One commenter expressed a desire for Harry to announce his decision to divorce Meghan, while also noting the potential colonialist implications of his Africa documentary. Furthermore, Harry seems to be claiming Diana's legacy as his own and has banned Meghan from associating herself with his mother's reputation.
The Sussexes are under pressure to produce compelling content for Netflix, especially after the recent failure of their Spotify deal. Harry's potential African journey will inevitably draw comparisons to Princess Diana's iconic visit to Africa, where she campaigned against landmines shortly before her tragic death.
The exact subject of the documentary is yet to be known. However, due to the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike, Prince Harry cannot move forward with his plans at the moment. According to a source, Africa holds a special place in Harry's heart, and he feels a sense of belonging there. Additionally, a Netflix insider confirmed that the African documentary was one of several ideas being discussed within the royal circle.
Looking back, many were skeptical of the seemingly staged photo ops of Harry hugging black children. These images mirrored his mother, Diana, and were met with adoration from the public. However, some perceived them as insincere even then. Harry's commentary on the state of affairs in Africa during his previous visits also drew criticism, with questions raised about his authority to speak on African issues. The privilege he holds as one of the most privileged white males on the planet living a life of unparalleled luxury while professing to understand the struggles faced by black individuals is seen by many as insulting.
In the past, Harry and Meghan appeared together in their first and only documentary for a streaming service, and Harry also appeared in an Apple TV project about mental health called "The Me You Can't See," without his wife. Harry's love for Africa dates back years, as he took Meghan on a camping trip to the continent during their early courtship. Additionally, he established a charity called Sentebale, meaning "Forget Me Not" in Lesotho, with the support of Prince Seeiso, the younger brother of the country's King.
Princess Diana was the first to develop a public connection with Africa, famously walking through an active minefield in Huambo, Angola, alongside the Halo Trust just months before her tragic car crash in Paris. In 2019, Harry retraced his mother's steps by walking through another minefield in Angola.
As president of the conservation group African Parks, Harry is actively involved in wildlife conservation efforts in Africa's national parks. Sources suggest that his planned documentary may delve into these conservation initiatives.
Discussing his affinity for Africa in 2017, Harry declared, "This is where I feel more myself than anywhere else in the world. I wish I could spend more time in Africa."
This new project comes at a time of rumors surrounding trouble between Netflix and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their $20 million deal with Spotify abruptly ended earlier in June. However, a source familiar with their $100 million Netflix deal insists that things are going well. A Netflix spokesperson stated, "We value our partnership with Archewell Productions," confirming that they would continue collaborating on multiple projects, including "Heart of Invictus," a docu-series following the annual games for service members and veterans, which Harry founded. The series is set to air on Netflix in August, and both the Duke and Duchess are expected to make appearances.
An insider sarcastically responded to the statement above, pointing out that Harry seems unaware of the vastness and diversity of Africa as a continent. Africa spans almost 12 million square miles and encompasses a wide range of geographies, ecologies, climates, economics, politics, and cultures. The insider questions what Harry plans to cover in his documentary, as merely scratching the surface with any meaningful substance would require a significant financial investment. Even if he were to focus on colonialism alone, the impacts have been diverse and varied in each specific context.
The insider expresses frustration with rich white celebrities engaging in "poverty porn tourism" that perpetuates the stereotype of Africa as a homogeneous and culturally devoid entity. They highlight Africa's 54 unique and beautiful countries, each with its own vibrant culture, society, arts, and much more. The insider desires to see influential figures like Harry using their platforms to shed light on the positive aspects emerging from African countries, showcasing the richness and diversity within each one.
The insider humorously remarks on the novelty of a documentary about Africa, suggesting that the concept has never been considered before. They facetiously mention that their knowledge of Africa is limited, only recently becoming aware of its existence, questioning whether it's an island or a continent. The insider playfully suggests that Harry's experiences of vacationing in Africa with different girlfriends, acquiring diamonds, and acknowledging its hot climate might be enough to provide them with an enlightened view of a country they had never heard of before.
In an ideal scenario, the insider imagines a documentary series that explores the uniqueness of each of Africa's 54 countries. They envision delving into their distinct cultures, food, customs, languages (including snarky idioms), clothing, traditional and thriving businesses, as well as emerging ventures and industries. They express curiosity about how the local people in certain countries perceive the tourist safari industry and its impact on animal conservation, questioning whether it genuinely helps or merely caters to wealthy foreigners indulging in conservationist cosplay.
The insider shares a past example of Denmark funding a festival called "Images of Africa" in Copenhagen, which aimed to feature successful artists and companies and was generally seen as a positive initiative. However, like many good ideas, it eventually got canceled.
When contemplating the preservation of Africa's national parks, the insider sarcastically envisions a scenario where people travel in extravagant convoys through chaotic urban traffic, board private planes to Africa, and settle into luxurious, air-conditioned tents with gourmet food and wine. They mock the superficiality of such experiences, where photo ops with disadvantaged youth are carefully orchestrated, interviews are scripted, and the entire narrative revolves around promoting change without being perceived as a white colonial mansplainer.
