is worth, it may be necessary to have an 'uprising' to overthrow Thokolosi once and for all. An uprising will serve two essential purposes: First it is therapeutic. It has a healing effect as it presents an avenue for venting out anger. Secondly, an uprising communicates an indelible message to the producer of the drama, commissioning editors at Btv and the Minister responsible for the airwaves- Pelonomi Venson- that where taxpayers' money is involved, public interest should be the paramount consideration in decision-making. Thokolosi serves no public interest. It only entrenches metaphysical mediocrity and redundancy. We should overthrow it for and with our children.
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