PBS’ ‘Africa’ Eight-Part Series to Touch on HIV/AIDS

Beginning Sept. 9, PBS will air an eight-part series called "Africa," which examines the people and the land of the continent, the Los Angeles Times reports. The first installment of the series will air on Sunday, with additional segments airing each Sunday for the next eight weeks. Filmmaker Jennifer Lawson, executive producer of the series, said she wanted the series to "provide a different sense" of Africa than what Americans are exposed to in media news reports. She said, "Here (in America) we often hear only of Africa through the news of the AIDS tragedy in South Africa ... or the diamond killings in Sierra Leone. ... We don't hear anything about the positive accomplishments that are taking place in Africa." The last episode of the series profiles Xoliswa Vanda, the first black woman to earn a blasting license in the gold mines in South Africa. Vanda said that the mining industry in South Africa is plagued with several problems, including HIV/AIDS among workers. "HIV and AIDS is the biggest problem in Africa, but not just in South Africa ... all over the world," Vanda said. The series also has a companion Web site -- www.pbs.org/africa -- that provides an interactive version of the series (Littlejohn, Los Angeles Times, 9/4). The Web site provides geographic and demographic information on regions and specific countries and includes a photo essay, with commentary from the photographer, on HIV/AIDS in Africa (PBS Web site, 9/7). Check your local listings for channel and show times.