AfricaIsA Great Continent

from The Diaspora - African Magazine - 6th Issue

by The Diaspora African Magazine

South AustraliaUnifiesAfrican Nations- HostingTheAfrican Cup Of Nations

AFRICA IS A GREAT CONTINENT

Photo Caption

In recent decades, narratives have painted a wide range of views of Africa as an imminent threat, a tinderbox of terrorism, poverty and a disease stricken area. There is truth to this. However, one thing is certain: Africa has recently undergone a remarkable transformation. Africa is shaping its own destiny and should be referred to as ?Africa of opportunity?.

Africa is a continent endowed with an abundance of natural resources. It is centrally positioned at what could be a crossroads for world trade, within easy reach of markets in America, Asia and Europe. It possesses its own potential market of over 600 million persons, yet it has some of the world?s poorest countries.

Africa has two problems to deal with at the same time: One is the true condition of Africa as it is found on the ground, and the other is the image of Africa depicted by a number of stereotypes.

To Westerners, Africa is the land of savages and cannibals, as portrayed in the Tarzan movies. It is a continent of numerous with conflicts, violence, witchcraft, grinding poverty, hunger and terrifying diseases, like AIDSand others. Some of the world news media prefer to feed their audience stereotypes rather than objective realities about the continent.

As many reports have implied, poverty, disease, and ignorance are found in Africa as in other continents. NGOs raise funds by showing photos of African babies with runny noses and starving mothers in pathetic environments.

They don? t counterbalance narratives about Africa, which reinforces the negative Western mindset of

Africa as a "hopeless continent. However, Africa is so much more than a story of tragedies. The good news about Africa needs to find space in the world media.

It is myopic to ignore these advancements. However, acknowledging progress does not absolve us from the responsibility to continue working toward faster and greater positive outcomes.

By recognizing Africa as an opportunity and not a threat, citizens, government and organizations on the continent and across the globe will be better positioned to face challenges and further boost positive trends.