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INSIDE AFRICA
Festival of African Film; Jacob Zuma Elected in South Africa
Aired April 25, 2009 - 12:30:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to INSIDE AFRICA. I'm Isha Sesay. On the program this week, a foregone conclusion in South Africa. A controversial but popular leader gets ready to take the helm.
Some of Africa's hottest young filmmakers present their work to New York audiences, and environmentalist Wangari Maathai discusses her new book, the award-winning documentary about her life, and how to change the world.
SESAY: We begin with South African President-elect Jacob Zuma, a man who has faced down corruption charges and even a rape trial. I spoke to Nkepile Mabuse about his rise to power and expectations for his presidency.
NKEPILE MABUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Isha. Well, the South African election has been declared free and fair by observers, and this is where it all happened, at the result center in a capital city of Pretoria. As you can see behind me, as the votes came in from the different polling stations, they were posted on these big screens for all to see, and as expected, the ANC won overwhelmingly, a jubilate party here. Jacob Zuma thanked South Africans for giving the ANC another five-year-long mandate to govern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACOB ZUMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT, SOUTH AFRICA: Mine for tonight is to thank you for the work well done. For the effort that you have put in this campaign. The ANC was different from the others. We were energetic. We were fresh. We had policies to put across.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MABUSE: But what does this all mean for the most powerful country on the continent? And joining me to discuss this is Karima Brown, who is the political editor of a leading business newspaper in South Africa. Karima, thank you so much for joining us.
KARIMA BROWN, POLITICAL EDITOR, BUSINESS DAY: Thanks for having me.
MABUSE: Should South Africans be worried about a Zuma presidency? This is a man who until early this month was facing over 700 counts of corruption and fraud.
BROWN: Well, I think that the clearest indication that the markets are not worried is the rallying of the rand today, and I think that South Africans have long made their peace with Mr. Zuma being the president.
The corruption charges were never going to dent the key supporters that were going to vote Mr. Zuma into power anyway.
MABUSE: And a lot of people ask why, why not?
BROWN: Well, I think that there's been a lot of accusations that there is a conspiracy against Mr. Zuma, and I think that the reasons the NPI (ph) gave for dropping the charges indicates that there were interferences in the -- in the process. And I think that Mr. Zuma certainly stands vindicated as he's about to become the president of South Africa.
MABUSE: And businesspeople are worried about the support that he has received from the left, from the labor unions. What -- what do you see his economic policy looking like going forward ?
BROWN: Mr. Zuma has actually been meeting extensively with the business community, both here and abroad. I'm not sure if you can recall, earlier Mr. Zuma went to the United States and met with leading business groups, such as Citigroup, for example. So I think the international community has a fairly good understanding of what Mr. Zuma's policies are, and I think Mr. Zuma's policies are essentially the ANC's policies of a mixed economy, of greater state involvement, in terms of dealing with issues of poverty, dealing with issues of inequality.
MABUSE: Karima Brown, thank you so very much for your thoughts and analysis. That's all from us here in Pretoria, South Africa. Back to you , Isha.
SESAY: Think about it. Jacob Zuma, a man who until recently was shrouded by a cloud generated by graft allegations, will be the most powerful leader on the African continent. And there are those who say, with Zuma at the helm, post-apartheid South Africa will be at a crossroads. Which direction will he take the continent's largest economy in?
South Africa, like the rest of the world, is battling the fallout from the global economic crisis. The test for all leaders, but especially many African ones who have large swaths of their societies living below the poverty line, is to refrain from populist policies and remain on the path of sound economic and political management. It was bearing in mind that Jacob Zuma's primary appeal to many is the very fact that he is indeed a populist. What will this mean for South Africa? 14 years after the fall of apartheid, millions of South Africans continue to live in shacks, a large number of them without easy access to electricity or running water. By almost all accounts, the ANC has failed on its promise to deliver services to the poor. All the while, the ANC's black economic empowerment policy has made a handful of black South Africans rich.
Will President Zuma herald a brave new world in Mandela's rainbow nation, in which we'll see a more equitable distribution of wealth? South Africa has come a long way since the dark days of apartheid, but there's still much to be done. The rest of the world is waiting and watching, all the while hoping over the next five years, South Africa remains a beacon of hope for the rest of the continent. And that's just my two cents.
While some African first ladies went all the way to Hollywood to put the spotlight on some pressing African health issues, we'll show you how their summit became a gala event.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SESAY: Welcome back to INSIDE AFRICA. Let's take a look at some other headlines making news around the continent. It was business as usual for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. He made a state visit to Ethiopia despite an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes. The International Criminal Court charged him back in March in connection with his government's crackdown against rebels in Darfur. Ethiopia is not a member of the ICC.
An accused Somali pirate was all smiles despite serious legal trouble in the United States. The U.S. court charged him with piracy in the hijacking of the U.S. cargo ship the Maersk Alabama. The count carries a minimum life sentence. A federal judge ruled that he can be tried as an adult, despite his family's claim that he is under 18.
Somalia's transitional federal parliament has unanimously voted to back the introduction of the Islamic Sharia law. A strict interpretation of Sharia law prohibits girls from attending schools, requires women to wear veils, requires men to wear beards, and bans television and music.
And in western Niger, 10 villages have voted to ban female genital mutilation. Local leaders issued a public declaration calling on the whole region to abandon the practice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have decided to put an end to female genital cutting because it is not good for women.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SESAY: The U.N. agency UNICEF called the declaration an act of courage and a step forward for the whole country.
Now, a group of African first ladies has teamed up to bring attention to women's health issues. And they recently tapped into some Hollywood star power to put their cause in the spotlight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: Cameras clicked, movie stars mingled, and the red carpets rolled out. But this was no movie premiere. It was the African first ladies health summit. Fourteen wives of African leaders gathered at the conference in Los Angeles, representing countries like Mozambique, Cameroon and Zambia. On the agenda, health issues affecting African women and girls. Issues like AIDS and malaria, malnutrition and maternal health.
THANDIWE BANDA, FIRST LADYOF ZAMBIA: This strengthens myself as being a first lady that -- my problems are not just my problems, that the whole Africa is getting them, and there is a solution to them.
SESAY: Solutions will likely come from efforts of organizations and experts with the money and know-how. So says Ted Alemayhu. He is the founder and chairman of U.S. Doctors for Africa, a nonprofit group that coordinates medical volunteer programs in Africa, and helped organize the summit.
TED ALEMAYHU, U.S. DOCTORS FOR AFRICA: We reached out to some of the key partners and stakeholders on the African continent, companies, foundations, individuals, government agencies -- everybody came together in really rallying behind these first ladies.
Including Dr. Vanda Andrade. She was born in Angola, and now works for Chevron, a sponsor of the event.
DR. VANDA ANDRADE, CHEVRON: I think Africa is changing. And instead of trying to address issues by itself, and I think we're trying to move in a different direction, and I think people are listening and willing to help.
SESAY: Some of those people are celebrities lending their voices to the cause.
SIDNEY POITIER, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: If we don't begin to behave as a single family, with interest in each other, I don't know how we are going to get by ultimately.
SESAY: One famous first lady says it will take Africa's most prominent women stepping up to tackle the problems.
MARIA SHRIVER, FIRST LADY OF CALIFORNIA: It is a job to be a first lady, a serious job with serious implications and incredibly serious potential to make change. And it's a great, great opportunity.
ANTHONY EDWARDS, ACTOR: The fact that these women are having voices and (inaudible), it is a kiss-me great hope for the possibility of what -- what Africa can become.
SESAY: The first ladies agreed to have experts visit their countries and collaborate on health care projects. But the meeting may also have laid a foundation for making African first ladies more effective advocates.
BANDA: I think it's important. And also, because most of the first ladies, you find that when you get into the office, there is no papers to look at, to see what to do and stuff like that. So, if we have an organization like that, I think it will help the new first ladies to see how they can help in their countries.
SESAY: So, perhaps in the future, even more first ladies will lend their voices to efforts to solve African problems.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: On the opposite coast of the United States, African filmmakers bask in the limelight We'll take you to the annual New York African Film Festival.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SESAY: You're watching INSIDE AFRICA. Welcome back. It's not the biggest African film festival, but it does have plenty of attitude. Organizers of the New York African Film Festival say it features some of the very best African films produced each year. We sent Femi Oke to check out this year's batch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FEMI OKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The South African film "Triomf" made its North American debut at the New York African Film Festival. The film is about a poor and incestuous white family.
MICHAEL RAEBURN, DIRECTOR, "TRIOMF": Someone after the show here last night came out in shock. And I was standing outside, and she looked like she'd been run over, you know. She came up to me and said, I didn't -- I didn't like it, but I'll never forget it until the day I die.
SESAY: Director Michael Raeburn clearly relishing the reaction to his film.
Now in its 16th year, the New York African Film Festival (inaudible) on the African movie circuit. The festival has a reputation for inviting some of Africa's most exciting filmmakers. Festival founder Mahen Bonetti is proud of the caliber of directors she's showcasing.
MAHEN BONETTI, EXEC. DIR., N.Y. AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL: They`re sophisticated, they`re worldly, so I`m really proud of that, because it sort of defies everything, you know. It`s like shattering the myth of Africa that the world believes is -- we`re showing Africa as we know it.
SESAY: The festival has a large contingent of South African films to mark the 15th anniversary of the country`s fully democratic elections. No celebratory time, though, for Holiswa Sithole's documentary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were beating my brother-in-law. He was crying. No one came to -- to rescue him.
XOLISWA SITHOLE, DIRECTOR, "MARTINE AND THANDEKA": The documentary is called "Martine and Thandeka." And it was really a reaction to the xenophobia attacks that happened in South Africa last year.
When these xenophobia attacks happened, people were being burned alive, and people watching. So it was -- it was very disappointing and embarrassing, being South African during that time.
OKE: Sithole's film is one of many offering an introspective journey across Africa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OKE: Thirty-five films from 16 countries across the African continent. This is Africa on film, as far as the New York African Film Festival is concerned, and here is the youngest filmmaker, Lupita Nyong'o, from Kenya. Lupita, how old are you?
LUPITA NYONG`O, FILMMAKER: 26.
OKE: Oh, my goodness. She's going to be a star.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: My name is Muli Muto (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: My name is Kaela Muto (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: My name is Makasa Muto (ph).
OKE: Lupita Nyong'o's movie is called "In My Genes." It's her first film.
NYONG'O: It's really an intimate introduction to what -- about -- what it means to be a person with albinism. It's a celebration of difference, which everybody can (inaudible) go away with.
OKE: All these people and then you. Wow.
NYONG'O: It's exciting. It's good stuff. I'm really happy for -- especially for people with albinism, especially now, with what's going on in Tanzania. I mean, we've all heard of the horrible killings taking place in Tanzania, and I really like my film, the more it's seen and the more and more audiences see it, it's about shedding the light on these people. And sharing their humanity. And that's another challenge, to do that.
OKE: Lupita Nyong'o, part of a new generation of passionate African filmmakers.
Femi Oke, for INSIDE AFRICA, New York.
NYONG'O: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: Kenyan activist Wangari Maathai is the subject of a new film. We'll hear from the Nobel laureate about the documentary "Taking Root" and the environmental movement she created.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WANGARI MAATHAI: "Do you know how to plant trees?" I asked the women. "Just plant trees." And the women said, well, we would plant trees, but we don't know how. And that started the whole story of yeah, OK, let's learn how to plant trees.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SESAY: Environmentalist and Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai there. Welcome back to INSIDE AFRICA. Dr. Maathai is the subject of a new documentary that just debuted on public television here in the United States. "Taking Roots" tells the story of the environmental movement she started by simply planting trees, and she speaks for herself in her new book, "The Challenge for Africa," which just came out this month. I had a chance to ask her about the book, the film, and her life's work.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAATHAI: I want to thank Allan and Nerisa (ph). Both of them worked for close to five years on that film, and in many ways, it's a reflection of what has happened since I was a child, growing up in an extremely beautiful and unspoiled environment, and then to contrast it with what has happened in the last 40 years or so of what should have been. Development should have been better, but in many ways became worse. And we want to say that leadership here becomes extremely important, because it's the leaders who must use these resources in a responsible way, in an accountable way. It's the leaders who have to make sure that the resources are distributed in an equitable way so that we do not have a few people who become extremely rich because of the political and economic system that we put in place.
This is really a big challenge for Africa, and I - that's partly why I wrote that book. Even what is unfolding today in Kenya is a reflection of the selfishness of the leadership, and the unwillingness of the African leaders to do what is good for their people rather than what is good for themselves.
We need more committed leadership in Africa.
SESAY: You've been raising your voice for a long time in Kenya, and I was struck by the scenes of President Moi standing, addressing those crowds.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
SESAY: First of all, tell me about your thoughts when you sit and you watch those scenes and you see, you know, a president describe you as basically a mere woman.
MAATHAI: Well, I must tell you that it can be very, very dehumanizing, very disempowering. But I must also say that I have had this clarity of mind throughout this period. I knew I was right. And therefore, I knew that those who were talking about me were led by selfishness, were led by greed.
SESAY: In the film, you talk about at one point where your children wanted you to buy them a meal of chips, and you know, financially, you weren't in that place where you could provide that. And your life has taken so many twists and turns, to the point where you've won the Nobel Prize and you're known all around the world. I mean, what is your sense of how things have turned out?
MAATHAI: Well, I think that I have been very lucky in that I have lived long enough to get out of the trenches and be able to celebrate and be able to get out and be given an opportunity by the Nobel Peace Prize to share my thoughts and my ideas, and I tried to encourage people to look at them, at the silver lining, because what's happening - no matter how bad things are, there is always that silver lining.
SESAY: Did you ever think, you know, with the protests over Hula (ph) park?
MAATHAI: The crowds of women gathered out in Hula Park to pressure for the release of their sons, friends and relatives, who were being imprisoned for political reasons.
SESAY: Did you ever just think, you know, raising my voice is causing way too much pain?
MAATHAI: Well, there were moments when I was extremely discouraged, very, very down, like when I was in jail and I didn't know how I would get out, or when we have been attacked by the police and have been injured. And you know that but for the grace of God, it could have been a fatal blow.
But for some reason, I always felt that I needed to go and finish what I had started to do. It really makes us look very bad when we are so unable, so unwilling to exact ourselves and do so much with all the resources that we have around. Then we go around the world asking for help. It just bothers me so, so it makes me wake up and want to do something about it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: Always frank, always upbeat, Wangari Maathai.
And there, we must leave it. Be sure to tune in next week when Zambian economist Zambiza Moya (ph) explains why she believes foreign aid is hurting the continent.
END
