Ntwakgolo transforms from documentary to TV series
Kgomotso Molelekeng | Tuesday May 6, 2014 12:17
Dee Zone Production Marketing Manager, Vincent Tiro, told Showbiz that Ntwakgolo has been received with mixed reactions mainly because of its edutainment approach. He said the documentary drama also aims to influence desired HIV/AIDS behavioural change in the country.
“The edutainment meant combining the drama with experts and public interviews and it was these interviews, which caused these mixed reactions because some viewers didn’t want them at all but only wanted drama. Originally Ntwakgolo’s structure was such that it included a drama and public/expert interviews hence it being labelled a documentary drama,” he said.
He added that it took about six episodes for those who were not for the interviews to get the bigger picture. This, he said, was also equally an educational approach just as it was entertainment.
“By the time episode 10 screened on Botswana television, Ntwakgolo had established itself as a household name something, which was also evident in the growing amount of positive feedback we got from our viewers,” he said.
He added that after the 42 stand-alone episodes of the themed documentary drama, they have decided to change the format. He further explained that the new Ntwakgolo means that there will be no more expert and public opinions in the production.
“The standing contractual agreement between Dee-Zone and NACA is of 72 episodes, which means the TV drama series will run for the remainder of the 30 episodes covering 10 different interlinked stories. The first episode of this new look Ntwakgolo premiered on April 23 and Batswana were happy with the change,” he said.
Ntwakgolo Project Coordinator Thabiso Maretlwaneng also added that it has been an exciting, but challenging journey. Co-ordinating this big project, which Batswana love, Maretlwaneng said they are happy to have come this far with viewers who kept pushing them to do even better.
“Our loyal viewers called for this new TV drama series and after a cautious assessment with all our stakeholders, we agreed that it was time to introduce the new Ntwakgolo TV drama series without diluting our intended objectives of empowering people with information on issues of HIV/AIDS.
This drama is for Batswana and we have to do all it takes to make them happy so that the message can be received. Ntwakgolo has and will continue to touch lives and raise much-needed awareness on issues relating to HIV/AIDS and add great value to NACA’s mission of no new infections by 2016,” he said.
He concluded that Ntwakgolo has worked with other stakeholders like Botswana Defence Force, Tebelelopele, Kagisano Women’s Shelter, PSI and Lifeline counselling.