Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange Season 5 Episode 3 Stolen

Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange is a documentary series that explores the diverse and vibrant cultures of the African continent and its diaspora. Season 5, episode 3 is titled Stolen, and it takes viewers on a journey to South Africa and Zimbabwe to uncover the hidden stories of stolen artifacts and cultural heritage.

The episode begins with a powerful scene in Cape Town, where we meet Glen Arendse, a visual artist who is on a mission to reclaim the cultural heritage of his ancestors. Arendse is part of a growing movement of South Africans who want their stolen artifacts returned from museums and galleries around the world. He takes us on a tour of his studio, where he creates beautiful art pieces inspired by traditional African designs.

Next, we travel to Zimbabwe, where we meet Dr. Chipo Hungwe, a cultural heritage expert who is leading the charge to reclaim Zimbabwe's stolen artifacts. She takes us to the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, where we learn about the history and culture of the ancient Zimbabwean civilization. We discover that the great Zimbabwean artifacts were looted by Cecil Rhodes and his followers in the late 19th century, and many of them are still held in museums and private collections in Europe.

The episode then takes us on a journey to the British Museum in London, where we meet Dr. Sussan Babaie, an art historian who specializes in Islamic art. She shows us the famous Benin Bronzes, a collection of bronze sculptures that were taken from Nigeria by British soldiers in 1897. We learn about the controversial history of the looting and the ongoing efforts to return the artifacts to their rightful owners.

Back in South Africa, we meet activist and filmmaker Rehad Desai, who is making a documentary about the Marikana massacre, where 34 miners were killed by police in 2012. Desai takes us to the site of the massacre and shows us how the government is still suppressing the voices of the victims and their families. He argues that the Marikana massacre is a prime example of how the legacy of colonialism and the theft of African resources is still alive and well today.

The episode then takes a surprising turn as we meet Dr. Nokukhanya Khanyile, a scientist who is studying the DNA of African puppets that were stolen during the colonial era. She explains how these puppets were used in traditional African healing practices and how they were taken by colonial powers to be studied and exploited. Dr. Khanyile takes us to her laboratory, where she shows us how she uses DNA analysis to trace the origins of the stolen puppets.

Finally, we return to South Africa, where we meet musician Mohato Lekena, who is using his music to connect with his cultural heritage. Lekena explains how his ancestors were robbed of their voices and their songs, and how he is using music to reclaim their lost cultural heritage.

Overall, Stolen is a powerful and thought-provoking episode of Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange. It takes viewers on a journey through the history and legacy of colonialism and the theft of African cultural heritage, highlighting the ongoing efforts to reclaim what was stolen and preserve the rich and diverse cultures of the African continent.