MANY people only learnt about the existence of the favelas in Brazil when the World Cup took place in that country. Unlike most of us who had to experience these favelas through our TV screens, local boy Phillip Malepa was in Brazil around that time to check them out.
In a show coming to you called Soweto To Favela, we’ll see Malepa go to the Brazilian ghettos and submerge himself in a cultural experience that will change his life.
Showing him will be Brazilian Sidney Tartaruga. When their stay is done, the pair will then return to Malepa’s home country and he’ll take the role of being the beacon in Tartaruga’s adventures in Soweto.
“I think South Africans in general hate travelling so when the opportunity came along I jumped at it because I wanted to learn more,” said Malepa.
This show is not his first with e.tv; it is his previous work on another production that led to this opportunity.
“I was once on the Masechaba Lekhalake show, Ekse Let’s Talk where I provided information on what was hot on the streets of Soweto.
“A discussion about the Soweto To Favela show came up and they asked me if I wanted to take part and I jumped at it because it has changed my way of looking at things,” he said.
Flying out of the country with a pre-conceived notion, Malepa soon learnt that the Brazil which he thought he knew was that which the media portrayed.
“As the ordinary South African would do, I complained about what was wrong with this country from the political administra-tion to service delivery.
“But when I landed in Brazil I realised that there are people with more problems than us,” he said.
Despite this, Malepa admitted that he had fun, especially because of the way he was treated during his stay.
“You know, that whole thing of ubuntu that we brag about here is also there. Everyone was nice to me and they were willing to help,” he said.
Once they were done with their Brazilian escapade, the pair came home and Malepa played host to Tartaruga in Soweto.
“He really enjoyed it. I took him to places that have historic significance to us. I explained to him that Soweto came up as a result of blacks being banned from living in towns. Many people don’t know that Soweto’s existence was not a plan originally. It happened accidentally and will always remain a huge historic part of the country.
“Brazil’s favelas are like that. They exist as a result of the powers that be pushing people from the cities so it was a great experience to learn those similar- ities,” said Malepa.
• Soweto To Favela airs from October 17 at 7pm on eKasi+ channel 105 on OpenView HD.