TV and power outages

written Tuesday, 17 April 2007


The most popular tv shows in Senegal are: Barberita, a Venezuelan soap opera; 24; and Monk. I think Monk must give Senegalese a really strange idea of Americans.

Anyway, all of Senegal watches Barberita, it seems. Even in villages with no electricity or running water, it is not uncommon for people to have tvs that they run off of car batteries. In Thies, just about every time Barberita comes on, the power goes out a few minutes later. I think that so many people are tuning in that it overloads the electrical grid. But don't worry - if the power goes out during Barberita, they make sure to re-broadcast the episode again the next day!

So last night Barberita was on, and after a few minutes the power went out. When this happens, my family uses their cell phone screens for light. I find it a really funny anachronism for people to be using cell phones for light while cooking over their little portable propane (or maybe it's gas? I don't know) stoves.