Africa « Purpose Driven

Posts Tagged ‘Africa’

Look Out, Hollywood

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Some Christians are pretty excited that, over here in America, it looks like we might be seeing a bit of a surge in Christian-tinged filmmaking. But, according to Christianity Today, we’re far behind the curve. Nollywood — shorthand for the burgeoning film industry in Nigeria, Africa — is churning out faith-tinged films by the score. About a fifth of the nearly 900 films churned out by Nollywood in 2006 — almost 200 films — were considered Christian.

Not that even Christians there are uniformly thrilled. Sounds like Nigerian believers have many of the same discussions we have here: Are we transforming culture, or are we being transformed by it? Are we tools for Christ? Or are we using Christianity as a tool to sell more stuff?

While Nollywood looks remarkably Christian compared to Hollywood, some Lagos pastors and film producers think Nigeria’s film industry is full of idolatry and social evils and don’t want their ministries associated with it. In 1995 the National Film and Video Censors Board tracked almost 200 G-rated movies and few others. By 2005 over 1,300 movies rated 18-and-older were outpacing G movies by 6 to 1.

“Half of the Christian movies are not done by faith-based organizations, but by directors who want to take advantage of the strong religious inclinations of Nigerians to sell [movies],” [Nigerian arts and culture reporter Obidike] Okafor said. “The others do it to promote their faith.”

I’d be interested to see a Nollywood produced movie. Would you? Have you?

Tags: Africa, culture, movie, Nigeria, Nollywood
Posted in Africa | Permalink

O.J. Award: Rob Smith and EarthWise Ventures

Friday, September 11th, 2009

We’ve talked some this week — maybe too much — about the Christian Church’s flaws and foibles: How church sometimes makes folks uncomfortable, how Christians sometimes rub others the wrong way and how, sometimes, Christians miss the message of their very own faith.

But it’s important to remember, always, that Christians are doing amazing work in every corner of the world, making lives easier, better and safer. The Church feeds, clothes and educates literally millions of people, and often works miracles in the bleakest of places. It serves as a much-needed lifeboat in stormy waters.

And we’re not just speaking metaphorically, here.

EarthWise Ventures, founded by Rob Smith, is working on building a ferry system serving the countries around Lake Victoria, particularly Uganda. Once upon a time, 30 percent of the Ugandan economy depending on business brought through Lake Victorian ferries. But, with the ferry system all but gone, shipping has dried up and upwards of 1,600 people who travel between Uganda and Tanzania daily do so on a dangerous, two-day bus ride.

Smith, who already founded a non-profit to feed and house AIDS orphans and widows now wants to revive the ferry system, one boat at a time. He’s raised more than $800,000 for the first ferry (which will cost an estimated $1.2 million), and he hopes eventually to operate 10 on the lake — all of which will run on biofeuls. And, while the ferry system will be a for-profit business, according to The Washington Times, Smith says it’ll serve a real, tangible need.

“We’re doing this because of our sense of calling to Africa,” he told the Times, “which is primarily to reach out to the poor and needy.”

For more information about the project, go to EarthWise’s Web site here. And, while you’re at it, raise a glass of O.J. in salute.

Tags: Africa, charity, church, missionary, O.J.
Posted in Africa, O.J. Award | Permalink