After a few years’ hiatus, TV personality Kgomotso Matsunyane (pictured), is back in a talk show called Rise that is aimed at young women. Given that Matsunyane produced the critically acclaimed Late Nite With Kgomotso some time ago, it is refreshing to see her on our screens again.
“Rise is a fantastic new talk show which goes on air tomorrow and it’s for young women aged between 14 and 25. I know some of them are still girls. You could actually call it a lifestyle show. We are addressing the fact that this group of women is more likely to be affected by HIV than anybody else,” she said.
With the mission and target market all spelt out, it made sense for none other than Soul City to partner with Matsunyane’s new production company, One Man & His Dog Films.
“When I pitched this show I just spoke to Soul City and asked them for us not to do a show about Aids. Rather, we should do a lifestyle show so that way we can address the issues that affect young women and get them to make decisions which will not lead to them being at risk of contracting HIV,” she said.
Matsunyane will be joined by three hosts – Soul City’s CEO, Lebogang Ramafoko, actress Khanyisile Mazibuko and performing artist, Lebo Shikwambane. Given that these women are from different generations, many perspectives will be shared without bias.
“It’s made of 26 episodes and we have four hosts. We are looking at covering a variety of topics. It’s really about the things that women do. The distinguishing thing about this show is that I pitched it to be inter-generational. It is easy for young people to talk to each other about sex, but it is close to impossible for them to have the same conversations with their parents. The young people complain that parents are judgemental because parents usually can’t begin to imagine their kids having sex,” explained Matsunyane.
“I think it is a thing that adults don’t want to acknowledge, that it’s okay to feel like you want to have sex. You don’t necessarily have to have it. And if you do decide to do it, there are things that you should look out for, including your own protection. A condom is mandatory, but it is not the only protection you have to look at. You have to plan against unplanned pregnancies because should that happen, it could ruin your whole life.”
The touchy subjects that Rise deals with are usually taboo and since they have this opportunity to raise them, the last thing she wanted to do was preach.
“I didn’t want a platform that would lecture. We just thought of having conversations, inter-generationally, and hopefully raise things that people at home are dying to talk about, but have not quite had the chance to. I would love for mothers and daughters to watch this together. Or fathers and daughters to see this, then have conversations afterwards. That would be ideal,” she said.
Outside of the show, as is typical of all Soul City projects, there are initiatives in communities nationwide that encourage people to talk openly about sex.
“The show culminates in a series of clubs set up by Soul City across the country. There are about 900. We have the Rise Club which addresses some of the issues we talk about on the show in various communities around South Africa,” explained Matsunyane.
• Rise Talk Show, Tuesday, 6pm, SABC1.