South Africa's first all-black safe-sex blue movie

A young dancer from the Gauteng township of Sebokeng dreamed of becoming an actress - in X-rated movies.

This week the self-styled Titanic is about to get her chance at dubious stardom with the launch of the "first all-black, all South African" pornographic film in Midrand.


Mapona Vol 1 was produced with strict rules on condom use and HIV tests for the five-member cast. It is said to be a response to popular demand for local black porn and "sexual education".

Sexologist Dr Elna McIntosh praised the effort this week for "eroticising safe sex", reflecting "genuine" black middle-class interest and using actors with mostly "normal" body shapes.

Produced by adult website Sondeza, the DVD movie will be promoted at the Sexpo "adult sexuality, health, and lifestyle" exhibition in Midrand, where one of Titanic's role models, Jessica Drake, as well as other western porn superstars, will make appearances this week. Her movie will preview at a nearby club on Thursday.

Titanic, who says she is in her 20s and grew up in "quite a religious family", admitted that they opposed her new career.

She said only one cousin agreed to witness her big moment. "It's my life, and I loved the experience. I can play a role in providing people with sex therapy. People can learn a few things. I have fun, so why not?"

Producer Tau Morena said the movie was shot in just three days this year, in and around a northern Johannesburg suburban home, by a crew of cameramen and technicians who were fans of the website.

He claimed the website was among the country's top 10, with 10 000 visitors a day since the movie was announced.

The 30 or so adults who auditioned were "not asked to perform" but just to strip "so we could check for any large scars, etc" and to discuss their motives.

"The actors are normal black South Africans with everyday jobs, mostly admin-type jobs, I think, from places like Ivory Park and the West Rand, who were happy to volunteer."

Not bothering with even a pretence of a story-line, the film simply shows a series of explicit sex scenes in settings including a bedroom, a living room and a car in an outdoor parking lot.

McIntosh said: "People always tell me black South Africans are conservative, but black people are like any other people."