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Mali: Setting the pace for E. Africa’s soap operas
Lulu Mali (Brenda Wairimu ),Mabel Mali (Mary Gacheri) and Nandi Mali (Mumbi Maina) some of the cast of Mali, a Kenyan soap opera that has broken the monopoly of American and Caribbean soap operas on NTV Kenya.
What you need to know:
Some of its aspects, say the acting, costumes and shooting are worth the nod. Save for a few, most actors flawlessly work their cues. Most outstandingly, Mkamzee Mwatela (Usha Mali) plays the villain so well one may actually deem her to be the “Jezebel” she plays in real life. If she does not have an award yet, then it is long overdue!
Mali, breaks the monopoly of cliché South American and Caribbean soap operas. And that is not an advert; Mali has done exactly just that.
For starters, Mali stands out from the tired love story scripts the Latinos opt to recycle. Unlike others, Mali, rotates around money.
That alone has given guys (including myself) a reason to watch it without having to doze off in boredom and shame.
When Mr Gregory Mali (George Ohawa), the polygamous head of a filthy rich family passes on under austere circumstances before he could even consider writing a will, his wives and children battle it out, stopping at nothing, to get the lion’s share of the family wealth (if not all) in their names. The saga that ensues creates a family united by blood and divided by greed.
Some of its aspects, say the acting, costumes and shooting are worth the nod. Save for a few, most actors flawlessly work their cues. Most outstandingly, Mkamzee Mwatela (Usha Mali) plays the villain so well one may actually deem her to be the “Jezebel” she plays in real life. If she does not have an award yet, then it is long overdue!
I cannot write without mentioning Mumbi Maina (Lulu Mali) who has managed to play the Black Blonde seamlessly; ravishingly pretty (thanks to her Creator), kind and terribly dumb. It is not as easy as it looks; it takes a bright person to act dumb.
However much one may think they know Kenya, the camera crew skillfully manages to make it appear like a new experience. The shooting is so on point; it looks like the National Geographic crew shot the the film.
Most shots are captured to pin detail so as to narrate the story without having to say a word. This is a leap in film production for East Africa and in fact, and in this respect, they are pace setters for the others yet to come.
Mali’s downside is the wanting musical effects. One may want to think that since they borrowed a leaf when it came to the Hollywood-like creativity, they would obviously take some notes on the drama music. That, however, is not the case.
Except for the momentous change in scenes, hardly is there music to back up the emotions within the conversations. And believe me you, one tense scene
without those gripping strings playing in the background is one too many! Actually it makes it look like a recorded stage performance.
At the end of the day (when it’s actually aired), Mali, for its acting and shooting is definitely a must watch for any soap fanatic or anyone bitten by the TV bug. It may be sloppy at some points but being East Africa’s first, like Golola, it deserves some slack.
