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 The Africa You Need to KnowPosted on Nov 28, 2006
What is disaster pornography? Africans define it as the Western media’s habit of blacking out Africa’s stock markets, cellphones, heart surgeries, soaring literacy and increasing democratization, while gleefully parading its genocides, armed conflicts, child soldiers, foreign debts, hunger, disease and backwardness. I recently found myself making small talk with an airport official in the United States. “I hear in Africa, people are very poor and hungry, that they don’t have anything to eat,” he said. “I saw a documentary on Africa a few days ago on CNN, and there were all these hungry people, dying children, with flies all over their faces....” Yeah, I replied hesitantly, not knowing exactly what a correct response should be. My situation was not helped by 22 hours of travel, which had considerably dulled my reflexes. “But you look well fed,” he said, scanning my generous proportions. I didn’t exactly like this attention to my physical details, but I had more patriotic worries. I had to let him know that Africa is not one huge expanse of waste, but 54 countries and two islands, in different stages of development, repair, disrepair and, of course, despair. Famine in Niger does not mean hunger in Nigeria, just as war in Liberia does not mean child soldiers in Lesotho. My short lecture had no effect whatsoever on my “student.” His next question was, “But, what is the problem with Africa?” Clearly, nothing I had said could erase the “huge expanse of waste” picture of Africa from his mind. I don’t blame him. Neither do I blame another official at a different airport who asked me if Africans keep their cowries in banks. [Editor’s note: Cowries are shells that were used as mediums of exchange in parts of Africa.] He was quite taken aback when I showed him a few naira notes [Nigerian currency]. I also don’t blame some of my American friends when they ask me how I “picked up such good English.” Far from picking up good English, I tell them, I have a background of solid British education. My country, Nigeria, was a British colony until 1960. No one should blame these people or anyone else who displays such profound ignorance about Africa. Rather than educate and enlighten by disseminating fair, balanced and accurate information, all that the Western media seem to be keen on showing the West about Africa is backwardness, disease, hunger, want, deprivation, banditry, brigandage, slaughter fields, child soldiers, gang-raped girls, harassed mothers, wasted children, flies feasting on the living and vultures waiting to devour the near-dead. Goodness! Africans of all leanings, from all walks of life and from every part of the continent, usually have only one question each time they are faced with these gory media depictions of Africa: “Where do they get these images?” It is not only Africans who do not recognize their continent in the Western media. Michael Ledeen, contributing editor of National Review Online, laments this caricaturing of Africa in an article titled “Out of Africa: What the Western World Doesn’t Understand About the Continent.” He says: “Those of us who love Africa almost never recognize it in the press or the movies. The racist stereotypes of Africans are so deeply ingrained in the guilt-driven worldview of Western elites that it is almost impossible to get to the truth.” So what is the truth about Africa? Africa is not a country. It is the world’s second largest continent and the second most populous, after Asia. Occupying 20 percent of the Earth’s land area, it measures roughly 5,000 miles from north to south and about 4,600 miles from east to west. This makes it about four times the size of the United States. Africa’s population of about 890 million is slightly less than 14 percent of total world population. Its peoples belong to thousands of ethnic groups and clans. Some of the more widely known ethnic groups in Africa are Arab, Ashanti, Bantu, Berber, Dinka, Fulani, Ganda, Yoruba, Hausa, Kikuyu, Luba, Lunda, Malinke, Moor, Nuer, Tuareg and Xhosa. Africans are by no means homogeneous. There is no African culture. Africans have diverse and varied ways of life. They behave differently from country to country, ethnic group to ethnic group and clan to clan. There is also no African language. Africans speak about 2,000 languages. Among Africa’s most widely spoken languages are Swahili, Hausa, Yoruba, Bantu, Akan, Arabic, Koma and Songhai. And far from being a perpetual laggard, Africa has made and still makes quite significant contributions to the world order. History 101 says Africa provided the slave labor that developed the New World and enriched the Old World. Today, Africa provides columbite-tantalite, the mineral from which the computer chips that drive the 21st century’s high-tech global economy are made. Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Nigeria are the major petroleum and natural gas producing countries in Africa. They account for about 20 percent of the world’s petroleum needs. Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa together produce 50 percent of the world’s diamonds. Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe together produce nearly 50 percent of the world’s gold. Africa also contributes 70 percent of the world’s cocoa each year, 34 percent of the coffee and 50 percent of the palm products. The United States imports 30 to 60 percent of key African products; French industry depends on Africa for over 90 percent of its uranium, cobalt and manganese, 76 percent of its bauxite, 50 percent of its chromium and 30 percent of its iron ore; and British industry depends on Africa for 80 percent of its chromium, 65 percent of its lubrication oil, 55 percent of its manganese and 54 percent of its cobalt. China imports nearly 30 percent of its oil and gas from sub-Saharan Africa. Africa is the continent longest inhabited by human beings. There are two competing theories to explain how mankind spread across the globe from Africa. The “Out of Africa” theory suggests that between 100,000 and 200,000 years ago, modern man (Homo sapiens) emerged from Africa to slowly populate the rest of the world, replacing any human species that were already there. The other theory suggests that modern humans arose simultaneously in Africa, Europe and Asia from one of our predecessors, Homo erectus, who left Africa about 2 million years ago. Proponents of each theory, however, agree on one point—that all humans alive today could share common ancestry with a being in Africa who lived 120,000 to 220,000 years ago. History is emphatic that Africa is the cradle of civilization. Egypt, Ethiopia and the ancient empires of Mali, Songhai, Kongo, Oyo, Kanem-Bornu and Ghana are among Africa’s early civilizations. The Nile Valley is also acclaimed for the inventions its African inhabitants bequeathed to modern civilization. Africa boasts of having some of the best brains in the world. According to the United States Census Bureau, Africans are the most educated ethnic group in the United States. But what do the Western media say Africa is? Rod Chavis says in “Africa in the Western Media”: “Nouns and adjectives like hut, dark, tribe, King Kong, tribalism, primitive, nomad, animism, jungle, cannibal, savage, underdeveloped, third world, developing, etc., are pervasive when Africa is the story. Images of Africa in the Western Media, many times, are deeply troubling psychologically and emotionally, especially to those claiming her as primordial heritage, lineage, and descendancy. They portray a no there there: no culture, no history, no tradition, and no people, an abyss and negative void. “With the stroke of a journalist’s pen,” Chavis continues, “the African, her continent, and her descendants are pejoratively reduced to nothing [but] ... a bastion of disease, savagery, animism, pestilence, war, famine, despotism, primitivism, poverty, and ubiquitous images of children, flies in their food and faces, their stomachs distended. These ‘universal’ but powerfully subliminal message units, beamed at global television audiences, connote something not good, perennially problematic unworthiness, deplorability, black, foreboding, loathing, sub humanity, etc.” Hugh Hamilton in “Ownership, Diversity & Race: Confronting (Mis) Representations of Africa in the US Media” also highlights the same thread. “The dominant images of Africa in American mainstream media are of a dark and desolate continent, riven by tribal conflict, beleaguered by pestilence, poverty and disease, a place of fear and futility ...of despair and depression, of a lost people languishing in a lost land somewhere beyond the edge of modern civilization.” This dehumanization of Africa has become a matter of concern not only to Africans, at home and in the diaspora, but also to teeming non-Africans who have suckled at Africa’s generous breasts. Eleven former African heads of state from all over the continent rose from the African Presidential Roundtable, 2005, sponsored by Boston University’s African Presidential Archives and Research Center, with a common conclusion. While agreeing, though with nice words, that most African governments have been despotic, corrupt, capricious, inept and thoroughly useless, they lamented what they described as “Africa’s image in the American media.” Their Excellencies examined the record of coverage of some of America’s most distinguished publications—The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and U.S. News & World Report. They reviewed these publications over a 10-year period—from 1994 to 2004—and “found their coverage of the continent to be anything but fair and balanced.” Such an incredible labor of love, considering the fact that many of them had more than enough to do with Africa’s present sorry state. They therefore concluded that “the findings of this (and other) surveys indicate that coverage of Africa, by the leading sources of American media is, at best, dismissive of the continent’s progress and potential, and thus leading to continued ‘exotification’ and marginalization of the African continent. At worst, coverage disregards recent trends toward democratization, thus betraying an almost contemptuous lack of interest in the potential and progress being achieved on the continent.” How does this negative portrayal affect Africa’s fortunes? These former heads of state, who should know, because of their former and relatively still vantage positions, were unanimous that this negative portrayal “has profound relevance to everything— including the world considering Africa as a worthy investment venue and viewing Africa as a valuable trading partner ...it is reasonable to posit that negative perceptions lead to negative outcomes, namely, lower levels of aid and lower levels of investment.”
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By Rob, August 5, 2007 at 8:37 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I agree with LTJ and Edwin. Africa’s magnificence, pride and hearty nature are downplayed, but to simply ignore the problems they have there like tribalistic politics, civil wars that ruin progress, rampant famine and crime and say “The mean ol’ West is making Africa out to be a continent of death and suffering, but that’s not true” is not helping.
And though LTJ has pointed out that European colonial powers share some of the blame for the state Africa is in, this should not say that native Africans themselves are let off the hook. Sometimes people are their own worst enemy. Africa must abandon its tribal ways and embrace the 21st century.
Report thisBy tj, July 17, 2007 at 6:48 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
many in our media elite think that by exposing only the evil or degrading things of a culture will help expose those who are to blame. once blame is assigned, we can all feel sorry for the victims. but the problems never seem to go away. perhaps we should try being more positive in the media , then people wont feel so hopeless and helpless.
Report thisBy Nasir, March 30, 2007 at 8:34 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
.....Fulani, Ganda, Yoruba, Hausa, Kikuyu, Luba, Lunda, Malinke, Moor, Nuer, Tuareg and Xhosa."-
Point of correction,you state that Xhoza is one of the most widely popular ethnic group,along side the Bantu.In fact,Xhosaz are the Bantu people,being the Ngunis,together with Sothos,and Vendas in South Africa,are the ethnic groups classified as Bantu!
Report thisBy LTJ, March 4, 2007 at 3:46 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Africa: What a round-about opportunity for Judith Gordon to raise what must be her favorite topic.
Judith Gordon (Canada) writes on 3/03:
“...yet another article maligning Israel and glorifying, justifying and excusing terrorism flashs across the csreen.[sic]”
Really? Where would one locate this article-flashing screen? I suspect that it exists only in the writer’s imagination.
BTW, would Ms Gordon include in her definition of terrorism that infamous incident with the King David Hotel bombing in 1946 and a young Zionist named Menachem Begin?
Was Begin really at #1 on a British most wanted list for Terrorists in the late 1940’s? A Jewish version of Osama bin Laden? Couldn’t be the same guy as the Israeli PM in the 1970’s ....could it?
Report thisBy jangay nya, March 3, 2007 at 5:05 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
thanks for this great and fact filled article !! it is so easy for people to believe the hype of the media regarding africa which is usually portrayed as the “dark continent”. it is always a good thing when people ask questions, even the stupid and offensive ones. ideally, it means they are open to a different and more informed perspective. i would be concerned if people were not curious enough to notice differences in their ill-informed opinions worth questioning. even if they don’t fully accept the new infomation or if they justify it as the “exception and not the norm” of their biased perceptions, they have been educated.
Report thisBy Judith Gordon, March 3, 2007 at 3:19 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Fascinating article. I follow the news coming out of the Middle East and just when I think I can’t be anymore astonished, yet another article maligning Israel and glorifying, justifying and excusing terrorism flashs across the csreen. Since I know how horriobly distorted the media’s veiws of Israel are, why should I be surprized to hear that the depeictions of Africa are equally distorted? Actually I am not shocked. I am delighted, for Africa!
Report thisJudith Gordon-Canada
By Mac Kabbo Jibba, March 2, 2007 at 8:36 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
It is very unfortunate that the western media could think and refer to our beloved continent the way they do.In fact my perception about the western world is so blunt that I always take them to be devils.
Report thisDevils because they were and are responsible for our calamities.Europe greatly underdevelopped Africa and what I expect them to do is to atone for the evil that they committeed against our great grand parents,the ugly benefits which we are reaping today.They are like that today because our ancestors worked for them.If they want to know mor about Africa, the way is open.Let them come and do research and get a positive result rather than relying of what few disgruntled souls narrate to them for the sake of survival.
If the west feels Africa is portrayed the way it is in the media,then they have more days to learn.All I know is that the white man is greatly jealous about this continent and would never like to see it united.Instead,they smuggle our minerals and in return send arms and ammunitions to kill ourselves.
By Dr. Eluemuno Blyden, March 1, 2007 at 3:09 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
The level of response to this article underlines the importance of this topic. Frankly, it is one that needs to reach the UN—viz. in a globally connected world in which a nation’s media image can mean the difference between life-enhancing trade, investment and socio-economic attractiveness for young people and death: should Hollywood, Nolliwood or Bolliwood and others with the resources to manipulate perceptions on a planet-wide scale be held accountable for the impact of their productions? Perhaps we need an international court case on the issue. I have in mind the impact of a film like “Blood Diamond” on all the hard work Sierra Leoneans and their international helpers have done to rebuild a peaceful country that can attract investment. Today, a powerful picture of the country that is nearly 10 years old is the primary reference in the popular media about the country.
Report thisBy Michael Abiodun, December 21, 2006 at 5:59 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Thanks very much for this piece of art. You hit the nail right on the head. As a matter of fact I was researching a topic “World perception of Africa as a jungle”, then pop up your article. Very interesting in deed and very well done. When I came to US about 30 years ago, every media piece you see of Africa Continent was always in black and white influencing the people’s thought about Africa as still backward and still living in the stone age.
Report thisBy R. A. Earl, December 3, 2006 at 6:06 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
In #40389, Olu wrote, in part “...it’s socially unaceptable to parade African women and children from the congos nude on television.”
To do so only to feed a prurient interest that some may have in viewing other people’s erogenous zones, I agree. Many immature people just can’t get their eyes off the private parts, nor their minds out of the gutter.
However, NUDITY is not what is socially unacceptable in my view. Personally I wear clothing only to keep from freezing, burning to a crisp, or being scratched to a bleeding pulp as I hike the forested hills and valleys. Well, OK, I also do so out of deference to the sensibilities of others… why offend or scare the hell out of people when you don’t have to?
But to go naturally naked in temperate climes, where protection from the elements is unnecessary, is completely NORMAL behavior. To cover up for any other reason is UNNATURAL and SILLY. If someone “out of Africa” is too immature to look at a naked person without tittering like a schoolgirl or having a hissy fit of false moralistic modesty, let the problem remain THEIRS!
BTW, when I refer to nudity, I mean NUDE EQUALITY… men, women and children. Men are the biggest prudes when it comes to “covering up.” I guess they resent being valued, ranked and judged by the size of their equipment when “parked.” Perhaps if men were forced to experience that kind of discrimination, there’d be a lot less of the nonsense that surrounds the judging of women by the size of their breasts.
So, Olu, let’s just leave Africans to live as they wish to. If they don’t mind their photographic images being broadcast to immature non-Africans, that tells me clearly that the problem lies entirely with the non-Africans.
Report thisBy DeeinBig D, December 1, 2006 at 5:43 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Thank you for this wonderful article. Apparently, I need to know more about Africa. My meager knowledge only hinted at the richly colorful existance there.
Report thisKnow that you have inspired me to find reading material to explore Africa. I look forward to it. Thank you again!
By Olu Osunsanmi, December 1, 2006 at 7:49 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
The western media are forced to provide shocking news inorder to burst their publications rating for increased revenue. However, some of the report from Africa are mostly negative, the continent’s leadership or concern citizens need to let the world understand that it’s socially unaceptable to parade African women and children from the congos nude on television.
This tribal people are happy in their little world, they are not subhuman and would likely rejected the fact that they are been seen all over the world naked. This kind of dehumnization need to be rejected forcefully it’s against the law to show nudity on the television here in united state, why is no-one denouncing the History Channel, TLC and Discovery channel for revealling naked Africans on television. In fact Opera Winfrey has some financial stake in these cable media. Why can she see that there is something wrong with that depiction. In the turn of the 19th century the same people trying to provide entertainment brought African man into captivity in the New York Zoo. It takes a Presidential Election to change that evil idea.
There are plenty of cultures in Africa, if they really want to help us as a nation spread Afrian actistic powess and not exploiting innnocent Africans.
Report thisBy LucysGranddaughter, November 30, 2006 at 2:24 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
The media does cover bad news over good, granted. Still, it does seem like Africa is singled out over other continents that also have disease and poverty. I wonder if it might be because the west is interested in the AIDS epidemic, and Africa, or parts of Africa, have the worst HIV/AIDS rates?
Report thisBy Dan Burke, November 30, 2006 at 9:34 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I think it is great to stress the positive aspects of this huge and diverse continent.
It is also important for each of us to address the violence that is taking place in some parts of Africa.
The on going viilence in Darfur has been called the first genocide of the 21st century. Please visit http://darfurwall.org to join with thousands of others in speaking out.
The Darfur Wall project provides a quick, effective way to add your voice to the thousands of people who want to make a difference.
Report thisBy Roberto Paul, November 30, 2006 at 8:55 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
This is not an “African” problem. It simply reflects the atraction that most people have for reports about the pain, suffering and different behaviors of others. The media is designed to garner viewers and the news media is influenced by this phenomena. It is a human phenomena.
Report thisBy LTJ, November 30, 2006 at 2:57 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
The author glosses over the fact that Africa is the poorest region in the world, and getting poorer. No doubt that the mainstream American media is focused on epic disasters and tragedies -often shown in distorted ways. However, that still does not mean that Africa is not in relatively bad shape. Clearly, and by almost every objective, international measure of progress, Africa is now in very bad shape, and getting worse. It is the only major region of the world that is persistently IN DECLINE.
Of course there was great promise for many African nations in the 1960’s - with the gradual end of colonial rule and the influx of new Western money and interest. But, for reasons still unclear, the 1960’s are starting to look like something of a high-point for African progress in our time.
Oddly, the author claims that Africa contributes to “world order” by having provided “slave labor” to the West (past tense) and by currently serving as an excellent source of valuable metals and minerals to the worlds industries (typically extracted by outside contractors, coming in from the European world). What could possibly be a more typically “colonial” role than providing slave labor and raw materials for the use of ruling nations? Much more impressive in my view would be African inventors and Nobel Prize winners in the areas of science and technology. Certainly there is a well-educated elite in Africa. And, Africans are still working out the full (beyond colonial) history of Africa and its people. Personally, I don’t doubt the legendary beauty of the land, the people and the culture of Africa. But, there’s not nearly as much to admire in the more mundane, yet essential, areas of communications and transport infrastructure, public health, literacy, modern agricultural efficiency, information technology and effective government.
I should add that some part of all this can be blamed on the European colonial powers, who generally acted as selfish, cruel and terrible tyrants in Africa - perhaps some colonizers being worse (Belgium?) than others (France). However, it’s also instructive to note that it was the Europeans (not the Africans) who built the sea-worthy ships and risked all to explore, document (and exploit) all of the valuable, vulnerable, unknown places in the world. If instead, a group of Africans (or Japanese or Mayans) had explored the wider world first, it might be a far different world we live in today (...perhaps better? ...perhaps worse?).
Report thisBy Tsega, November 29, 2006 at 3:09 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Intersting article. I am working as a case manager in on of the top job search net work in Melbourne Australia. One day an African client came to apply a Job and my boss telling me to look after him, then after I talk to him my boss call me and ask me why you do not talk to him with your language I said to her I can’t speak his language she said how come you guys came from the same country and have different language, I said to her Africa is one big continent not country. She ask me again why you guys have different skin tone any way she ask me a lot thing on and on and I explained every thing as much as I can. My point is most western society they didn’t know world history and geography. They only know and believe it what is on the media.
Thanks for your deep exploration. We need the people like you.
Report thisBy Tsega, November 29, 2006 at 3:04 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I am working as a case manager in on of the top job search net work in Melbourne Australia. One day an African client came to apply a Job and my boss telling me to look after him, then after I talk to him my boss call me and ask me why you do not talk to him with your language I said to her I can’t speak his language she said how come you guys came from the same country and have different language, I said to her Africa is one big continent not country. She ask me again why you guys have different skin tone any way she ask me a lot thing on and on and I explained every thing as much as I can. My point is most western society they didn’t know world history and geography. They only know and believe it what is on the media.
Thanks for your deep exploration. We need the people like you.
Report thisBy Pamela, November 29, 2006 at 1:58 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Thank you, thank you! Having lived in Zambia for many years as an American white, I can tell you first hand that, yes, there is poverty, but more obvious is the staggering beauty of the land, the gentleness and selfless generosity of its people, and the fact that once one “tastes” Africa, it gets in your blood. My heart will always be there. Don’t listen to the muddied, crooked media. Death and disaster sell; the normal day-to-day life of most Africans wouldn’t.
Report thisBy Roger Drowne EC, November 29, 2006 at 1:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Africans ! Help Lead the Worlds Way 2
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Thank U, U Earth Citizen U
& “ To Hell… With War “
House the People - Living On Our Streets
Also see, Earth Ball Green Houses… NEW
Report thisBy DOC, November 29, 2006 at 12:13 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Yes Africa is a contenient named so by a map maker, not unlike America; yet we have been tought to see Africa as one, while the American contenient is America. Canada, Mexico, and the many central and south American countries are excluded, from the title America. I will show your article to the many “African students here [Eastern Oregon U] In hopes that it will help them educate others on the fact that they come from a country, that is unique, as we all are. Peace be C you
Report thisBy Petsounds, November 29, 2006 at 12:12 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
What an excellent piece! I hope it receives a lot of attention, and that you are asked to speak about this issue on TV, radio--everywhere!
For many years I have wanted to visit Botswana, but most people look terrified and ask why I would want to go to such a dangerous place! Excuse me? Since when is Botswana dangerous???
Report thisBy Lili, November 29, 2006 at 11:37 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Sad, but true, but, as stated above, we are all victims of the same kind of “pornography”. I was born in Argentina of Irish Italian heritage. I am called a “latino”, a “hispanic”, or some other such misnomer. I am told I “don’t look Spanish” (what does Spanish look like, i wonder!). I am asked how could you be Irish and be from Argentina? My answer: how could YOU be Irish and be from the United States? So many people have no idea where Argentina is, and what language is spoken there! So many people look at “south of the border” and see it all as one big blob. And yet, each country South of the Border has its own unique traditions, culture, history and economy. The answer: Education, education, education! And, my advise to Africa? Ignore US ignorance and ally yourselves with China!
Report thisBy MARIAM RUSSELL, November 29, 2006 at 10:48 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
How successful if the restoration of the Timbuktu Manuscripts and when will we see some publication of their contents? Before we see the Dead Sea Scrolls, I hope.
You did not mention the great University of Timbuktu.....one of the oldest in the world, I believe.
Report thisBy Edwin, November 29, 2006 at 10:38 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Sounds like Bush talking about Iraq.
Nothing is as utterly awful as the media portrays or as utterly splendid as articles like this portray.
Why is a balanced view so difficult to find these days?
Report thisBy Rodolfo Vassaux, November 29, 2006 at 9:30 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Living in another so called “third world country”, Guatemala, I totally understand the sentiments of the writer.
Congratulations
R.Vassaux
Report thisBy WCG, November 29, 2006 at 7:12 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Interesting article. But it’s not just Africa, you know. In most of the media, bad news is news and good news is ignored. You don’t get headlines when a country is at peace, when people are doing well, when life is good. It’s war, hunger, crime that dominate the news ... and not just in Africa. In America, I’ve heard that we who watch the news regularly tend to have an exaggerated fear of crime. I’ve talked to non-Americans who seem to think that gun violence is everywhere. Maybe, but in 55 years, I’ve never been a victim of ANY crime. Then again, I live in Nebraska, and we’re convinced - from the media, of course - that we’d be taking our lives in our hands by visiting New York. Heh, heh. So no, it’s not Africa, it’s just the nature of the media. And it’s human nature to be drawn to such stories. I’m glad to see there are good things going on, too, but those things will probably never make the headlines.
Report thisBy peteralbertson@verizon.net, November 29, 2006 at 5:57 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
A marvelous piece that opened my eyes, made me angry, made me sad, made me hopeful. Find more from this FINE writer.
Report thisBy ayyub Fanta (Ethiopian), November 29, 2006 at 12:05 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Thanks for your deep exploration. We need the people like you, who can liberate Africans from westerns economical colonialism. You are right we have every thing but we didn’t worked together. The sun will rise very soon. One day we will walk hand in hand together on developed Africa with our well managed and mutually respected culture.
Report thisThank you!
By Solomon, November 28, 2006 at 11:10 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Having traveled to Asia and South America, I found out that extreme poverty worse than places I have seen in Africa. But the media will want you to believe that Africa is synonymous with poverty. More than 50% of the world poor live in Asia. India itself has more people in poverty that the entire population of Sub-Shara Africa. Africa has some of the fastest growing economies in the world today. Africa is far more democratic now that it was in the 1980’s. What Africa needs is Al-Jazeera Africa.
I think African countries should invest in infrastructure and build transportation to facilitate trade among countries in Africa. Add value to our commodities so we don’t get ripped off by the west.
Report this