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Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 10:34am On Mar 02, 2022 |
“ CNN is the 16 th member
of the Security Council” –
Boutros Ghali , 1995 .
As we approach the millennium , with the
triumph of the United States over Russia ,
capitalism over socialism and the market over
planning, the depiction of Africa through the
centuries has not changed considerably .
Africa has been portrayed as the dark
continent in need of civilising, and its heathen
peoples in need of enlightenment through
enslavement and colonisation . Africa has been
presented as a continent in the difficult throes
of trying to become more like the societies of
the Western Hemisphere . From the era of
Africa’ s enslavement and colonial rule , traders,
missionaries, adventurers and explorers have
all played a role in perpetuating and
disseminating certain images of Africa . These
images have on the whole been negative .
With the formal independence of most African
countries in the 1950 s and ’ 60 s ,
anthropologists and modernisation theorists
helped to portray a view of the dark , exotic
Africa as being “ emergent Africa. ” The 1970 s
saw an image of “ dependant Africa, ”
advocated by the dependency theorists who
used the concept and theory of dependence in
analysing Latin America, to understand
Africa’ s underdevelopment . In the 1980 s and
’90 s Africa has not only been portrayed has
dependent Africa but as “ crisis and pitiable
Africa. ”
Whilst from the 16 th century to the 19th
century, colonial administrators , missionaries
and merchants were largely responsible for
disseminating ideas about Africa , today this
dissemination is carried out by various forms
of print and electronic media : newspapers,
television, radio and the Internet .
Misinformation about Africa has become a
growth industry in the West . A vocabulary of
metaphors is used in describing Africa . For
example, “ black on black violence” is a
euphemism the Western press used in writing
about South Africa in the 1980 s , yet British
journalists do not report on “ white on white
violence” when reporting the conflict in
Northern Ireland.
Most Westerners have never visited Africa and
may never visit the continent . Yet there is a
particular image of Africa in the Western
mind. When one is asked to think of Western
images that come to mind when thinking of
Africa, the overall mental images are of
primeval irrationality , tribal anarchy, hunger/
famine, civil war , managerial ineptitude ,
political instability , flagrant corruption and
incompetent leadership .
These mental images of Africa have their deep
roots in a historical relationship of slavery and
colonialism which was imposed on the
continent . It was a relationship which defined
Africa and Africans as culturally, intellectually,
politically and technically backward and
inferior. These ideas continue to permeate the
perspectives Western journalists , editors and
academics adopt when writing about Africa.
More recently there has been open talk of
recolonizing Africa . In an editorial entitled
“ Weep for the Lost Continent , ” the
Independent on Sunday claimed :
“ Africa is so much
without hope that it is
difficult to believe that it
can help itself . If western
countries had the will
they could recolonise the
continent which they left
in such haste . The
Japanese and the Germans
could run Africa, using
the British , as
professional ex- colonists,
as their official agents .”( 1 )
In the Spectator, Paul Johnson ’ s went as far
as to say :
“ What the third world
needs is a new form of
imperialism : altruistic,
internationally
supervised , efficient and
tough - minded … the
factors which will permit
the revival of colonialism
are in place .”( 2 )
Patrick Marnham “ wonders whether Africa can
ever be governable” and claims that “ in Africa
no known system of government works ,”( 3)
whilst Robert Kaplan warned US government
officials of an impending anarchy of social
disease , environmental decay, population
explosion and civil war, commencing in Sierra
Leone and embroiling the twenty -first century.
Calling for the recolonization of Africa by the
Western media and academic community is an
alarming and highly dangerous trend . It is a
view that is as nonsensical and it is
patronising and racist. It is an analysis which
seeks to blame the victims and deflect any
focus on the role Europe has played in the
bloody mess of Africa .
These views are nothing but a modernised
repackaging of the British colonial view of
Africa and Africans as incapable of managing
their own affairs . What all these views fail to
take into account are the deep -rooted causes
of the disintegration of the African state,
which was undoubtedly exacerbated by the
coming to power of an African elite which
colluded with French , British , American
governments and multinational companies to
bleed African economies through Western
imposed neo- liberal economic reforms.
Certainly, Africa has ruthless and corrupt
Moi’ s , Mobutu ’ s , Bokassa ’ s , but these leaders
have been propped up ( and in Mobutu’ s case,
installed) by Western governments . This is
never given adequate coverage by the
Western media .
Western news reporting in general is often
portrayed as being neutral and impartial , and
the journalist as a neutral and balanced
arbiter. There is still a popular misconception
that anything written or seen on television is
true. This is often a huge myth which needs
to be exploded . Firstly, “ information ” does not
exist in an ideological vacuum . Information on
Africa is often presented without a historical
and analytical context to explain the roots of a
conflict. On account of this lack of historical
and analytical examination, most Western
reports resort to attributing all conflicts in
Africa to primordial irrationality and “ tribalism ”
Secondly , “ information ” of reporting on Africa
sometimes underlies or informs Western
governments ’ foreign policies . How television
images of starving Somalis in 1991 - 2 led to
the US government ’s military intervention will
be examined later as a prime example of how
the media can and do have a direct influence
on government policy .
Thirdly , “ information ” also plays a big role in
the formation of Western public opinion, both
sympathetic and negative , towards Africa and
African people. The image of “ Africa needing
help, ” was the dominant image during the
1984 Ethiopian famine and Band Aid was an
international response motivated by Western
public sympathy .
Fourthly “ information ” is not neutral . The
mass media is not neutral in the news it
chooses to disseminate on Africa . Imperialist
and racist attitudes are often reflected in the
angle and more often than not , the language it
employs.
I shall now examine how the Western media
covered the conflicts in Somalia from
1991- 1993 and Rwanda from 1994 to 1995 . I
have selected these two countries because
they are highly interesting in themselves and
show the interplay between three sets of
Western institutions : the news media ,
governments and humanitarian organisations .
These two conflicts also provide some
concrete examples of the gross
misrepresentations of issues and images of
Africans.
In looking at Rwanda and Somalia as case
studies, we have to ask four important
questions . Firstly, how did the Western media
portray these two conflicts? Secondly , what
were the real issues that were concealed in
the media ’ s misrepresentations ? Thirdly , what
kind of language was used to represent the
issues? Finally, how did the media attention
link with Western governments ’ policymaking
and Western humanitarian responses ? Better for lion to die honorably in the jungle, than in the city,as a pet. 1 Like |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by yomexp(m): 10:40am On Mar 02, 2022 |
1 Like |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by ajumma(m): 10:43am On Mar 02, 2022 |
kwana biyu 1 Like |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by KingEverest: 10:48am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Africas problem is leadership and noting more as long as we keep getting it wrong at that aspect Africa will never develop, and wen I say leadership I'm not just taking about the president and governors I'm talking about every single leadership position 1 Like |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 10:50am On Mar 02, 2022 |
ajumma: Lafiya lau. I had only been silent these days, reading some stupid comments of "US worshipers" who find it hard to realise that West does not care about their existence. I see how some sane people try to enlighten them about West and Russia and about white people at large. 1 Like |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Michelle70(m): 10:51am On Mar 02, 2022 |
KingEverest:Africa problem is mentality and not leadership. We have the mentality to always vote our tribesman irrespective of how bad he is then we come back and blame leadership Africans will rather protest and destroy their country instead of doing something good Africans have inferiority complex and hates themselves, their culture, belief, leaders etc. Inflation hits everyone but Africans/Nigerians will rather use it yo ridicule their continent 1 Like |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 10:51am On Mar 02, 2022 |
KingEverest: I understand you. But do you think white leaders are saner? |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by KingEverest: 10:54am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Michelle70:I'm saying the same tin we can't get the right people into leadership positions 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by KingEverest: 10:56am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Khaleepha5681:whites are not saner they are even more corrupt but the difference is that they steal from other countries and invest in their country while African leaders do the opposite 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Michelle70(m): 10:56am On Mar 02, 2022 |
KingEverest:then its not leadership but our mentality of not trying to move the country forward |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Zaheertyler(m): 11:01am On Mar 02, 2022 |
. |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Elitefosa: 11:06am On Mar 02, 2022 |
The problem is a lot of things wrapped up in "Religion" and "Tribal Sentiments" - Lack of Purposeful Vision - Lack of Leadership with foresight You see, there's a way we Nigerians see each other, it's always "we" against "them" But the ultimate Problem holding us back as a country is "Poverty" and "Greed" Then there's the entitlement mentality again.... we always want favours for no just reason. Then there's corruption which is an offspring of poverty and entitlement mentality. |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Elitefosa: 11:07am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Zaheertyler: "God's grace" |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 11:10am On Mar 02, 2022 |
KingEverest: If they loot their country's treasure and invest on their people in the same nation, is it looting at all? Because,according to our people, the leader must always be 'poor' for him to be considered "saint''. How can vote for the person that remain poor despite lucrative salaries and expect progress? They chose progressive leaders,we chose saint leaders. They chose patriotic ones,we chose godly leaders. Hence, our leaders give us all we want,and so their leaders too. |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by KingEverest: 11:12am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Khaleepha5681:we don't choose any thing the whole system is rigged don't allow any body decieve you |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 11:18am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Elitefosa: Poverty and Greed are not the problem. Greed is not bad on its own. Being greed a bad or good thing depends. When you're greed for your country's benefit, you'll be termed 'patriot' in your country and racist,mad etc by the enemies of your country. The problem is our mentality. We don't have media to reverse the damage. |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 11:25am On Mar 02, 2022 |
KingEverest: If we don't chose, why do they spend a lotta money to persuade us voting for them? |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by ajumma(m): 11:28am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Khaleepha5681: see one da wiwi heniford2 say him wan used spiritual trace me ? e think say northerners na jokers |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by KingEverest: 11:30am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Khaleepha5681:that's the game now just to decieve the masses and they have succeeded see how convinced you are |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 11:31am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Michelle70: We're together on this, though I'm not sure if we're right. we need the likes of Nollywood to reverse the damages that Hollywood did to our people. Then NTA etc to reverse the damages caused by CNN, BBC etc. |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 11:36am On Mar 02, 2022 |
KingEverest: I am not just convinced, I just believe that the system is not absolutely ineffective. Our votes count,when we want them to count. |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 11:39am On Mar 02, 2022 |
ajumma:Hhhh Don't you ask him to use the same spiritualism to chat with you directly? 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Elitefosa: 11:40am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Khaleepha5681: Yea you are right! I am talking about how we found ourselves as a country in terms of development though Not as perceived by the western world or "oyibo" people... That doesnt require MEDIA? what do you think? |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by KingEverest: 11:43am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Khaleepha5681:you go gree see I have a close friend who drives big men and politicians with convoys, he got an opportunity through connection to drive one of the commissioners inec sent to port Harcourt 2019, wen he started describing events that happens behind close doors we wept for Nigeria, guy u don't know how corrupt this country is that's d problem u are having wen hear and see thinhsy I'll give up on this country |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by ajumma(m): 11:53am On Mar 02, 2022 |
Khaleepha5681: walahi kuwa. @heniford2 pls use the same spiritualism to communicate with you directly. so i can handcuff you easily. |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by Nobody: 11:55am On Mar 02, 2022 |
KingEverest: (1)Your friend is not your close relative,the chance of lie is high (2)He is just one person against many people, so you have just a single unverified source. (3)You are not eyewitnesses..... you're not sure (4)He is mere driver, so the chance of being the meeting attendee is lower. Do you who am I? No. |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by KingEverest: 12:02pm On Mar 02, 2022 |
Khaleepha5681:so you want to tell me they don't rig election in Nigeria? You should have just told me you're agent for one of these politicians it political parties to save my time |
Re: Africans,ain't You Ashamed Of Yourselves? by meobizy(f): 5:40pm On Mar 02, 2022 |
Copy and paste gone wrong. I doubt OP would read the write-up if it was presented how he did. I can swear the Nairalanders commenting did not read it. |
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