The British tribe next door

[NCTDN]

Is anyone watching? I'm fascinated.

Me and DD17 started watchong buy turnrd it off about halfvway through as it was making us uncomforyable.

The sheer waste of resources building that house
They were having water delivered by tanker while the women of the village still walked 30 mins to get water.
The footage of the African women trying to walk upstairs
The footage of the African woman looking in the mirror (aren't we amazing with our amazing mirrors)

I am usually the one rolling my eyes at political correctness but I was uncomfortable with this one and so was DD. It would be watchable if they were living in the village (though it would be verging on voluntourism I think) the British house plonked there is weird

I both enjoyed it and was a little uncomfortable about it. I did laugh when the lady found out that Betty uses machines to clean 'clean' clothes etc.

The younger sister - what is she doing (apart from looking at her phone). Bit disappointed at her because when she was on Gogglebox she was miles more intelligent than Scarlet (not hard!).

I hope Scarlet does get a better body image after this!

Loved the guy talking to Mark, amazed that he picks up dog shit!

I would like to know more about the tribe. For instance - is there any pressure for them to 'modernise', move on etc. Concerned they go into Angola - if there still trouble there.

I enjoyed the programme. There was honesty and respect from both sides. Interesting comparisons in daily family life.

It was pretty funny in parts I thought and it was the women in the tribe that were funny!

When they said to Scarlett ‘what men will be looking at you’ was a bit but it shows you how different other cultures are,

It is very fascinating and I hope it’s on again?

Does anybody know what the women had on their heads, it was like clay hair with fur at the bottom!

Does anybody know what the women had on their heads, it was like clay hair with fur at the bottom!

I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure the hair is wrapped in leather stripping, with hair sicking out at the ends. I've seen tribes people do similar before.

We watched it last night & think it's a fascinating idea, especially that the tribes people get to see how the Moffats usually live too, we really enjoyed it.

The perceived racism to me wasn't there. I didn't see anyone looking down on the tribes people's life style & I've a feeling their back to the grid, non commercially influenced, much more real life style is actually going to come up trumps to show up the flaws in our own culture by the end of the show.

Maybe I'm seeing it differently as I've had the honour of staying with tribes people like this in Kenya. I also doubt that they are being exploited in any way, the ones I've known have been very shrewd & savvy business people

I also didn't see the mirror thing in the same way either. I became away that tribes people don't use them, not out of primitive behaviour & ooo, look, shiny things, but because they all work together to adorn & beautify each other, no narcissistic staring alone into a mirror to beautify self, but something they do for each other, without jealousy

At first I thought it was an awful concept. Oh yeah lets show them what they don't have but they seemed totally bemused by the way we live. I thought it was quite touching though when the lady saw herself in the mirror for the first time. To not know what you look like is quite a strange concept and one that I hadn't considered.

I agree. I thought it was a dodgy concept at first but I think it does more to show us up. Cleaning 'clean' clothes, having too much 'stuff' etc. The thing I found most touching was Scarlett and the other three becoming so close so quickly - connecting in that way that culture and language barriers don't matter.
Also I wish I had a laugh like hers instead of the Muttley one I have!

DH and I thought it would be rubbish but started watching it as didn't turn over after Bake Off and were fascinated by it

It was really good. I love minimalism and I think it actually might make people realise we don't need stuff to make us happy

Planet Earth which may focus on the lives of different cultures? How can we begin to understand the world if we don't get to see it?

Planet earth isn't focused on black African culture though is it? Not really comparable.

conforming to the stereotype some people have of Africa

Why not build the terrace in a city in Africa? Nah go for a little village like white people would expect

My question is why is it whenever western media want to portray Africans its always a tribe in some remote area, "unspoilt" by modernisation (i.e half naked), carrying spears that they go for? why do they never feature Africans as in how the majority live which is nothing like what's in the program?

I also didn't see the mirror thing in the same way either. I became away that tribes people don't use them,

@Rockinhippy Which tribe from which country are you referring to?

Yeah, because it’s the job of Namibian tribal people to model ‘minimalism’ and simplicity for privileged white Europeans. Sub-Saharan Africa as learning opportunity.

Surely the point of the programme is to highlight differences, so need a remote tribe.

As I understand it, after the filming, the British house was dismantled, as the villagers weren't interested in using it, but they were left with a decent well and running water on demand. Which is fair enough.

I saw most of the episode, and what came across to me was the real connection that the two groups made with each other. It didn't feel patronising or colonial at all to me.

I didn’t think it was patronising at all. It made our lives look ridiculous. The people couldn’t work out why Scarlett’s family needed all that stuff. And they were right. They looked so healthy in comparison, their physical lifestyle so much better. It must’ve been like living amongst Olympians. Such different lives and yet what came across were the similarities, in humour and shared humanity. I found it pretty heart warming.

I found it fascinating, so much so that I watched it again with the family to see what they thought.

I did initially think it was a crass sort of idea. But I think it highlights the similarities in the human race as well as the major differences.

I loved how Betty wanted to make a friend with similar interests and did housework with her, albeit madly differently in each house.

I loved how how the Himba women, who didn't understand Scarlett's lack of body confidence, were so sweet and encouraging to her. I was SO rooting for her to wear the tribal gear! Maybe she will eventually.

The Moffatt family were genuine and lovely, seeming to embrace the experiment and warm to the Himba. And the Himba were bemused by the uselessness of the Moffatts. I saw no colonialism in the show at all. The Himba came across as having the upper hand to me. The Himba are so straightforward they didn't soften their comments!

I look forward to the show developing the relationship between them all.

I am conflicted about this programme. I grew up as a youngster living in the bush in a different part of Africa but in a large house with electricity, water, cars, TV. About 30 mins walk away there was a mud hut village but even then (80s) the villagers wore part Western clothing, had radios, trucks etc. So for me the idea of this village where no one has seen a mirror or stairs felt odd and made up. I did love the Moffat family engagement and the questions both sides are asking. The whole 'get your boobs out' I thought was contrived. It's titillating so I hope she doesn't. Breasts are normalised in some African societies but if Scarlett does it that will just be sensationalism.

I lived alongside the Himba in the 90s, so was very tempted to watch this. I lasted a couple of minutes, I just didn't like the premise and the previews I saw.

I was fully expecting to turn it off after 5 mins but it was fascinating. I loved the women sitting on Scarlett's bed admiring her rolls

I think it showed everyone in such a good light, everyone just very interested in everyone else.

I did feel sorry for Scarlett feeling pressure to show off her body. It felt edging on the side of bullying to me.

Yes the tribe want her to embrace their culture but imagine the press, no doubt negative for the wrong reasons, Scarlett would have to deal with

Yes, I felt for her,there's no way she could just strip off. I hope the production team weren't being that one .

Is anyone watching tonight ?

I think it has been really interesting and the only feeling of 'we know better' has come from the Himba rather than Scarlett and her family.

They both seem genuinely interested in each other. But yes I also hope she doesn't get her boobs out on camera. It will turn a cultural thing into titillation.