Online Reporter
Online Reporter
The second season of a Chinese drama series, ‘Incredible Odyssey’, has been unveiled in China, with many features that align closely with Zimbabwe.
The series challenges Western narratives by focusing on the experiences of the people of Xinjiang, the region that has the largest Muslim population in China.
In 2020, Sweden-based H&M Group made headlines, claiming it would sever ties with suppliers from China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, over alleged forced labour.
This announcement, amplified by Western media narratives, cast a shadow over Xinjiang’s cotton, which is a lifeblood of the region’s economy.
The Incredible Odyssey’s focus on countering external narratives parallels Zimbabwe’s situation, where the Government has frequently decried sanctions imposed by Western powers.
Moving beyond headlines that depict Xinjiang as a region under “total control”, the series amplifies the voices of local faith leaders, families and women, presenting a counterpoint often missing from Western discourse.
In a presentation, the producers of the show said it resonates with countries such as Zimbabwe, which have borne the brunt of unfair Western stereotypes.
The storyline touches on Kashi City, where the Id Kah Mosque, built in 1442, is still the largest in Xinjiang. It is both a place of worship and a tourist site. Its Imam (religious head), Memet Juma, carries a painful memory-his father, also an Imam, was murdered by extremists right outside the mosque gates.
In the film, Memet revealed the inhumanity of terrorism, separatism and extremism – the “three forces” that once cast a shadow over Xinjiang.
For Memet, the distinction is vital: The government’s campaign is against terrorism, not against Uygurs or Muslims. Islam teaches harmony, unity, neutrality and tolerance,” he explains, arguing killing in the name of faith is a betrayal of it.
Producers of Incredible Odyssey Season 2 said:
“We do not deny the region’s struggles, but the series reveals the humanity behind the headlines: faith that endures, women who thrive, and families who embrace the right to shape their destinies.”
