It all started in the mid 90s specifically 1996, where the first telenovela titled Esaura graced our silver screens and since then, it has become a norm for almost every single TV station in the country to have a spot for that serial telecast.
Esaura, a Brazilian telenovela was shown on GTV and certainly viewers had so many things to learn from. Later in year 2000, another blockbuster of a telenovela from Mexico titled Esmeralda which was shown on TV3, brought a new dimension in television viewing in Ghana. It followed with La usurpadora, Maria de los Angeles, Juana la virgin, Rosalinda, Rebecca, jewel in palace, untamed beauties, cursed by the sea (currently running onTV3) amongst others.
Indeed, if any of the TV stations in Ghana is to be awarded for churning out the most number of telenovelas, then tv3 will definitely come up as victors without a doubt. Metro tv, Crystal tv, Via sat 1, Tv Africa, Net 2 have all joined the trend and our TV screens are always brought to life with smiles and astonishing beauty of girls from the southern and central parts of America.
This week, yours truly had a survey on these telenovelas and how it's affecting our society. Readers will be in dismay as the percentage recorded for marriage and relationship break-ups as a result of watching these telenovelas is amazing. According to one government worker by name Mary Addae: she had this to say: “I love watching these telenovelas because the characters in them are too beautiful and handsome. I had to visit Venezuela and Mexico last year just to have a feel of what the people in those countries are like and they were so nice to say the least”.
Another gentleman called Kwame Brenya, self employed complained bitterly to Flex newspaper that, his girlfriend with whom he's been with for the past four years has jilted him because she says, he is not behaving like a character in the telenovela storm over paradise call Nicholas. A 59- year- old man who has five children with three of them living in the U.K told this paper one of the most heart aching stories ever been told. His words “Ive been living happily with my wife for the past 26- years without a single quarrel but in the later part of last year, she began watching these things (telenovelas) on tv and our marriage has never been like it was before. We hardly have sex these days. She sits near the tv set and will invite friends over to discuss what they had watched. Inf act, im dying slowly my son” he revealed to this writer.
Flex newspaper stormed the University of Ghana, Legon where rumor has it that, the watching of telenovelas has become the order of the day. Mame Aba Foriwaa Twum, a level two hundred student intimated to yours truly that, aside the educative lessons she derives from watching telenovelas, they sometimes serve as a hindrance to her studies. “They are too many on our tv stations today and I must watch all before going to bed (laughs). She added. Cindy Osei Agyemang, also, a level three hundred student shared her opinion on the topic. “I love the fashion side of these soap operas and some of the actors and actresses play their roles to perfection.
I wouldn't judge my boyfriend based on what I watch on tv because they are exhibiting another character actually” Indeed, all said and done, this reporter believes that some people are being too ignorant and to if care is not taken, our society will continue to be influenced by some strange cultures which will lead to only self destruction. What is your story on telenovelas?
