Telenovelas in Uganda: Mediating Transcultural Conversations

In this article, I explore how a selected category of Ugandan audiences watch telenovelas, and the reasons for their preferring them over other similar programmes on DSTV. I investigate how audiences relate to telenovelas in relation to more culturally familiar programmes in Uganda/Africa. What is it about transcultural programmes like the telenovelas that engage the local audiences? African countries like South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya have had more sustained popular TV series production that share the aesthetics of the telenovelas than Uganda. In Uganda's comparatively young industry, series like Deception and Second Chance have come close to imitating telenovelas aesthetics; although these are still challenged by sustaining the production of episodes and seasons to continue remaining on the airwaves. Transnational programmes like telenovelas are the staples that audiences interact with on daily basis. I discuss why selected Ugandan viewers choose the Telemundo portal as their preferred portal. Among the reasons is the space the channel provides for viewers to fantasize a wide range of desires and enter in conversations with mediated culture. The 'transparent' aesthetic of the telenovelas make them readily comprehensible and appealing beyond a domestic audience.