The Coconuts

The Coconuts in this case are not ‘white-acting’ black people (to which the term “coconuts” generally refers), but a family of white people who become trapped in black bodies after a spell is put on them by the ancestors of the lost Zulotho tribe of South Africa.  During the night the ancestors rise up, annoyed that their burial ground has been desecrated, and turn the Greene family into black people to force them to embrace, learn about and appreciate “black culture”.  We soon come to realise that they cannot become white again until this is achieved. 

So, in a nutshell – these are white folks, trapped in black bodies (played by black actors), having to learn how to ‘be black’ so they can become white again.  And it is from this premise that the comedy of this situation will spring.  By some weird spin-off of the curse, the family’s maid, Patience, who was taken along on the holiday to wash dishes, turns white.  She is still the same person, with the same personality, accent and attitude, but she is now living in a white body.