By Osagie Alonge
A generation of African leaders is set to be featured on a new Al Jazeera English series, titled ‘Tutu’s Children’.
According to producers, the four documentaries will follow the exploits of participants in the leadership programme run by Desmond Tutu, which attempts to build a new network of African leaders committed to tackling their countries’ most stubborn problems.
Viewers will witness the legendary archbishop pass the baton of moral leadership to these emerging leaders, who are drawn from across Africa.
Once they pledge themselves to Tutu’s mission, the participants are put through group tasks designed to bring out their true colours – from conducting a choir to cooking under pressure.
They will express their opinions in debates on the most controversial ‘African’ issues – racial hierarchy, corruption, privilege, and Western democracy.
The series follows Tutu’s class of 2012, focusing in particular detail on the lives of five very different participants, as together, they are coached to become a ‘moral task force’ for Africa.
The five participants are: South African private investor, Marc van Olst (36), Tunisian media entrepreneur and public health expert Zied Mhirsi (34), Ivorian tea company CEO Swaady M. Martin-Leke (33), Rwandan publishing entrepreneur Lydie Hakizimana (30), and South African legal advisor Ndumiso Luthuli (36).
The young leaders are followed in their home cities as well as during the coaching, with filming in Tunis, Cape Town, Kigali, Johannesburg, Oxford and London over a period of seven months. Tutu’s fellowship is run in conjunction with Oxford University.
‘Tutu’s Children offers a rare chance to witness a turning point in the lives of those who may one day change the course of Africa’s history. The travails of our fantastic onscreen characters will entertain and will also give our viewers a strong glimpse into the big issues affecting Africa’, Al Jazeera director of programmes Paul Eedle says.
This series will begin today January 10, 2013, and transmit for four weeks at the following times GMT:
Thursday: 20h0, Friday: 12h00, Saturday: 01h00, Sunday: 06h00, Monday: 20h00, Tuesday: 12h00, Wednesday: 01h00, Thursday: 06h00
Watch trailer here:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftmh34LsuWY[/youtube]
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