Generations: the forced legacy!

The Moroka Family

I get that Mfundi Vundla needs to keep making a living and there is a great need for locally produced shows on our screens, but Generations the legacy is not a good show, and I am not saying that because I am comparing it to THE Generations, it just sucks in its own right.
overtime viewers get bored of watching poorly curated material. ok I am comparing it to the old one..

Here are some of the things that annoy me about the legacy...the forced legacy. (don't tell me to stop watching if i'm not happy with it, I watch to critisize)

1. Karabo Moroka

Yah Yah Yah...She is beautiful, formidable and smart, but she is also annoying and moody. I used to like her in the old Generations despite not having morals..think Sibusiso, Tau, Glen, Mandla, Lungile Mabena (there I go comparing aga...shut up!). I now dislike her ability to be focused only on problems for an extended period of time, this is her worst quality, she always makes things worse. This should go on her CV under Skills and talents as "Best at making things worse".  The way she was focused on what happened to Abe, every time her husband comes home the first question to hits him with is "what happened to Abe?"(I get more annoyed at the writers since I know its her husband behind his disappearance yet he always claim he has no idea what happened to him). She is also jealous when Tau and Mary bond over the baby yet she still has feelings for her high school sweetheart whom she continuously invites over for dinner despite the fact that her husband doesn't  approve of the friendships


2. The way every scene ends, with characters staring into air

 I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this. Every time a scene ends, the camera focus shifts to one character who is staring to the side with a pondering face, even after a good encounter e.g an engagement, a job offer, good results, etc. a character involved will still stare into open space to show some kind of dissatisfaction, don't get me wrong, I didn't go to Drama school but I think the way Generations do it is exaggerated. [[[On an unrelated but closely related note: Why are Nimrod Kunutu(Skeem Saam) and Broke Logan(The Bold and The beautiful) always crying??? I think its SABC1 Show's Signatures hey!]]]


3. Tshidi and Kumkani's marriage

I can't believe there was a time I adored these two, now their marriage is a joke. I can't believe the writers of this show would have us believe a sane woman could endure so much nonsense from her spouse and still fight for his love and affection..yah yah yah,i'm not married and all but this relationship has become unbearable to watch, he once hit her, he lashes out at her, he cheats on  her in front of her face and worst of all, she doesn't seem to want to break off from this silly relationship. she described to her mother that she is nothing without Kumkani. Just like in the relationship between  Dineo and Paul Mashaba, Tshidi is portrayed as the trophy wife who is incapable of surviving on her own apart from her ruthless bad-boy spouse, which I find very insulting to us women. (no, i'm not a feminist of some sort)


4. Overly diverse families

The Diale family

I'm not saying families can't be diverse, where one parent is from another culture and the other from another but I think Mfundli  imposes too many rainbows on our nation. In the old Generations it was Paul and Kenneth Mashaba who were biological brothers, grew up together in one household but one speaks Zulu fluently and the other Sepedi fluently. Paul had a mixed race daughter who spoke Afrikaans despite growing up with her Zulu speaking dad. i'm not oblivious to the fact that some families reside in melting pots like Soweto, Sebokeng, Mamelodi and others.

The Diale family(Their surname is Tswana by the way despite the fact that none of them are) consists of 3 languages, Xhosa(Namhla and Getrude), Tsotsi taal(Cosmo and Lucy) and Zulu(Gogo). I guess its permissible in the new South Africa to have such mixtures.


5. Ezweni and Hashtag world

I don't even need to say much about this one, this is a clichéd storyline from Generations writers, its almost as if it holds the show together, just two companies who specialize in the same services poaching each other's clients, competing , stealing and cheating to get ahead. BORING.

6. 50 shades of Smanga Grey

 A friend of mine once asked me "Why don't they kiss on Muvhango?" which I replied with genuine laughter. I think Muvhango is a good show you can watch with your parents without the fear of things escalating between couples on screen. In an attempt to be modern and attract young adults, Generations the legacy tends to go overboard in the erotica department. most South African tv shows have always kept 13PG but can this be an evolution of African film culture? who knows.
anyways...in the scene you see above, Abe’s sister Thabi (played by Motswaledi Setumo) got into the spirit of the Scarlet lingerie campaign bringing up the subject of candles poured on her body during a Ezweni campaign meeting. Mfundli Vundla needs to retire soon, he might think he is doing justice to feeding our already fallen appetites but in a country that already faces teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS at a higher rate, Parents should be warned not to allow their children to watch garbage.
Also...that dance between Tshidi and Kumkani SMH

Stay in school kids!

7. Barak Obama's estranged, troubled daughter

This girl's dad is the president of the United States of America yet she has been through so much drama within a course of 7 months. ok she is actually not Obama's daughter but from being good in IT, being kidnapped by Kumkani, embracing some Goth personality, having an affair with a teacher, getting pregnant by that teacher and almost marrying the teacher and having an abortion, loosing her bursary, being an accidental model and being through a sexual harassment experience with the Moroka golden boy Smanga, just over 7 months...this teenage girl has been through what most women wont go through within their lifetime.

8. Karishma

 
 Gosh she is a terrible actress! glad they got rid of her. although she exited the show a while back, I can still clearly remember the wedge she drove between Tshidi and Kumkani. she is the worst thing that ever happened to this new legacy, but what can we expect, its always been a dead legacy anyways.

ok enough bashing for now, i'm stepping away from my computer.
thanks for reading.
Keep watching and criticizing :-)

You know you are African when.......

              

As a little girl I always wished I was born in America( don't pretend you don't know what i'm talking about). Americans just seemed advanced in everything, cooler and like they have it together man...But as I grew older, I came to embrace being an African, I lovez being an African(Props if you read that in a colored accent-you are truly African or maybe just South African...wait..even Namibian..or just African)

You know you are African If:

1.

 You are always late for everything and you act like its a cultural expression.

2.

 You have been deceived by the contents of these containers.

3.

If you are working well or doing well financially, this is what your family and relatives see when you go to family gatherings. pretty sure Emmanuel Adebayor can Amen to this!

 

 

4.                                                                                                                                                      

 

You have ever been in a taxi(Certified to carry only 15 people including the driver) with 22 other passengers.

5.

 

your mother has a minor disagreement with her sister and does not talk to her for 10 years. (only time heals the different opinions in Africa)

 

 

6.                                                                                                                                                       

This is used for sweeping the yard but every now and then it could be used as an alternative for toothpicks.

 

 

7.                                                                                                                                                     

 

Your parents are always right. if science says "The sky is blue" and your parents think The sky is red, then the sky is definitely RED. Don't question it, otherwise they will go all Solange Knowles on you.

 

8.                                                                                                                                                        

"you have a what..?" nothing says African than your parents discouraging you to date in your teens or 20s, but as soon as you hit 30s they criticize or put pressure on you for not having found a life partner.

9.

 

Some African people wanna pretend that giving a child a hiding is child abuse, NO, its discipline. If you cry after getting a hiding, your African parents will hit you again to discipline you for crying. oh, I love Africa.

 

 10.

Why buy a scrubber from Woolies when an Orange mesh bag is at your disposal?

we don't throw this away. it starts in the kitchen and ends in the bathroom.

11.

 

Church lasts for more than 4 hours. Program goes like:  Opening "Worship" songs an hour, The welcoming of guests and people who have returned from the cities, Preaching for offering, Offering, Worship songs to welcome the pastor to the pulpit, Pastor does a solo for 30 minutes, Pastor preaches for 10 minutes and talks about his wife, kids and dog for the remaining 2 hours of the sermon. Pastor takes another offering for building funds and his new Boeing needed for "Ministry". Pastor prays for those who gave n offering. Pastor encourages people to pledge towards the church. Announcements. Last 4 "worship" songs(as the spirit leads-can last up to 40 minutes). CLOSING

 

 

 12.

VASELINE is a multipurpose tool....you can use Vaseline for anything, and I mean anything. Perks of growing up in such society.

13.

There are only 4 advisable career options according to your community. its either you are an Engineer, a Medical doctor, a Lawyer or a disgrace to the family.

 

 

 

 14.

You think of  Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze  Instead of  ↑  when someone says they saw "2 rats"

Ok..here is a picture of the real rats!

 

 

15.                                                                                                                                                          

BABY TREVOR

 

If as a child the phrase " wait till your dad comes home"  put your behavior in line.

 

 

 

 16.

 

You refer to Rice served with Carrots, Meat, potato, beetroots, greens, etc. as "7 Colors".

Most  South Africans would know what i'm talking about yeah?

 

 

 

17.                                                                                                                                            

 

Your wanted to follow your dream to become a soccer player but your parents  discouraged you with a "Ni dola yeyo bola"("you will eat soccer") mock.

 

18.  Africans will know that making a clicking sound with your tongue to mock someone is more vulgar than any other words in any language.

 

19. And lastly. you know you are an African if you were able to identify with 10 of the above.

 

 

Happy Africa Week and

#sayNOtoXenophobia 

Love thy neighbor as thyself{Mark 12:31}

 

                                                                                                                                

 

Liar Liar Liar: 19 ridiculous lies movies tell

 1. The Lie: you can date your Best friend 's X  and still be friends with both of them with no tension.

The Truth: If you date your friend's ex you are probably going to lose one or both of them. The awkwardness that comes with dating your friend's ex is inevitable.

 2. The Lie: If someone irritates you while on a date you can simply storm out of the restaurant leaving a plate full of untouched food or dessert

The Truth: Who would be that crazy to leave a plate full of food? And chances are high that one of them came with a lift, hunger or with no money. Movies make it seem so easy to walk out on someone.

 3. The Lie: You can go to the Airport last minute and stop a plane from flying off with the love of your life

The Truth: No matter how romantic your intentions are the airport security will have 10 men take you down before you even pass the booking counters. 

4. The Lie: Pressing 5 buttons on a Computer should allow you to copy the owner's darkest secrets into a flash drive/USB in less than 10 seconds right? 

The truth: No, Steve Jobs would probably laugh at you. Who keeps their secrets in a computer anyways?If and When they do, wouldn't they make sure they don't leave the Computer accessible to anyone? Lets not even get started on Hacking, its a complicated process, you can't just press random characters on your keyboard to hack into SAPS server to delete someone's criminal record using your PC, that is why there are IT people, looking forward to the day i see them on TV for real.

5. The lie: The proposal. Women love spectacularly odd displays of affection. You can stand in front of a restaurant full of customers and declare your undying love for a waitress, Manager or another customer, usually with a good response from the other person. After that, everyone applauds.

The truth: At best she dumps you.

At worst, showing up her doorstep with a collection of grossly inappropriate cue cards lands you with a restraining order.

6. The lie: Your make up is on point, your hair is not messy and your breath doesn't stink in the morning. 

The truth: If you sleep with makeup on you wake up looking like a Drag queen, your hair makes you look like a Porcupine and your breath smells like a there is a dead cat in your mouth. 

7. The Lie: Anyone can afford to wear a new outfit everyday.                                                                                         

The truth: Characters hardly ever repeat clothes. Television makes it seem like its easy to shop for and afford a new outfit for every single occasion while everyone in real life lives by the "Same outfit, going to a different place-No one will know i wore this yesterday" motto.

8. The lie: Waking up in the morning is easy.                                                                                 

The truth: Although Movies might try to make waking up in the morning look Jolly and Happy, everyone else in real-life goes through 5 stages before coming out of their deep slumber. [Stage 1: Denial-" I still have much time to sleep".

 Stage 2: Anger- "Why did i sleep so late anyways?". 

Stage 3: Bargaining- "Just 5 more minutes,i'll have to take them out of breakfast time". 

Stage 4: Depression- "Now i won't be able to wear my hair nice today, i'm late". 

Stage 5: Acceptance-"I'm black/a woman anyways"(Yepp, Black people and women are always late and we try to act like its a cultural expression) 

9. The Lie: When you hear a strange noise in the basement, its time to go and check it out.          

The truth: No, look for the closest possible exit and run! 

10.  The Lie: When you are in danger  your phone suddenly looses signal                                                

The truth: This is an astounding coincidence. Which means 10 111 is not necessary then, i mean why would we have Police numbers if we can't use them when its necessary?

11. The Lie: Love at first sight is true love                                                                                               

The truth: Love at first sight doesn't always have a good ending, and chances are if a girl finds out you are a vampire, witch or  werewolf she is not gonna wanna be with you forever... and if a guy finds out you are a mermaid or death bringer he is not gonna wanna marry you. 

12. The lie: The Killer/Ghost suddenly appears behind you when you close your bathroom mirror cabinet.                                 

The truth: This one doesn't even need  explaining, its just plain ridiculous!

13. The lie: University is ONLY fun and games                                                                                                     

The truth: it only seems to appear in Movies or just American movies. i don't remember partying and playing all the time then acing my exams/assignments during the 4 years  in tertiary, i do however remember Having a mental breakdown, getting ulcers, loosing sleep and wanting to go home because of a heavy workload. All work and No play!

14. The lie: All nerds and geeks are beautiful after a makeover                                                               

The truth: No, people don't look 9 times hotter after taking off their glasses (why would they even take them off, glasses are quite cute)

15. The lie: No disguise is more effective than slipping into a floral dress and a wig.                                         

The truth: Movies might make it look like once you are dressed as a woman, black people can pass for White people, adult males can pass for teenagers and fathers can trick their children into loving them. In real life if you know what an Adam's apple looks like, spotting a man in a dress shouldn't be too hard

16. The lie: Being caught in the rain is pleasurable. There is nothing like getting soaked to the skin to make you feel 'alive', Whether you are sharing a passionate kiss, performing a song or dance, no pleasure is too intense that it can't be enhanced by a spot of drizzle. 

                                                                                WRONG!   

The truth: Rain is miserable, if you get caught in it chances are you won't enjoy it. maybe only the mentally  deranged would. jokes. 

17. The lie: All Bombs are always equipped with a handy digital clock. its common courtesy!                                                 

The truth: Not all bombs are time-bombs, they require manual trigger by the bomber either in person or remotely. Other forms include trigger by heat, movement. Its a bit unrealistic that a terrorist would  wait to count down from 60 to bomb a place, most just do it!

18. The lie: You can survive a massive fall from a skyscraper or airplane  provided that you land on a water body. 

The truth: The law of physics still apply. Unless you are Van Damme, Chuck Norris or  Arnold Schwarzenegger, without a parachute you are dead. simple as that. 

19. The Lie: Surprising news makes you clumsy. Coincidentally bad news is 76,8%  more likely to arrive if you are carrying an expensive piece of glassware.                                                                                    

The truth: Receiving bad news doesn't automatically cause you to drop whatever it is that you are holding.