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'White couple getting rich off black labor': HGTV's first Africa-based series 'Renovation Wild' slammed online

Viewers wondered why HGTV thought a show starring White resort owners renovating their property in Africa using Black labor was a good idea

ZAMBIA, AFRICA: HGTV's latest renovation series, 'Renovation Wild,' is based out of Zambia in Africa. As the network's first-ever Africa-based series began on May 15, viewers complained that it 'smacked of colonialism'. They questioned why HGTV thought a show starring White resort owners renovating their property in Africa using Black labor was a good idea.

'Renovation Wild' is giving two Zambian safari lodges the HGTV touch. The eight-episode series follows resort owners Grant and Lynsey Cumings and their children as they work side by side with their right-hand man and project manager, Ngoli, and resort manager, Juliet, to tackle the challenges of renovating the lodges in a remote location. Throughout the season, they'll confront a slew of logistical challenges, including the rainy season, extreme supply chain concerns, and several unusual wildlife encounters that threaten to derail their efforts to enhance their African bush retreat. As viewers watch the Cumings family renovate their most dilapidated accomodations in Old Mondoro, they are put off by the two extremely White hosts, even though they seem nice enough on camera.

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Even with the dearth of data about the show, it appeared very evident from the moment HGTV issued the press release that project manager Ngoli and resort manager Juliet were not the stars. The real stars, Grant and Lynsey, kicked off the series by discussing ways to improve their property in preparation for the monsoon season.

A quick look into the Cumings family reveals that they "are 5th generation Africans." According to the Chiawa Safaris website and HGTV materials, the family's background in Zambia is unquestionably the product of colonialism. To begin with, it appears that the family was lured to Southern Africa by resource exploitation in the mining industry. Second, they had the freedom to relocate to and then live in Northern Rhodesia, which was a British territory at the time. While the family's "dedication to its guests, staff, local communities, and conservation" sounds wonderful, the truth is more complicated. The Chiawa site's account of the family's history clearly glosses over the physical and systemic violence that was integral to colonialism.

'No way someone thought this was a good idea'

Soon after the debut of the series, viewers took to social media to express how offensive the show's title, framing and casting was. One person tweeted, "Just stumbled upon #RenovationWild on HGTV and have we white people ever considered maybe just not?" Speaking of the hosts another person wrote, "Watching a new show #renovationwild on @HGTV & while I’m enjoying a new show with a completely different concept, I can’t help but despise the “white savior” aspect. Yet another wealthy white couple in a black space getting rich off black labor & resources." Viewers didn't take well to a show showing White people "owning" their own safari property and business in Africa and thereby, in some ways, perpetuating colonialism. One user tweeted, "This show screams colonizers. Having traveled throughout Africa I know from locals that these people pair their workers minimal and take all money out of the Country. You have to be reaching for views because there is no way someone thought this was a good idea. Try Europe." Another person chimed in, "@hgtv #RenovationWild is giving colonizer tease. I don’t like it."

On Reddit, viewers shared similar opinions. Calling out the disparity between the Cumings and the local artisans, a person wrote, "I was surprised as it did seem a bit exploitive of the locals. Unlike on other HGTV shows that have local craftsmen on the craft-person provided input and advice, the “local village tailor” just smiled and nodded, no banter, no advice. It seemed as though he didn’t know what he was doing but was damn happy to be there. The show’s creators should have the Cumings share the spotlight with “co-stars” that ARE local contractors. They may appear in the show, but clearly the HGTV press release mentions only by first name and doesn’t include a photo in addition to Cumings’ photo. Give them a more equal billing." Speaking of the leads, another person wrote, "my big issue was that both leads were white - in zambia, a country with a minority white population. it felt kindve neo-colonist to me." Another wrote, "They could be genuinely kind folks! And the program can be really fascinating. But this felt like an odd pick for a show set in Zambia—and the first Africa-based show for one of the biggest cable networks in the United States." One user blasted the network as they wrote, "the setup just left an extremely bad taste in my mouth. I'm not putting it on the host but rather on HGTV." A fourth user described their viewing experience, saying, "some of the imagery was pretty rough too - white man in khakis directs black laborers as they make a luxury home for him… yikes."

'Renovation Wild' airs every Monday on HGTV at 9 pm 

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