Why all the hype for telenovera soaps

The telenovera soap opera craze has finally caught up in Rwanda. So many women and startlingly some men as well, rush home to catch the soap operas broadcasted on their television sets.Paroma, Lunar, Ruby, Shades of Sin, Don’t mess with an angel, The favourite, the three sisters, forbidden love, name it all, these soaps are endless. This is the talk around town. Lately, so many people are hooked onto these. The Spanish, Latin and Mexican soaps have become more popular than our very own artists have.I meet girls who know all about Salvador, his life outside the soaps but they do not know that Rwanda actually has a musician called Uncle Austin (or any other popular artist).When we talk about popularity, currently soap operas seem to be competing with the famous soccer clubs; the likes of Man U, Arsenal and Man City.When they had just hit the scene, it was only campus girls rushing to watch them but lately, women, men and children are crazy about the soaps.However, if I was a lover of soaps wouldn’t worry about missing an episode since I am almost certain of finding people at the salon, work place or taxi to work, narrating the previous night’s episode.The soaps are more popular than Obama in that parents are even naming their children after their favourite characters from the soaps.Romance, revenge, wealth and a number of themes that people easily relate to, in their day-to-day lives usually characterize these soaps. Usually stories revolve around the same plot. ‘There is a hot looking girl coming from a poor family and this prince charming guy with a fancy car, horses and the money falls for her but then there is this rich girl who also has a crash on him/ had a past relationship, and embarks on a hate-agenda to destroy the innocent girl who captures her man’s heart.Most of them, like the Nigerian movies are very predictable though engaging still, thus keeping many fans hooked and addicted.Unlike Hollywood movies, soap operas are quite easy and simple to follow hence the craze for them.Some celebrities in neighboring countries have gone as far as naming themselves after soap opera stars just so they can benefit from the fame.Edmund Murekezi, a 34-year-old resident of Kicukiro who deals in shoes and women’s handbags says, he used to be mad at his wife for always rushing home to watch soaps until he somehow got engrossed in them as well.“Soaps have interesting plots that could have everyone gripped and not only women. Some relate to our routine lives while others relate with our fantasy lives; those we wish to live,” Murekezi said.After a long day’s hectic work, soaps help shed off the stress and so many people are always looking forward to the evening, not to rush for a coffee date, but to watch their favorite soap operas.Diana Teta, 22 years, a resident of Nyarutarama, noted that there is a lot to learn from soaps.“Soaps don’t only depict fantasy but real life stories. Some of us have no aunties or parents bold enough to teach us life’s lessons but thank God for the soaps that have served the purpose; they haven’t only entertained and livened up our lives but they are very educative as well,” Teta observed.Well, for the soap opera lovers out there, in case you fail to fit into the fantasy life of some of these soaps, atleast learn a thing or two. Do not let your addiction to soaps deny you the opportunity to get informed through watching news, documentaries, reading books or even watching other types of movies.People’s lives shouldn’t only revolve around telenovera films.