It is said that if you want to hide something from an
African, put it in a book. There also seems to be anecdotal records that
indicate that African scholars do not write and publish as much as their
counterparts in Western hemispheres. These beliefs seem to purport that Africa
is lagging behind when it comes to information gathering and sharing. The truth
of the matter is that Africa is no longer playing catch-up but is at the fore in
embracing new and sophisticated technology and the latest forms of media.
Africa has been misrepresented by western media. A good
majority of westerners rely largely on news media for information about Africa.
Suffice it to say that most of that information paints a grim picture of
poverty, war and despondency in our continent. With the belief that ‘bad news
sells’, the Africa story has been wrongly told. Exciting stories about newly
discovered natural resources in Turkana, Kenya and other parts of the continent
have yet to be told. Plus, Africa is becoming the home of creative inventions
and little is being said about that, at least outside the precincts of the
continent.
However, there is a new generation rising from the
continent. One which is adamant about telling the African story, the African
way, by the Africans themselves.Their reporting of African issues seeks to
change the wider perceptions of investors and potential investors. It seeks to
change the narrative of Africa as the Dark Continent full of war, disease,
poverty and civil unrest. AllAfrica.com deserves commendation
for being one of the many independent news outlets that not only reports on our
woes, but also on our successes. This trend should be replicated more across
the countries in Africa, then the western media can take the cue and follow
suit.
We can only speak for ourselves. We must make our voices
louder and clearer, first to ourselves, then to the rest of the world. We must
find ways to penetrate international media platforms and make ourselves more
relevant and competitive. It is possible shift the attention of the world from
pessimistic perceptions of Africa to a vibrant, beautiful and a rising
continent.
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