South African adult film producer, Tau Morena has just released his newest film, “Mapona,” the English translation being “naked.” This adult film is unique for two unexpected reasons. First, the film makes an empowering political statement about race and South Africa. For the first time in the South African adult film industry Morena employed an all-Black cast. Although the majority of South Africa’s population is Black, this is a first for South African adult films. Second, the film promotes HIV awareness, education and prevention. Although unpopular in the industry, the cast was asked to wear condoms in the film, in addition to being tested for HIV prior to shooting. The South African adult film industry is the first in the world to make such a powerful and blatant health statement. [1]

Other sensationalized publicity campaigns have proven effective at delivering a health message. In Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) launched a similar campaign a few years ago. BRAC’s founder, Fazle Hasan Abed, started a nationwide campaign addressing the increase in HIV infections. Abed’s campaign “condomized” the country with a wide supply of birth control and safe sex education programs. He placed ads all over the country, handed out condoms in public places such as restaurants, stores and especially focused on brothels throughout Bangladesh. BRAC’s campaign dramatically improved the HIV-related health of the country in an effective and radical way.[2] This campaign is similar to Morena’s new film because it brings important and oftentimes stigmatized health issues into public view.

Although “Mapona” is a new, progressive and interesting way to address the HIV epidemic in South Africa, is pornography the medium that should be used to make such a public statement? Using the medium of pornography as a social platform to supposedly promote racial equality and HIV awareness (both of which have a very dependent relationship) is a paradox in itself.  Using an all-Black cast to promote HIV awareness in an adult film could very well perpetuate the colonial and racist stereotypes in the hyper-sexualized images of Black people, especially in an African context.

Does Morena’s highly publicized film reflect a progressive and effective social statement, like BRAC’s HIV awareness campaign? Or is it a publicity stunt that, in the end, defeats the primary purpose of racial and health equality for Black South Africans?

Tags: adult film, BRAC, HIV/AIDS, Mapona, Pornography, social movements, South Africa