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Jun. 9, 2007 The Director General of the state-owned TV station RTI (Radio-Diffusion Television Ivoirienne) here is a gentleman called Monsieur Pierre Brou Amessan. A professional journalist who reported christian news and cast news on TV before he was elevated last year to his present position by a presidential decree signed by President Laurent Gbagbo himself. Before the change of guard which affected the radio and printing press arms of government media RTI was administered by one arrogant urbaine Kebe Yacouba, himself a veteran journalist who headed the govt-owned Frat-Mat newspaper, who was appointed by the former rebel leader Soro Guillaume when he was the communications minister. Mr Brou, a devout Catholic, after assuming power has revolutionalized the govt media here putting in round pegs in round holes with applause. Even in his position as the big boss, the DG, he still presents the news underlining his professonalism and humility. Just figure out yourself a certain Raymond Dokpesi, Tonnie Iredia, John Momoh or Ben Bruce or any other boss of a privately-owned or government-owned TV outfit in Nigeria casting news and following the script to the letter written and vetted by an Editor under him! You see some Ivorians, big bosses here believe in life and its vanities and transcience, the vicissitudes of which sweep many away and empower others. Only God is as constant in His throne as a star not even Kings and 'dictatorial democrats' like Obasanjo, Ghadaffi, Mugabe and Mubarak can lay claim to immortality or relevance at the fullest of time. Before now watching the local TV here was boring and I watched more international channels than local programmes which were uninteresting and uninspiring. But earlier this year there was a 'revolution' in the state TV stations here bringing in refreshing and stimulating programmes that keep one glued to the channels. In the first channel (TV 1) here there is this particular interesting competitive programme for girls called "Epreuve de stars Tonnerre". 'Tonnerre' means Thunder in English and the musical programme itself features regularly at weekends bringing on stage from different parts of the country established and budding artists to come and sing for a large audience. It features equally other side attractions like the lives of stars here and scandals and rumours sorrounding some of them and this segment is anchored by a dwarf called "Americain". The producer of the programme is a military man called John Chahin Sombo. Sombo, a creative big man has taken Tonnerre to America, Japan and some European cities. The programme appeals to the young and old, female and male, high and low cadres in the society. One of the best professional comedians here Chuken Pat anchors the programme and brings his rich experience in music and drama to bear on the programme making the high and mighty, poor and middle class laugh and unwind. That reminds me of another TV 5-minute prime-time thriller here which has been laid off called "Coq-a-lane" presented by one of the whizkids here John Zahibo Jay who cut his mass communication teeth in France. Jay used the programme, a lighter-side series that asked hilarious sometimes ironic questions that challenged the mind and exposed respondents to ridicule if he/she was not witty and intelligent enough to outsmart a smart John Jay. He took on everyone, Ivorians and foreigners alike, ministers and even the president himself. Coq-a-lane was not that popular until Jay travelled to the hinterland and met an old man of 95 years old who is a trado-practician selling local herbs in a certain motor park. The nonegerian, Vié Menekre alias "Dr Vis-a-Vis" (vis-a-vis meaning face to face in English) is a strong old man beaten nearer the grave by poverty that the house he started constructing in his village was abandoned decades ago because of lack of resources. When Jay interviewed the man and it was broadcast on the national tv for three consecutive nights in abridged versions a whole nation was mesmerized. Dr Vis a vis with his husky voice and poverty-beaten emaciated physique acted excellently to the extent that he was chosen as the best when an award-giving ceremony was organized last year to reward the best 'actor' among the lot including those Jay 'caught' in France and Cotonou. He became an instant star. Vié Menekre had his whole life transformed overnight waxing an album featuring his interview and attending concerts where he featured as an artist! In a state function in FHB stadium here the president himself danced on stage with the grand old man giving him a parting envelope containing 2 million FCFA. The house he abandoned in early 80's was completed for him by the government through a ministry and he was taken to France for a holiday by corporate sponsors of the programme! That is the power of TV and celebrity. An old man whom witnesses said slept in motor park where he sold his traditional drugs began suddenly to sleep in 5-star hotels here in Abidjan and Paris France! Through the power of his energy-giving roots the old man had fun with young girls young enough to be his great grand children. He boasted on state TV that he had an antidote to witchcraft and he could heal anyone who ate poison and that raked in a lot of money as witchcraft is rampant here. Today he has faded into obscurity once again quietly enjoying his millions and old age in his village. In the star Tonnerre competition which started earlier this year Sombo partnered with an American security outfit here called "911 Securite". The Girls were about 24 in number. The ladies were made to understand that 'winners' will be taken all-expenses paid to the United States of America. The girls went through severe drilling and other dreadful stages of qualification like eating of raw fishes, sleeping in cemetries, going to a village and fetching water and preparing local food; military exercises like hostage-freeing duty aboard a helicopter and fire-fighting gruelling trials. Indeed those that withstood the shock and rigours of the trial seasons deserve praise here for standards were high and courage stretched to its very limit of human endurance. In the end 7 out of the babes stand qualified to visit the States. The Minister of Culture and Tourism here has welcomed the girls and the producer of the programme to his office. They have visited both the Chinese and American Embassies here meeting their Ambassadors. Mr Sombo has gone to the US to arrange for the girls' visit soon mobilising Ivorians in America and the Ivorian embassy officials in Washington DC. The girls are billed to vist New York, Hollywood and Washington. They will be flown thereafter to China to see and feel the sounds and sights of the Asian Dragon. The girls, the 'Thunder Stars' are seen here now as heroines who survived the onslaught that was the different harrowing stages of the competition; sex-symbols in their provocative wears on stage. They dress to shock and 'kill' and with two hit songs in their kitty the sky remains their limit. One thing is certain: their young lives have changed for the better and they will never be the same after the Uncle Sam and Dragon first-world baptism. ------------ About the author: Sunny Chris Okenwa is a U-K contributor based in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. Email: soco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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