The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency [Racialicious Review]
by Latoya Peterson
On Sunday night, I sat down to watch the premiere of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency after catching two or three specials on the making of the series while browsing HBO.
Now, let me just put this out there: I approached the series with some trepidation. First, I have never read the books. The novels, written by Alexander McCall Smith, are generally well received but knock up against some very strong views I hold about the narrative and stories of people of color. Since the voices of both women and PoCs tend to be marginalized in mainstream publishing, I try to seek out and support authors who would not otherwise be heard. So, instead of buying McCall Smith’s story about a woman from Botswana, I’d rather track down a book written by a woman from Botswana. I’ve written about this before in White Authors, Ethnic Characters and fleshed out my thoughts about times when it goes right and times when it goes wrong, but have decided to err on the side of supporting smaller authors (and smaller publishing houses).
However, the series was tempting to me from the get-go, as I love Jill Scott and like to support her work. In addition, the series is on HBO with a predominantly black cast in a time when diversity on television declines with each passing year.
Jill Scott stars as Precious Ramotswe, a kind hearted “woman of traditional build” with a penchant for mysteries and bush tea. Anika Noni Rose is Grace Makutsi, Precious’ quirky secretary. Lucian Msamati (J. L. B.Matekoni) and Desmond Dube (B K) round out the cast.
The New York Times review notes:
[Precious Ramotswe] has longed for the independence of city life, but she loves her printed caftans and bush tea (the equivalent of coffee in a Greek cup on “Law & Order”), contentedly resisting the newly cosmopolitan pressures to remodel her body closer to a Western dictate.
The tension between tradition and modernity is rendered as broad subject and passing detail: in an early scene three young women right out of “Sex and the City: Manolos Below the Sahara” walk by the newly opened No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency to ask how a woman could be a detective, and how anyone at all might go undercover who is “the size of a small elephant.”
Feminism is encroaching with the staying power of the Spartans at Attica, a reality that seems to be felt most intensely by Grace Makutsi, who serves as a secretary to Precious in a makeshift office with a manual typewriter. (Recording an outgoing answering-machine message, she plugs the agency’s areas of specialty: “Did your husband go missing? Did someone steal your cow?”)
Makutsi, played with an endearing, ramrod rigidity by Anika Noni Rose, scored 97 percent on her secretarial exam, a fact she keeps repeating, baffled as she is that all the best-paying jobs are still going to the short skirts.
I watched the episode and I was charmed by the whole series. There isn’t a lot of grit in this detective story, and it isn’t the typical hard-boiled crime drama that I tend to gravitate toward. But there was a lot to like in the series. Starting with Precious’ relationship with her father, the series features lots of love between characters, particularly in families.
The series also passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors. The women of the series are normally talking about the business or a case and occassionally about their personal lives. While there are some men who will eventually become part of the story line (like Precious’ abusive ex-husband, Note) the premiere spent most of its camera time on women talking to other women.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency also took some pains to dispel certain myths. I liked the interplay between the more rural area where Precious grew up and the city center where she lives now. It was interesting to see the shift in ideals and values, particularly as they mirror some of the dynamics that exist here in the U.S. (Did anyone else notice that a modern body type was not only slim, and rocking western style clothing, but also had hard relaxed hair or a weave, compared to Precious’ natural?)
The role of Precious’ weight also played a significant role in the series. Jbrotherlove remarked on twitter “watching The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency on HBO. I’m disturbed by how many characters have negative comments about Jill Scott’s weight.”
It is harsh. Most of the female characters on the show do have negative things to say about Precious’ weight, though she seems unfazed by it. She often remarks “many men prefer this way.” And this is proven in the series, as Precious becomes quite the seductress, normally using her feminine wiles to coax men into assisting her. However, I am not quite sure yet how this will all pan out. I like Precious’ character because she is complex and independent. The scenes involving her abusive ex-husband, Note, hint at some of the emotional depth of the character. Yet, taking all this into consideration, I am not sure what statement – if any – the series will make about gender, though it is referred to often.
A review of the show on Kansas City.com also points out a broader criticism:
And that brings me to my qualm. For most Americans, this is the only glimpse of Africa they will see on TV all year, and such an odd vision of Africa it is. It looks like it was filmed in 1975. Watching “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” you will have no clue as to the humanitarian challenges being faced in sub-Saharan Africa. Botswana, in fact, has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world, and its 1.6 million inhabitants can expect to live on average less than 34 years.
Squaring the realities of Africa against the fairy-tale Africa of “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,” where the worst thing Precious and Grace were likely to stumble upon was a cheating husband, was proving surprisingly difficult for me. That is, until I had a simple four-word epiphany.
Cheating husbands spread AIDS.
So maybe the stakes weren’t as low as I’d originally thought.
I can hear that criticism. However, one of the reasons that so many of the actors signed on to the show was to display a more positive image of an African country. And, based on the way in which the topic of domestic violence was discussed, I think that a large topic like the AIDS crisis will require a few more episodes before the writers delve into that topic.
Overall, I enjoyed the show. The pacing was slow at points, and some of the plots were resolved a little too neatly. (Yeah hi – murderous crime boss selling kid bones for witchcraft, and he was immediately apprehended by the police based on a tape recorded confession? Riiiight.) Still, I have high hopes for the series. Jill Scott is wonderful in this role and the series has a lot of potential to develop into something great.
(Psst – I know we had five readers from Botswana come to the blog last month. If any of you are around, I would love to hear your thoughts on the series, especially on the casting.)
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Ruchama wrote:
I haven’t seen the series yet (I don’t have HBO), but I’ve read most of the books, and they do deal with HIV and AIDS later on. There’s one case where a man wants to find a woman that he wronged years ago, so that he can apologize, and she finds out that the woman had died of AIDS and has a small daughter who’s HIV-positive, and the man decides that the way that he can make up for the horrible thing he did to the mother years ago is to give some money to help the little girl. We also find out that Mma Makutsi’s brother has AIDS, and there’s an “orphan farm” where a lot of the main characters go to help out with stuff where a few of the kids are mentioned having parents who died of AIDS.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 11:42 am ¶
Mahsino wrote:
I know it may seem like a petty criticism, but I really have hesitations about watching this series because they couldn’t find a woman from Africa (I’m not even going to lock it down to simple Botswana) to play Precious.
I’m coming from an internal debate of really wanting to support Jill Scott and positive representations of non-Western Characters of Color and annoyance that actresses from sub-Saharan Africa never get their chance to shine on the main stage (I know it’s slim pickin’s for the guys, but at least I can name some).
I’ll have to watch an episode to decide whether I can overlook the fake accent (growing up with people making fun of “African” accents has made me overtly critical of well intentioned attempts). I’ve never been so on-the-fence about a new show.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 11:51 am ¶
Monie wrote:
I don’t agree with the criticism about the show not dealing with AIDS, poverty, etc. There is more going on in Africa than those two things and some of what goes on is positive, despite constant media reports to the contrary.
Thanks for the review Latoya. I don’t have HBO but I’ll check this out on DVD when its available.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 11:54 am ¶
Rob Schmidt wrote:
Haven’t seen the TV show, but did read the first book in the series. I gave it an 8.0 of 10. It seemed realistic and authentic, but I don’t know enough about Botswana to judge whether it indulged in any stereotypes.
I don’t recall any comments about Precious’s weight. Could this be an invention for American TV audiences? I.e., “How can we feature a big black woman without mentioning her appearance?”
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 11:59 am ¶
Versai wrote:
There was an orphanage in the pilot episode–and while I don’t remember anyone expressly saying that the children lost their parents to AIDS–that’s the impression I got.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 11:59 am ¶
atlasien wrote:
I have read and enjoyed several of the books.
I agree, it’s less than ideal that Botswana isn’t being represented to America by a person native to the country, and that the lead actress is not African… but hey, less than ideal is often better than nothing.
The depictions of Africa in America are generally so horrible that the series doesn’t need perfection in order to be much, much better than the average.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:05 pm ¶
Ruchama wrote:
The books did have some comments about Precious’s weight — some positive, some negative. IIRC, most of the positive ones were from men and most of the negative ones from women.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:07 pm ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Mahsino –
I actually went back and forth with that one, ultimately deciding not to include it in the analysis because I didn’t have enough information.
Now, I did notice that the majority of the stars are black celebs from the US or the UK. Lucian Msamati was born in Zimbabwe but raised in the UK, and is denoted as a UK actor.
The series is shot on location in Botswana, meaning that the extras and locations will be authentic.
Could the have found a sub-Saharan actress to play Precious? I believe they could have, and I think that Scott was not the first choice. [For various reasons, her limited acting experience being one of them.] But the production was also BBC financed and I think that one of the conditions that financiers place on productions is to have a bankable star leading the project. Since many sub Saharan actresses are not not known to the average American/Brit, I think they went with visibility and talent over dedicated authenticity.
[They also mentioned they took a few liberties with culture and things, but wanted to make sure the show stayed true to the "feel of Botswana." In one of the making of specials some of the consultants on the project remarked that "everything can't be perfect" but they felt like it was a good representation.]
I add all this not as a justification, but a possible explanation. I’ve been turning those issues over in my mind as well.
Oh, and I’m not touching the accent question. I know at one point, Scott & Rose realized they were learning the wrong accent and had to switch dialect coaches. I am hoping someone from Botswana weighs in on that.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:08 pm ¶
Marcus wrote:
Haven’t seen it on TV either, but read the first book years ago. I really can’t say anything about how accurate the portrayal is but one should remember that Botswana is one of Africas richest, most peaceful and politically stable countries. I really don’t want to downplay the impact of HIV but I could imagine that the relatively positive image of the country is rather realistic.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:13 pm ¶
Abby wrote:
@ Mahsino: I totally agree with your comments. It’s the reason why I’ve had difficulty with this and I haven’t watched it yet.
Jill Scott is not particularly famous in the UK. And the same goes for many of the british stars and the US. They could have easily cast African actors in some of the major roles. It just seems to me that they decided to make actual african people the background in an african story.
I agree with the critic that said “It looks like it was filmed in 1975″ . The books and what I’ve seen of the Tv series reminds me a lot of the “detective” drama(s) I used to watch growing up.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:22 pm ¶
Brigitte wrote:
The series and books aren’t perfect but I do really enjoy both of them.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:28 pm ¶
Brigitte wrote:
@I don’t recall any comments about Precious’s weight. Could this be an invention for American TV audiences?
Her “traditional build” and the reaction of other people to it is mentioned in every book of the series.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:43 pm ¶
Rob Schmidt wrote:
So Jill Scott is “bankable”–famous enough as a singer for HBO to bet its money on–but an unknown Botswana actress isn’t? Hmm. I wouldn’t have thought of that. “Bankable” to me is (maybe) Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, and…that’s about it.
I guess that’s why I’m not an HBO executive. Who knew that casting Jill Scott was enough to make this series a success? Not me.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:53 pm ¶
Tami wrote:
The “what about AIDs” criticism really rankles. I’ve seen it a lot in threads around the ‘Net, as well as other comments that the series isn’t “real” enough.
Do we put these same strict limitations on American shows? Do people watch, say, “Monk” and wonder why the show doesn’t accurately portray the crime rate of San Fran? Most people couldn’t be arsed about the fact that “Friends” was set in NYC, yet the protagonists managed to avoid people of color for the most part.
I suspect that this criticism is more about most Americans not being comfortable with a view of Africa that doesn’t focus on disease, famine and war. A more balanced view of the continent, its 53 countries and myriad peoples confounds.
BTW, I’m reading this book–”Mistaking Africa”–about the ways popular culture influences our skewed view of the continent. It seems pretty good thus far.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:55 pm ¶
Molly wrote:
I’m so glad to see this here! I was given the first book, read it and enjoyed it, but chose not to buy any more for the same reasons you decided to skip the series; I’d rather read Chiamanda Ngoze Adichie or someone than yet another white guy, especially a white guy writing about Africa.
But I find myself feeling completely different about the series, because even though it’s still written by a white guy (and probably directed and produced by white guys, though I’d have to check), the fact that it’s peopled entirely with dark-skinned black actors playing nuanced and largely positive roles (excepting, of course, the bad guys that Precious catches!)—that makes it hugely different for me.
I mean, I do support white people writing people of color, when they do it well; Ursula LeGuin is on my good list forever for her efforts. And between two books written by white dudes, I generally prefer the one that doesn’t contain only white (or “assume they’re white”) characters. But it’s still never ideal for me, because, frankly, I’ve read more than my fair share of books by and/or about white people, and so has everyone else.
But TV shows about and starring an entire cast of dark-skinned blacks in a positive setting in Africa? I can’t think of another one, honestly. So while the books don’t make it onto my list, the TV show pretty much *is* my list.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 12:58 pm ¶
ms. four wrote:
I want to second or third that Precious’s weight is a constant issue in the books.
Latoya, thanks for the review. I also approached the books with trepidation but was pleasantly surprised.
Mahsino, do you feel the same way about Don Cheadle playing Paul Kagama in Hotel Rawanda?
I guess I don’t see this as a major issue. I’m okay with Chinese Americans playing Chinese people in American films. Also, why would a Nigerian be a more authentic Bostwanan than Jill Scott? Africa is a big place.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 1:00 pm ¶
Eva wrote:
I didn’t get that it was in 1975. Her secretary mentions being on the world wide web. Also, as for the actors being from the US and the UK; how many times have actors from the UK played Americans? Idris Elba (who was in episode one) played Stringer Bell in “The Wire” and Thandi Newton played Condi Rice in “W.”
The show did mention AIDS, it was referred to as “the virus” but I knew what they were talking about. I don’t mind not dwelling on that; see I’ve always lived in Harlem and when I’d tell people where I lived they assumed it was filled with dirt and crime (this was in the 70’s). The media already exploits bad things that happen in black countries and black neighborhoods, it’s refreshing to see the good for a change.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 1:04 pm ¶
pmb wrote:
Thanks for this review and comments. I read one or two of the books a couple years ago and they were OK. I probably would have read more if they hadn’t been written by a white man. No offense, of course, as I am one myself, but as Latoya notes there’s a problem telling other people’s stories. I’m looking forward to checking out this series – iTunes or DVD – but not without reservations. I hope it will provide a different view of “Africa” for people in the US/UK.
That said, it disturbs me how white Americans are quick to latch onto things that are about people of color as long as they are foreign. A Black-only show set in the US will typically have a black-only audience. Set in another country – ahh, that’s about Other people, we can feel all cultured and ethnically enlightened so we watch it. Same thing goes for the way people of color are received in institutions, especially education. International students are a lot more acceptable to white institutions than fellow citizens of color.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 1:09 pm ¶
Compa wrote:
From my experience in sub-saharan Africa (quite limited) and Latin America (decidedly less so) I find that it’s much more common in those regions for people to razz other people openly about their weight, or just for it to be brought up as a subject, than in white circles in North America.
It bothered me quite a bit when I first moved to Latin America, but I have more or less come around to the opinion that it’s just more honest and open to deal with weight as with any other physical feature. BTW, men are not exempt from such comments.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 1:23 pm ¶
cocolamala wrote:
there is an episode where Jill Scott is talking to the mother of her client. the mother expresses surprise at that her son hired her, saying “I though my son preferred a less traditional figure” or something like that. although her comment was negative, it does point out the fact that not every man on the planet and not even every culture values thinness in women.
the existence of multiple beauty standards is important. I like that the author comments on the fact that beauty standards are a product of culture/geography/class, and are not a universal ideal.
because that is what i believed in high school and it made me unhappy with myself. my mother actually needed to inform me that the standard that made me think i was fat because i had a curvy hips, was not the only one in existence and that other people in other communities were not judging me by that particular set of ideals.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 1:27 pm ¶
PPR_Scribe wrote:
Thanks so much for the review, Latoya! As I wrote over on my own spot, I really enjoyed the program. It was…refreshing, would be a good word–in the sense of being parched on a hot day and finally drinking a tall glass of lemonade.
Many of the things other reviewers disliked about it–its slow pace, its sappiness, its simplicity–I loved. Is there not room in this environment of gory, violent, cynical, “realistic” entertainment for something that is more simple and sweet? But then again, I happen to love shows like “Murder She Wrote” (at least, before Mrs. Fletcher’s move to NYC) and so have no problem with that aspect of No. 1 Ladies’.
I encourage everyone to watch the two companion programs that aired last week–one was on the making of the movie and the other was about Botswana. Those fill in quite a few blanks about some of the issues discussed here and elsewhere, such as regarding the depiction of domestic violence and HIV/AIDS.
I am not bothered by so many of the key roles being played by Black Americans. Of course there were practical reasons for this from the network’s point of view (”bankability”). But really, are Black American actors getting so much quality work here that we shoudl begrudge them the opportunity to act in this project? Also, according to one of those companion programs I mentioned, there have been many native Botswanan extras hired for the series, as well as a couple of production units that have been contracted out to local firms. One woman mentioned that filmmakers come to Botswana all the time–to film documentaries about the animals. This was the first time anyone came to the country to show the people.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 1:36 pm ¶
Tamara wrote:
For those who asked questions about casting Jill Scott rather than an Botswanian (is that the correct term?) actress. Sorry it’s Wikipedia, but you gotta start somewhere
“…However, casting Mma Ramotswe proved to be more of a challenge. Producer Timothy Bricknell states that the character’s build and age excludes most well known actresses and that they initially began looking for an actress in Botswana before expanding their search throughout Africa and eventually on to London and Los Angeles. Jill Scott was shortlisted for the role but the producers were uncertain because of her relative lack of acting experience. Minghella decided to cast her after viewing clips of her poetry readings and musical performance and noting her rare screen presence.”
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 2:57 pm ¶
Rob wrote:
I just can’t wait to watch this. I’ll be watching on demand tonight. As far as the whole HIV/AIDS issue, what I got from the interviews, etc. that I’ve seen about the project is that people wanted to do it specifically because it was a vision of Africa that didn’t victimize or demonize the people based on the HIV rates. Honestly, you can see that virtually anywhere that mentions Africa lately. Personally, we all know that Africa has problems, but I’m beginning to tire of the constant portrayal of Africans as victims. As (the insanely talented) Anika Noni Rose says in one of the behind the scenes specials, we need to stop trying to teach Africa things and perhaps consider what we can learn.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 2:57 pm ¶
Rob Schmidt wrote:
Let’s not forget that some white people were born and raised in Botswana and other African countries.
Suppose an Englishman whose family goes back hundreds of years in Africa wrote about black people there. Would that be any different from an African American whose family goes back hundreds of years in the US writing about white people here?
Obama wrote about his first trip to Kenya in “Dreams from My Father” (http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2009/03/review-of-dreams-from-my-father.html). Couldn’t an Anglo native to Kenya have written a book just as observant and understanding?
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 3:01 pm ¶
cocolamala wrote:
@rob
it depends on what his perspective is. living in botswana as a colonizer is a different experience from living there as a colonized person. if he wants to write well about black people in botswana he has to be able to get outside his experience and look into the life and culture of a different group of people.
african americans writing about white culture have many opportunities to learn about it by being immersed in it every day from public school education, to work environments, to any number of media representations. a white writer not immersed in the black community would need to consult with some member(s) the community to learn about actual cultural practices before being able to writer about african american culture with any authority.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 3:16 pm ¶
Mahsino wrote:
@latoya. I remember hearing about the show and its filming/author on NPR. The fact that it is filmed in Botswana and Scott lived there for 4-5 months during filming gave it more “street cred”, I’m just uneasy about it. I totally understand the business aspect to getting a “bankable star” I was just commenting from a place of “in a perfect world…”.
And I didn’t think you were trying to justify rather than explain. Given more info, I actually feel slightly better about the whole thing knowing they tried to stay true to the actual dialect.
@ms four. yes, I do feel the same conflict about Don Cheadle and Forrest Whitaker. While I loves me some Don Cheadle, there are quite a few African actors they could have used- and his accent was horrible.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 3:25 pm ¶
Mahsino wrote:
i mulled over the whole, is it okay for an actress who wasn’t necessarily Botswanan, but from sub-Saharan African to play Precious, and although it wouldn’t be ideal, it would be better
I tent to see things in shades of grey, which is why I stated I was conflicted about the whole thing in my original comment. While I’m glad a Black Actress had a role, it would be better for a Black African Woman to have the role, and it would be best if a Botswanan woman had recieved the role. Without condoning or condemning the outcome, I understand why Jill Scott got the role (she was the most qualified for the part in the eyes of those casting), I just wish that there was an African actress that could rise to the widespread fame this vehicle could allow (and please believe I HATE adressing the continent as a whole, as I am acutley aware it is a large place made up of several cultures). Again, in a perfect world…
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 3:34 pm ¶
Lauren wrote:
I go back and forth on the ethics of McCall Smith writing this particular series, which I’ve nonetheless read and generally enjoyed. He has at least spent a lot of time in Africa, in both Zimbabwe and Botswana. He’s undoubtedly an expert on Botswanan law/the legal system, though an understanding of such a structural/written framework doesn’t necessarily indicate a deeper engagement with social and cultural issues and gender roles.
As long as neither the books nor the tv series claim to be either unique or completely representative…it’s certainly enjoyable to see a woman of colour and size in a leading role.
(And latter episodes tackle these ‘deeper issues’ people have been discussing.)
My other point is somewhat tangential, but here goes – having lived in McCall’s home in the UK with a number of Batswana friends, the general consensus was that his rather quirky view of Edinburgh in other series rang less true than the somewhat postcard-esque Botswana books. Bizarre, that.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 4:11 pm ¶
Amanda wrote:
My husband’s parents live in Bots (in Gaborone, used to live in Lobatse, for those that know the country) and I’ve read a couple of the books of the series and never seen the show.
HIV is a huge issue in Botswana – it’s devastating to the population, but Bots is also an incredibly affluent, educated, developed place with a super-stable government (generally speaking at least…I don’t mean to get into generalizations that will devolve into the governments awful treatment of Batswana who choose to live in the Kalahari and lead a nomadic lifestyle, still). Based on this article and the comments, I would put in that it makes me incredibly happy to see this series out that seems to be focusing on modern issues between cosmopolitan city and small rural town, and isn’t falling into the trap of focusing on all of the “African problems” that get so overhyped! I’ll have to watch the show.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 4:32 pm ¶
Winn wrote:
I enjoy the books, but I loved the series pilot. I understand the criticisms, but this is a well-done production, obviously made with love and attention. I heard an interview with producer Amy J. Moore, and hearing her behind-the-scenes details about how the series came together, how Jill Scott was cast, and how hard she fought for the series to be filmed on location in Botswana, which had no film industry infrastructure, as opposed to South Africa, was all fascinating. This production has spurred a small film industry in Botswana, and will hopefully trigger new stories and narratives that emerge from native Batswana, rather than being filtered through a Western lens.
As far as presenting a sanitized version of Africa, I think the series is an effective weapon in the fight to recognize Africa as an infinitely complex continent, not a monolithic country with nothing to talk about but AIDS, tribal warfare and conflict diamonds. Botswana is relatively politically stable, with a robust economy, a increasingly well-educated populace (and education is being even more promoted by the government to help end the country’s reliance on the diamond market and an expat skilled workforce), and a growing tourism industry. It is the perfect locale to present a different, positive and more nuanced vision of Africa to us. However, Botswana has been hit heavily by AIDS and the books definitely address this, particularly in later volumes. I can’t imagine, especially with McCall Smith’s involvement with the series, that the subject will not be dealt with on the show, as well as other topics the books tackle like gender roles and traditional vs. nontraditional work for women, rural vs. urban life in Africa, mental illness and the conflict between traditional beliefs and contemporary medical/psychological approaches, etc. Although if these books were set in an English village they would be called “cozies”, they do not shy from the real issues facing contemporary Africa, and I imagine the series will take much the same approach.
Because we face so much frustration with limited or stereotypical depictions in the media, we often lose sight of the fact that no one production can be all things to all people. Could the casting directors and producers have found an actress from Botswana or elsewhere in Africa to play Precious? Perhaps. But at the risk of contradicting myself, because I normally hate it when singers with limited acting experience get work over trained actors, I think Jill Scott is the perfect choice. She carries herself with the right mix of authority, vulnerability, grace and humor that makes Precious such an endearing character. And she is just luminous on screen, truly remarkably beautiful. Precious knows her own power as a woman and is proud of her “traditional build”, and despite our Westernized sensitivity to the comments about her weight, you get the sense from Precious that for the most part, these comments never penetrate her sense of self (the “small elephant” comment stings, but only for a moment, and pales in comparison to Precious’ concern about her lack of customers). This is a woman whose deep love and respect for her late father has been transferred to her country, and we know she will truly be a force to be reckoned with, even if it is only within a small sphere. Jill Scott conveys all of this in her performance with an ease and power that truly and pleasantly surprised me. I won’t pretend to attest to the authenticity of Jill Scott’s accent, but I will say on purely aesthetic terms, her musical talent is manifest in her speaking voice as well, and her lines have a lovely, lyrical lilt (excuse the alliteration!) that really fits into the spirit of the production. In essence, she’s the right actress for the role, regardless of her nationality.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 4:36 pm ¶
anon wrote:
I grew up in sub-Saharan Africa and have roots in East Africa. People make digs at weight all the time but it’s for the most part affectionate because eating disorders and such haven’t been part of the culture though in some areas this is on the rise because of dominant media influence. Also, I completely agree with previous comments about how important it is to see this side of Africa represented. Fairy tale, shmairy tale.. I read the article on Kansas City and (shakes head). Like Americans need a reminder about Africans dying or starving! That’s all they see. Which again is the point of the series. I’ve also read the books and sure, would’ve preferred that were not written by a white male but they were still really good reading and don’t know if it’s fair to miss them solely on basis of the author.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 5:05 pm ¶
Baiskeli wrote:
@Tami
I suspect that this criticism is more about most Americans not being comfortable with a view of Africa that doesn’t focus on disease, famine and war. A more balanced view of the continent, its 53 countries and myriad peoples confounds.
This is so true, I remember almost going medieval on someone on Slashdot when a tech conference in Africa was being discussed (I think it was TED in Arusha). Their comment was along the line of ‘..technology for Africans is a waste, they should be feeding all the starving children’. And there were so many more like that. I think such comments/modes of thinking are based on the fact that when people talk of Africa as anything other than a basket case that they can shine their paternalistic goodness on, they become very uncomfortable.
Any African in the U.S and or Europe will run into this so often that you can almost set your watch by it.
I’m kind of torn about the books (which I’ve not read but I’ve heard are great). The fact that they are not written by an African does bother me. This is less a question of who is doing the writing vs who has market access. For African fiction (and to some extent non-fiction authors to make it in the European or Americans they either have to fit a certain niche/stereotype (writing about bad things happening), self having (V.S Naipul)either be writing about the past or be one of the very few allowed to break that barrier, its almost like there is a quota.
I’m not saying that non-African or white authors cannot write books about Africa, but when books about Africans written by whites make it in the market-place and in reviews but books written about Africans by Africans sink like a stone or never even make it to market then something is wrong.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 6:08 pm ¶
Baiskeli wrote:
@Rob Schmidt
Let’s not forget that some white people were born and raised in Botswana and other African countries.
Suppose an Englishman whose family goes back hundreds of years in Africa wrote about black people there. Would that be any different from an African American whose family goes back hundreds of years in the US writing about white people here?
Obama wrote about his first trip to Kenya in “Dreams from My Father” (http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2009/03/review-of-dreams-from-my-father.html). Couldn’t an Anglo native to Kenya have written a book just as observant and understanding?
White people in Africa occupy a privileged position, just like they do in the U.S. So a white person could (and they have) write books about Africa, but it is very hard for them to divorce themselves from the privilege afforded them.
I don’t think a visibly white person could have written a book as perceptive about Kenya as Obama. The most painful parts of his book (painful because I’m Kenyan) are where he describes being treated horribly in Kenya because he is not white (for example, they go to a restaurant and are ignored while whites who come after them are treated like royalty. And what hurts is this is being done by other blacks). As a visibly white person, you just would never see this. My wife (who is white) and I are going home for a visit later this year, and I suspect it will be an ‘interesting’ experience.
So to answer this specific question
Suppose an Englishman whose family goes back hundreds of years in Africa wrote about black people there. Would that be any different from an African American whose family goes back hundreds of years in the US writing about white people here?
It’s not a question of who would write a more true story (actually, it is, but let me get there). Blacks in the U.S and Africa have had to become intimately familiar with whites as a survival mechanism (A blogger, I want to say either Womanist Musings or Tami wrote a wonderful post called Negotiating White Spaces.)
Whites in Africa can get by never interacting with blacks (and some don’t), never learning the local culture and never dealing with Africans as anything other than servants. So, my guess is that blacks know a hell of a lot more about whites (as I do, since even in Kenya 70% of what I learnt in school had to do with European History, Europe etc etc as a carry over from Colonialism).
I mean, think about it, I speak 3 languages (English, Swahili, Kenyas national languages) and Kikuyu. I know whites in Kenya who’ve been there multiple generations but only know a few words in swahili (the ones to use with servants).
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 6:25 pm ¶
Baiskeli wrote:
@Rob Schmidt
Here is the post I was referencing. It was by Womanist Musings
Negotiating White Spaces
http://www.womanist-musings.com/2009/01/negotiating-white-spaces.html
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 6:26 pm ¶
Orchid wrote:
I completely disagree with the criticism of the show by Kansas City. I grew up in West Africa and I don’t want Africa’s Identity to be determined by others. African are not all AIDS and starvation. Our lives do not revolve entirely around wars, famine, and AIDS. That is not who we are and No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is going to prove exactly that. Yes there are hardships, but we are allowed to be happy right? Our identities are not frozen or concrete. They are fluid, broad and multidimensional, and I don’t understand why the author of that review does not realize that.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 6:29 pm ¶
Nappy Mind wrote:
Although I too approached the books with some trepidation because the author is a white man who is not from Botswana, I really enjoyed the books.
This thoughtful series touched on familial and social issues and provided some political context for the storytelling.
I liked Precious’ endearment to her late father and to her country. It was refreshing to hear the perspective of a self assured, single woman with a “traditional build” whose life did not revolve around getting married (although she eventually did marry).
I love Jill Scott and look forward to seeing this HBO series.
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 9:54 pm ¶
Ain't I an African? wrote:
I’m Kenyan born and bred and I live in Nairobi. I’m not ravaged by AIDS, war or hunger. I don’t deny that many of my fellow Africans are, and this is a tragedy. However criticizing The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency for not talking about or portraying AIDS is like criticising Desperate Housewives for not talking about why there is a disproportionate number of African American males in US prisons.
Many outside Africa may be surprised to know that our lives are not defined or typified by the global/Northern stereotypes about Africans.
On a related note, some years ago a young woman from California, I believe it was, came to visit an organization I was working for in Nairobi. She bought a ‘bug suit’ in LA, which looks like some kind of astronaut’s suit to wear in Nairobi!
The idea seems to be that Africa is a wild, dangerous place where death stalks constantly, whether from lions, crocodiles, bugs, rebel soldiers, AIDS or cannibals!
By the way I dislike the term ’sub-Saharan.’ To me it connotes sub-human, sub-standard and all other ’subs’ that Africa is associated with.
Posted 02 Apr 2009 at 3:05 am ¶
Louise wrote:
something really irks me, it’s the fact that some people cannot accept that african may be a nice place like it seems on “ladies no1 dective agency”, they say without aids and starvation and corruption and suffering being depicted it’s not a real representation. Well i live in England and i have yet to watch a single film that represents what it really is, My community was cut out of the film notting hill, despite it valueble contribution to the area. In the 1950’s many caribbean immigrants came to fill the post war britain and settled in what was a run down and depressed notting hill, we stayed and regenrated, we created the carnival and slowly notting hill recovered, it was gentrified and some people were priced out of the area although many stayed. however i have yet to see the caribbean community represented in any richard curtis film ie four weddings and funeral,notting hill, love actually or the rest, however doesn’t mean that they don’t represent something , even if it’s not exact reality.
white flight has created in some communities complete segregation, thankfully not in my area.
Posted 02 Apr 2009 at 6:51 am ¶
bradski wrote:
The show is a US-British co-production, that means that it has to have a recognizable face or two to get funding.
Jill Scott is an interesting choice. Does she look sufficiently like a native of Botswana? Scott looks more like a typically mixed African-American. Is this a look that is somewhat common in Botswana?
Posted 02 Apr 2009 at 12:27 pm ¶
JC wrote:
I’ve not seen tis movie yet but I have it on DVR and will be enjoying it this weekend. I have seen the preview and the making off specials available on On-Demand, and I am willing to give it a chance. A show with almost 100% black cast is really hard to find and black characters that’s not a white stereotype is almost non-existence. I need to support all I can if it’s of quality.
I do have a lot of issue with some of the white reviews like the one featured in the post. So many white American reviewers are looking for things which validate their preconceived (and perhaps stereotypical and racist) notions. So what Africa is ravaged by poverty and aids? Can’t these people have a normal life that’s actually similar to ours? I remember I read a review on a HBO documentary on the lives of 4 Iraqi teenagers, and the reviewer complaints that these teens actually act too much like American teens and not talking more about “big issues” like their views on American occupation. Why? Just so they’d cater to your POV? Why can’t a show display the everyday lives on Africans? That they live their lives like you and me even with the issue they have? Do some of these people wish to see movies about the US which only dealt with inner city poverty and lack of universal medical coverage? Oh please.
Since your average American’s view on daily Africa live is dominated by video footages of Ethiopian kids going hungry and genocides perpetuated by crazed dictators, I’d say more shows about the genial daily life of Africans the better, even if it’s a little bit of fantasy and written by a very White British writer.
Posted 02 Apr 2009 at 2:08 pm ¶
PN wrote:
@bradski
“Jill Scott is an interesting choice. Does she look sufficiently like a native of Botswana? Scott looks more like a typically mixed African-American. Is this a look that is somewhat common in Botswana?”
What do you mean by that? That she is not a female version of Djimon Hounsou? There is not a “typical native” look in any African countries. There are people of all shades and with all kinds of features.
Posted 02 Apr 2009 at 9:07 pm ¶
NancyP wrote:
Bessie Head was a S. African who had to leave the country during the apartheid era (she was a journalist) and who settled in Botswana. Her novels are well worth reading. She was the illegitimate child of a well-off white woman and her black lover, was taken away from her mother (who was put into a mental ward) and eventually ended up as a charity girl in boarding school, more or less suspended between two worlds.
BTW, if that’s Jill Scott in the photo, what’s the problem with her weight?
Posted 02 Apr 2009 at 10:53 pm ¶
rebecca walker wrote:
great post–thanks for sussing it out for me–i had all the same reservations. i do agree with another commenter though, read Bessie Head. A Question of Power is a classic!
Posted 03 Apr 2009 at 6:50 am ¶
Fiqah wrote:
I have never read the books, but I caught the show a few nights ago. And I love it. That’s surprising because typically the “authentic Africa” theme (i.e., goregous, primarily rural backdrop/setting; animals alongside people; four-part male choir singing in African language of choice soundtrack) sets my B.S.-o-meter right off. Seriously, there are massive and vibrant cities throughout all of Africa, and more people than, you know, giraffes…but okay, I understand, that’s not where these stories are set.
@Ain’t I an African?: “By the way I dislike the term ’sub-Saharan.’ To me it connotes sub-human, sub-standard and all other ’subs’ that Africa is associated with.”
Cosign. “Sub” DOES have negative connotations, and “inferior” does happen to be one of them. I have this same issue with “Aborigine” (”abnormality”, “abscond”) and “native” outside of the colonial context (i.e., “British citizen” vs.”native Botswanian”…language is powerful, children, use it wisely). When it makes geographic sense to do so I prefer to use the term ” the Sahel” in lieu of “sub-Saharan.” It’s just more poetic, and I think it does proper descriptive justice to one of the most beautiful places I’ve had the pleasure of being in.
Posted 03 Apr 2009 at 9:19 am ¶
bradski wrote:
PN,
I’m aware that native Africans come in different shades of black and brown, but, again, I don’t know what a native or the majority of people in Botswana look like. That’s why I asked.
To say that native people from certain countries don’t have a typical look is a fallacy. There is such thing as a typical Ethiopian or southern Italian look. Right? Similarly, there is such thing as a typical look for Slavs. Koreans don’t look exactly like Chinese or Japanese or Vietnamese, right?
I’m not from Botswana. I’m not familiar with how most people look there. Therefore, it’s a valid question as to whether Scott looks like a typical native Botswanan. This doesn’t deny the fact that there are mixed-people in the country who have been there for a long time. I just don’t know since I’m unfamiliar with the country and the phenotype of its people.
Native Americans from North America don’t look like Native Mexicans, right? So, why would I expect a person from Botswana to look like Djimon Honsou of all people?
The reality is that I don’t expect many African-Americans to look like native Africans. Will Smith would have a hard time passing for a non-mixed, native Ugandan. Forrest Whitaker played Idi Amin but Whitaker had to darken his skin for the role (I’ve met Witaker in person. He has brown skin and not black skin.)
Posted 03 Apr 2009 at 10:10 am ¶
Ain't I an African? wrote:
@bradski: You’re absolutely right that the genetic mix of many African Americans makes them look different from 100% negroid [I hope that's not an offensive term] Africans. But you’d be surprised at how much diversity there is in Africa. Will Smith’s features look quite African to me, Halle Berry’s not typical. I find that many male AA celebrities tend to have African features as compared to female celebrities. Apart from the typcial Negroid feature, there are quite a number of mixed Africans including whole ethnic groups. By the way, did Forest Whitaker darken his skin to look like an African or to look like Idi Amin?
I think that Jill Scott doesn’t look very different from a Southern African (this from an East African so I may be wrong. An East African would definitely accept her as a Motswana etc.) Another person who I think could pass for South African – Oprah Winfrey – her facial features especially when I see her without makeup, the shade of her skin colour, her figure etc. This is, I admit, is a generalization of my perceptions about how Southern Africans look. Basically, what I am saying Bradski, is that to me, Jill Scott is credible as a southern African in her physical appearance.
@ Fiqah: I associate the Sahel with Niger, Mali, Chad etc. meaning the region between the Sahara belt itself, but if it refers to the whole area, it is definitely a better term. If it’s not accurate, we can come up with a better term than “sub-Saharan.” I used to think that “African” would suffice, on the basis that North Africans are more Arab than “African,” but I’ve been challenged on that, and the current “father” of pan-Africanism is none other than the Libyan president Muammar Qaddafi, an Arab in my estimation and I could be wrong.
Posted 03 Apr 2009 at 12:42 pm ¶
deb wrote:
I watched an episode that hasn’t aired yet here in the US (it’s also produced by the BBC, so I guess it premiered in the UK early) and I liked it. I like that there’s a gay character, BK, but he plays, of all things, a hairdresser.
And I loved the music. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear Hugh Masekela’s “Mahlalela.” (Hey, I’m from Brooklyn; I’m sure South Africans weren’t surprised at all.) It’s my favorite song on “The Chisa Years: 1965-1975 (Rare and Unreleased).”
Posted 04 Apr 2009 at 10:35 am ¶
Jackie wrote:
I thought people would be interested in a recent interview with Alexander McCall from The Root:
Clues to McCall’s ‘Detective Agency’
I haven’t seen the show yet but I hope to get to at some point.
Posted 04 Apr 2009 at 12:24 pm ¶
Lea wrote:
I’m very looking forward to seeing this show. I hope it gets imported, but if it doesn’t, I’ll have to get it as soon as it comes out in DVD. Unless the reviews and my impressions change dramatically, I’m intent on watching the show.
I could not resist the book series, although I’ve read only half of the books so far. Although I agree with many commenters about the feeling of trepidation: can a white, Scottish man really capture the voice of a black, Botswanan woman, even if he has lived in Botswana and other parts of southern Africa for years? I also feel myself unqualified to judge on whether he has or hasn’t done Mma Ramotswe justice. I do think that his writing voice is filled with compassion, which I think is the most vital tool of all for a writer.
I hope the series succeeds. I hope it flourishes and continues to film in Botswana, to offer extra and supporting roles to local actors. I’m hopeful that these employment opportunities will give as-yet unknown actors a chance to shine in supporting roles and move on to bigger projects. If actors, writers and filmmakers out of Botswana get a greater chance to tell their stories, I think that would be the greatest benefit possible.
Posted 05 Apr 2009 at 4:48 am ¶
The Opoponax wrote:
Re the casting of Jill Scott and not a Botswanan actress: this is hardly rare in TV. Not only because of the “bankable star” issues, but because it’s usually much simpler for a television production to cast actors who live near where the pre-production team is based (or who have the means or the star power to get there).
This is also the case, btw, with a lot of white and/or first world actors — most of the supposedly British or Irish characters in the Buffy/Angel universe are played by Americans, for instance.
Mod Note: I took a closer look at your Buffy/Angel statement and here’s what I found:
Of the British/Irish characters of note on the show, five (Giles, Ethan, Giles’ sometime-gf Olivia, and Watchers Gwendolyn Post and Roger Wyndham-Pryce [Wesley's dad]) were played by Britons. The Irish character Doyle was played by an Irishman. Five other British characters (Spike, Drusilla, Wesley, Kendra and Quentin Travers) were played by Americans. The international group of Potential Slayers introduced in Year 7 were apparently all played by Americans. — AG
Posted 06 Apr 2009 at 12:05 am ¶
Marilee wrote:
For all those people who have written about having reservations about a series based on books by a white guy about Africans: Alexander McCall Smith did live in Botswana for years — even if he is white, surely that ought to give some ‘legitimacy’ to his writing. It seems strange to me to be so fixated on the author’s being white and yet to not even bother at least googling his biography.
Posted 06 Apr 2009 at 6:45 am ¶
ms. four wrote:
The Sahel doesn’t encompass Africa south of the Sahara, but a geographic belt between the Sahara and the rest of the continent. Or at least that’s what Wikipedia says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel
The only alternative I have heard is “Black Africa.” Yuck.
I really disagree with the idea that any African actress would have been better than Jill Scott. An Egyptian or Ethiopian actress would most likely not have looked the part, despite being from the same continent.
Again, I’d rather see a Chinese-American person play a Chinese person than to see a Japanese person (ie another Asian) play a Chinese person.
I don’t see this as being remarkably different.
Posted 06 Apr 2009 at 7:00 am ¶
The Opoponax wrote:
But Ms. Four, would you rather see a French-American play a French person on American TV, or a Norwegian play a French person on American TV? Should biracial people be allowed to play people who aren’t biracial?
I think the bottom line is that, as with discussions about colorblind casting, you have to pick the actor who is best for the role. If the Korean actor has the right look, and does all the things you need the character to do, and gives the best performance, you should cast the Korean actor over an actor who is more ethnically “true” to the character (whether they are Japanese or Japanese-American).
Another good example from TV: Sayid from Lost. The actor is Indian by way of the UK, but he plays an Iraqi (and in my opinion doesn’t look Middle Eastern AT ALL — Navin Andrews is from fricken Kerala!). Is this OK? Why or why not? Should that role have gone to an Iraqi, any Iraqi, no matter what lengths the production team had to go to?
For that matter, is it OK for Navin Andrews, who is ethnically Malayali, to play a Jat from Northern India, just because of the way we’re currently drawing the lines on our maps?
Posted 06 Apr 2009 at 8:10 am ¶
Eunice Ave wrote:
I thoroughly enjoyed this series and have been telling everyone I know to watch the series. I haven’t read the books, though, because of the excellence of these adaptations, I absolutely intend to read them right away.
I was once married to a Ghanaian and the one thing I truly missed when we parted was the loss of the valuable friendships I made with his friends. (African relatives never really leave you once you have children with a man. You are always “the wife” or “the mother.”
I gained an appreciation and a love for Africans and a am very protective of their image in writing and on screen. It should be obvious in the twenthy-first century that an entire continent of people are just that, “people” and by and large they are conservative. Much more so than average americans. They are extremely family-oriented to a fault and hard working beyond anything most Americans could conceive. They are good, and bad, rich and poor, all of the human attributes that make life complex.
I look on this as an opportunity for everyone to finally see Africans of all stripes as they really are. That is, just like everybody else.
Beyond that, all that I can say is that this is a series conceived and executed with love. Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose and the mail cast of characters are all excellent. The series absolutely deals with the Aids crisis. It just doesn’t bludgeon you. It is weaved into the series from the first episode. Also, the lingering backwardness and superstition that is a hindrance to Botswana’s movement into modernity is also part of the play.
I recommend this to anyone with a sense of humor, a thoughtful nature, and a pulse.
Posted 10 Apr 2009 at 5:08 pm ¶
Black in Ont. Canada wrote:
We have watched both the 1st and 2nd episodes, and we LOVED Them. We WILL continue to watch every single episode in the series. It is a blessing and delight to see a black TV shows where we are not being casted as drug dealers, street thugs, prostitutes, or pimps. Jill and Anika make this series shine. We adore them and the rest of the cast. THANK YOU BOTH, and HBO for Positive BLACK TV. We hgope the series goes on sale Blu-Ray or DVD. It will make a wonderful addition to our family DVD collection.
Posted 13 Apr 2009 at 4:44 pm ¶
Seth Owen wrote:
Several posts have indicated an uneasiness about a white author writing about people of color. I think that a writer of talent can do such a thing — or are we ready to argue that a black writer isn’t competent to write about white people?
Alexander McCall Smith is an African, by the way, born in Zimbabwe, who taught in Botswana before moving to Scotland.
I would expect a white African may indeed know Africa at least as well as a black American.
Posted 14 Apr 2009 at 6:57 pm ¶
Truth Thomas wrote:
Forgive me, but as much as I love Jill Scott, I am profoundly uncomfortable with white South-African writers (however talented) framing images of black South Africa for the world.
When is the last time anybody ever heard of
a group of all black writers from Botswana getting a film deal to depict the life of an all white community in Aspen, Colorado?
Black writers can speak for themselves. Let us not forget that F.W. de Klerk was born in Johannesburg. I suspect his experience as a South African is not the same as that of Nelson Mandela, or Stephen Biko, or countless other Africans of color who cannot afford to move to Scotland. I want to hear their voices.
Posted 18 Apr 2009 at 11:34 pm ¶
Pat Hammond wrote:
My husband and I are both enjoying this series.
We accidently found it 2 weeks ago on HBO. Each of the characters are delightful and I find myself laughing at their comments. I love the colors of the cafttans and the head bands that are worn with them. Don’t break my bubble by
telling me that the movies are not shot in Africa.
Please thank whoever is responsible for this series.
Pat
Posted 21 Apr 2009 at 4:34 pm ¶
AC wrote:
@ Eva,
The series takes place today, not in 1975. Someone wrote an article saying the scenery of the series looked dated, i.e. like in 1975.
Great show by the way! I’m so glad they waited a while before delving into the whole AIDS issue.
More people need to learn that Africa is more than just AIDS, poverty, disease, war, AIDS, AIDS, AIDS!
Personally, I think the scenery is beautiful and the costumes worn by Ms. Scott and Ms. Rose are appropriate and lovely.
I’ll admit I had difficulty getting into the series initially because it was a bit slow but now I look forward to each new episode each week.
It’s refreshing to see two lovely and talented woman of color on screen not playing prostitutes in a gang or war-ridden and violent setting.
My only regret is that they would hire more female African actors for the series or at least have a regular character that features an African actress to balance out the criticism that there aren’t enough African actresses on the show.
Posted 21 Apr 2009 at 7:41 pm ¶
Soul Sister Number 1 wrote:
First of all, I LOVE the series. I have friends that can not seem to get into and as African-Americans, I venture that we are sometimes so uncomfortable in our “Blackness”, that it becomes difficult to watch characters that reflect ourselves. I think that is the reason as opposed to storylines, actors, etc. Something that I have not seen mentioned, but I think bears noting, is that not only are all the characters Black, but they are all caramel, brown, and cocoa complexioned. In mainstream US and British films/television, a very fair skinned person with wavy or straight hair is what passes as a Black character. I think that’s great!
Posted 26 Apr 2009 at 12:37 am ¶
Mary wrote:
I can believe that BBC 1 have scraped showing the Number one ladies dective agency on Sunday nights, I am so dissapointed, it was the highlight of my week. It was funny with a great story line, loved the books and was delighted to see that the series had been televised.
Posted 04 May 2009 at 5:24 am ¶
Anita wrote:
I just love this program, but if it is kept on the air HBO or Hollywood would ruin it, with smut and the crap that they THINK people want to see. I loved the way they didn’t curse, it isn’t nessary to get your point across and they do it beautifully. Please someone keep The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency on the air, and don’t change how they do or say things to suit what you think we want to see. Sincerely Anita (a white, female, 61 yrs.)
Posted 15 Jun 2009 at 10:47 am ¶
dot wrote:
I read these reviews before I started watching the show, and it’s interesting how many times the characters refer to the tragedy of “disease”. It’s not real blatant, but the context and the looks shared between the characters seem to make it clear that they’re referring to AIDS, even in the first episode.
Posted 09 Jul 2009 at 2:16 pm ¶
Stephanie wrote:
I two did see these moves of No 1 Ladys Detective Agency and I just loved it. Something I can look at with my 10 year old grand daughter and I don’t have to worry about the bad words and bad lanuage. And would recommend it to anyone with children.
Posted 01 Sep 2009 at 12:51 am ¶
Riley wrote:
I lost track of Alexander McCall Smith a couple of yrs ago after reading the delightful series about Mma Ramotswe. I was excited to see the DVD available about “The Nbr One Ladies Detective Agency” and my expectations were exceeded. The actors were delightful. What is the criticism about the weight situation? She handles it in a non-argumentative nature as a class act. Remember the “traditionally built” woman in history during bad economic times was revered. Get over this all you diet crazed females. She is happy who she is and the true happy person tells people verbally, accept me who I am as a person of character not one of your perceived physical limitations.
I can only hope that HBO promotes this to a greater degree and makes many sequels. For the record, I am an American and feel blessed to have such heart warming stories return to our media. Keep up the good work. So much time and comment is spent disecting the use of actual Botswanna actors, Aids and it’s depiction. Take it what it is offering, a heart warming depiction of fellow human beings in a culture that is different from ours showing values we should all strive for: Kindness, love and character. Thanks again HBO and keep them coming.
Posted 08 Oct 2009 at 2:55 am ¶