Hollywood Discovers Africa
Posted: Thursday May 10, 2007
Movies about romantic adventures in Africa, such as the Tarzan movies, “The African Queen,” and “King Solomon’s Mines” are relics of the past. In their place are history-based, award-winning productions that expose the continent’s harsh realities, such as “Hotel Rwanda” and “Blood Diamond.” Hollywood has discovered that Africa is not just a wilderness teaming with exotic wildlife or a place where people from Western Cultures can fulfill their dreams.
A number of movie stars and other celebrities are attempting to solve the problems of Africa in their own way. Some are adopting African children. Some are making trips to Sudan and to other areas where there is great suffering to draw attention to Africa’s plight. Some receive national attention as they raise money to combat AIDS in Africa. One has spared no expense to build a model girls’ school in South Africa to teach them not just to survive, but to lead.
As Christians, we must applaud these moves toward what is real and responsible. This is in great contrast to portraying Africa in a superficial way and to typical celebrity lifestyles which appear to be dedicated only to hard partying and promotion of alternate lifestyles.
“Hotel Rwanda” tells about the horrors of genocide. While Western nations sat by idly, one good-hearted Rwandan in an impossible situation saved the lives of dozens of those destined for extermination. “Blood Diamond” is about diamond smuggling in Sierra Leone. An unprincipled white South African, whose diamond payments to rebels enabled them to have weapons and ammunition to terrorize the defenseless masses, not only located a huge diamond but also found his conscience. Through great personal sacrifice, he provides evidence to incriminate higher ups and brings international attention to their illegal practices, while saving and enriching the family of his African helper.
Both movies accurately chronicle the slaughtering of multitudes, the strong preying on the weak. They also have self-sacrificing heroes who step up to do the right thing in a crisis, resulting in the saving of lives. They are good stories which echo biblical themes of redemption, but something is lacking.
Likewise, something is lacking in the attempts of Hollywood’s finest to solve the problems of Africa. One could argue on many levels that adoption is not the answer. The efficacy of funds raised to combat AIDS depends on how the money is used, but it is doubtful that it will be used to attack the heart of the problem in Africa. According to syndicated columnist David Brooks who visited churches on his trip to Mozambique, arriving at solutions to the AIDS problem in Africa is only possible using spiritual language (Dec. 2005), a foreign tongue to most celebrities and politicians.
Of celebrity attempts to do the right thing in Africa, Oprah Winfrey’s $40 million Girls’ Leadership Academy stands high about the rest. She has stated that she wants to “shape values” and be an “inspiration of what is possible.” She has told the mothers of the 150 twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls going to her school that she considers their daughters her daughters and has promised to take care of them. Through them she hopes to help “change the face of the nation.” My guess is that it will have a great impact.
But what is lacking?
When Diane Sawyer asked a group of girls at Winfrey’s school their favorite song, they sang a song that honored Jesus. Sawyer repeated the title of the song but left out the last two words, “in Jesus.” Will the girls’ faith in Jesus be encouraged or scorned? Many cultures in Africa believe inanimate objects carry spiritual forces and believe ancestral spirits interact with them daily. If Western efforts to help proceed in a politically correct manner, destitute of spiritual realities, Africa will continue to hold a worldview that fosters intertribal conflict, greed and a disrespect of human life apart from one’s own family, village or region.
Biblical Christianity requires universal love and brotherhood based on the life and teachings of Jesus. Acceptance of the Christian lifestyle would virtually eliminate the AIDS epidemic. Acceptance of Christian values would virtually eliminate the greedy pursuit of wealth and power. Acceptance of the Christian worldview would properly recognize the true God, His Word and the eternal consequence of faithfulness or rebellion. Worldview determines beliefs, which determine values, which determine behavior. Trying to change behavior without addressing the core elements on which behavior is based will always lead to failure.
I’m glad Hollywood has discovered Africa, that it is now trying to portray some social and historical situations accurately and that some of its elites want to help. Unfortunately, if they try to help without recognizing spiritual realities, they are destined to fail.
The school idea is especially good!
In 1959 some godly men started ACS to educate many in the faith and impact the continent of Africa for Christ [Our History]. We don’t have a $40 million school, but over the course of the years, our schools have helped shape values and change lives resulting in benefits for them here on earth and, for some who have passed on, eternal rewards in the arms of Jesus. We believe the problems of Africa are solved by turning people’s hearts to the Lord and by their ultimately looking to Him for answers. We too, in a real way, can sacrificially help save the people of Africa. Why not join with us to solve Africa’s problems by teaching dedicated men and women to serve God, their churches and their communities?
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