This funny business of “saving Africa”

From a PR perspective, Hussein Kurji’s The Samaritans does little to improve the image many Kenyans have of international aid workers.  But in terms of entertainment, the new Kenyan-made online mockumentary about an NGO that “does nothing” is both hilarious and hard-hitting. More importantly  however, the comedy pushes dialogue on what is and isn’t working in international aid.

Kurji of Xeinium Productions, a Kenya-based production company, explains how the show developed:

Over the years I have heard numerous stories from friends and acquaintances, who come from all parts of the world to work in these NGOs. I thought to myself, well it might just be a good idea to collect these crazy stories and make a show from an outsiders point of view, from a local point of view….

Now the challenge was to put a satirical spin on NGO’s without offending the sensitivities that Africa faces. The solution was two-fold — make the show about nothing and in so doing naturally focus on aid workers, who for all good intentions often get caught up in the mammoth world of development.

Production of the first two episodes was made possible through crowdfunding via Kickstarter. For more information on the series, or to watch completed episodes  (and perhaps even submit your own crazy NGO story to the series director!) visit: www.AidForAid.org  Be sure to tell us what you think of the series!