Soap operas are spreading like a wild fire!

The TV soap operas showing on satellite channels have become endless. I have to rush home if I don’t want not to miss any episode regardless of the fact that the episodes are repeated over the weekend. I’m thrilled by soaps that range from the Mexican Telenovelas to the Tanzanian Kiswahili drama. I believe that all age groups are captivated by these soaps like a pandemic. Mark, my eight- year-old cousin always narrates to me every episode I’ve missed. I find this ordeal of narration very hilarious because of the way he was able to grasp the actors and actresses’ names yet English is not his first language—I’m beginning to think his cramming ability has heightened. The most unique aspect of these soaps is that by just watching an episode one gets to know both names of the stars since they are addressed by full names; probably in the South American cultures one is supposed to be addressed by full names and if possible with their titles as well. With the Tusker Project Fame fever, nothing has changed for Rwanda’s soap opera fans since show times do not collide. The most watched Telenovelas in Rwanda are ‘Cuidado Con El Angel” (Don’t mess with an angel) showing on Star Times, Capital Television from Tuesday to Friday 8:30 p.m and repeats on weekends. It’s a love story of Marichuy (Maite Perroni) who was born and given up by her mom who thought she was about to die. A priest took her to an orphanage where she was raised. At 14 years, Marichuy ran away and lived on the streets, as she struggled to survive. Eventually she leaves the streets and when she’s all grown up and beautiful, she bumps into a psychoanalyst, Juan Miguel San Roman (William Levy) and they fall in love…the drama unfolds from thereon. The beauty of these telenovelas, is the content which shows realities of life encapsulated in betrayal, deceit, love, hatred, thirst for power and fortune, heart breaks, class distinction standing as a hurdle to marriage, weakness of man, seemingly insuperable mountainous challenges which people face irrespective of race, nationality, tribe, gender, religion, confronts on a regular basis. The suspense makes one want to watch the next episode. Love, quest for true love and happiness is greatly projected in telenovelas and tends to revolve around the plot of the story. Other soap operas showing include ‘Shades of Sin airing’ on Rwanda Television (TVR), ‘Forbidden Passion’ on Channel 10 and ‘A Love Story’ aired on Citizen Television. The interesting thing is that Rwandans can’t help but get glued to their screens. Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk