I had quite a couple of restaurants and discotheques and I was fed up with the nightlife.
And I decided one day: I am buying a car, driving to Africa and living in an arcadia in peace.
Juba, South Sudan
For the past four years, there has been peace here, after 22 years of war.
We are looking for gold diggers:
Westerners who come to post-war regions such as this to quickly make a lot of money.
This is the truck I did safaris with for 12 years in Africa.
I crossed with that truck through Africa for 12 years.
Started from Egypt, up to South Africa, in "etappes" [stages].
We meet Holger Poehler, who constructed a few lodges and a luxurious restaurant at the banks of the Nile.
Besides that, he owns a large construction company and is the vice chairman of the Juba Business Association.
He's one of the big guys in Juba.
The East German government, they trained me in a funny way.
I went for five years in special forces, trained in Russia. Two years of training and then three years of operation.
Looks like a war here -- after a war.
It's a virgin country, you know; there was nothing. It's hard to imagine that, but it was forgotten land.
I enjoy that life. I enjoy building something up, and Juba in that case gives me the best opportunity.
What did you learn from it? - Surviving.
In what way? - In every way.
In South Sudan, you have to survive in every way.
On our way to one of his projects on the other side of the Nile, we cross the Juba Bridge.
Holger warns us not to film when we see military or police, because this might lead to some problems.
At that moment, we were spotted by the authorities and got arrested.
After a bargaining game about the images we had shot and a sum of money, we are freed again.
Do what? - I am going to tape over it, so it's gone.
The bridge will be deleted.
The security of the bridge is still on a quite-high level.
I mean, the argument was:
Today we take the picture, and tomorrow the bridge is blown up.
So I sent in some guys who speak the language.
Not that we don't speak the language, but our color still matters here.
So it is better to step back there and let the locals talk to the locals.
At the end of the day, it is like everywhere in Africa: You pay and you go.
I mean, I was on gun spot so many times since I am here. Maybe my biggest problem is that I am not afraid.
Many times, I just grab the barrel and put it on my forehead and say:
"If you have the bullet, just pull the trigger!"
Then they are shocked. 'What is the man doing? Is he mad?"
If you show them that you are afraid of them, then they do with you what they want.
But if you show them that you respect them and you are not a coward,
then it comes automatically they respect you.
If people just come in, make money and run away, that time is over.
Because they will not get the contracts. They will not get the base to make that money and run away.
So most of the contracts go to the people who stay here, who stick a little bit to the country
and try to actually develop the country.
I believe the young generations need something to entertain; they need some events.
The whole country needs some events.
I sponsor many, many artists from Southern Sudan.
Like this young artist, who was in the war, has no voice, who now comes out now to be an artist.
Musicians -- there are quite talented guys under that.
Holger takes us to a concert of one of the guys he is managing.
Lam Tungwar, a former child soldier, now a rapper for a free South Sudan.
Holger became manager of us because of his sound mind, because of what he has as a person,
and the heart that he has, the love for South Sudan.
Music and artists bring people together.
Especially the young generation listens to music, so music is a messenger.
You know, I buy his ideas, the first time we met, because I know he is a liberator.
He is a guy who wants to fix something for the South.
Holger might make loads of money in this extremely poor country,
but he stands apart from other gold diggers because of his engagement with the community.
I would never do anything where I can't identify myself with it.
So you basically want to help them realizing their dream?
A dream is a dream. Either you have it or you don't. But if you have it, you should promote it.
It's my kind of social work, what I am doing. It's not that you just go somewhere and make some money.
I also give it out.
I like that style of life, but it doesn't mean I will be getting old here in Juba.
I have other plans in Malawi already. I will see.