Africa has myriads of lush green spaces, warmer temperatures, museums, Zoos, minerals deposits, among other great things for people to see. The aforementioned attractions attracts Western tourists.
Nonetheless, most western media tells a different kind of story about Africa depicting it as a dark continent. Academic analysis, videos, and other writings about Africa is also to blame for this negative image. Even in instances when authors have no intention to malign the continent, some of the pictures used in some of the western books, cover images, and titles show Africa as a lost cause.
Books as the Africa in Chaos, The Trouble with Africa, The Crisis Refugee are a good example. The 24 legacy series is also a superb example of the type of illusion western media present about Africa. The series, in one of its episodes displayed live footage of the Westage Shopping mall terrorist attack in Nairobi, where hundreds of people were injured and lost their loved ones.
The discouraging depiction of Africa is something that started in the late nineteen-century during the slavery and colonialism era. Even with the end of slavery and colonial era, some Western media still stick to antiquated discouraging description about Africa. Due to that negative perfection, many people understand Africa as a dark continent characterized by civil war, corruption & embezzlement of public funds, incompetent leadership, hunger, famine, diseases, as well other disasters and catastrophes. Even though they are the problems Africa faces, they are not as catastrophic as displayed.
Why do Western media stick to this dark perception about Africa even after the end of colonial and slave trade era? The issue is not just about Africa, but motivated by cultural prejudices, business and political advantages. Western Media, depends of autonomous audience acceptance to be profitable, and in order to sell more stories, they will search for ones about poverty driven Africa, war torn, and helpless continent, even despite the fact that some Africa countries have of late registered of rapid political , economic development and growth.
Articles Sources: Researchgate, Quora, Developafrica, The Guardian
By Samson Ogaye
Africa Global News Publication
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