Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2015 21:58:55 +0100
Africa Untold Stories
By: <http://www.siliconafrica.com/author/julie/> Julie D. Hackett
February 9th, 2015 at 7:59 pm.
In 2014, Italy's latest flagship aircraft carrier, the Cavour, rolled into
Luanda's bay as part of a 20 country tour across the Middle East and Africa.
Its mission was twofold: to showcase Italy's military might and to offer
free medical and humanitarian services. Friends at the Italian Embassy
invited me for a night of opera and Italian aperitivi aboard the massive 244
meter vessel where I got to talking with an Italian sailor. He was an older
gentlemen, possibly in his fifties and visiting Africa for the first time. I
asked him how his experience had been so far and he lit up at the chance to
share some of his impressions.
He started with Cape Town, gushing over its spectacular beauty. I nodded my
head in agreement - Cape Town is indeed a stunning metropolis that hosts the
perfect meeting between nature and urban development. The sailor went on
singing the praises of the city and how nice the people were. It wasn't long
before I picked up on the fact that his impressions were actually rooted in
a profound sense of shock about what he had seen. My suspicions were
confirmed when he exclaimed, "I couldn't believe I was in Africa!"
I paused for a minute. What did he mean he couldn't believe he was in
Africa? Did he think Cape Town was in Asia? I asked him to clarify, already
having a pretty good guess about what he would say. He confirmed once again
by saying, "I didn't think Africa had any nice cities like that!" He didn't
miss a breath before adding how he was surprised that each place he had seen
was so different. At this point, I felt a bit annoyed. I wondered how he
could have thought Africa didn't have any nice cities. How could he think
that in a continent of over 50 countries, the cities would be just one big
blur of sameness? I decided not to crush his euphoric boyish enlightenment
keeping in mind that to many outsiders, African is still viewed as one big
primitive country with spear-wielding, loin-cloth wearing, mud-hut dwellers.
As an American who has lived in Angola for the last three years and traveled
to just over one fifth of the countries on the continent, I have become
increasingly aware of the prevailing negative views of Africa. When I visit
the US and tell people where I live, it usually draws a blank stare. Some
admit that they don't know where Angola is, but generally the first question
I get is about Ebola or if I am in any danger. It always serves as a stark
reminder that Africa is still painted as a black hole of sadness, war and
desperation in need of the charity, grace and fixing of the first world.
This is the message that has been sold over and over to "rich world"
audiences through mass media and public campaigns, asking people to dig deep
into their hearts and pockets to throw money at a distant problem called
"Africa".
So when will we stop casting our condescension over the great "dark
continent"? When will we stop portraying the countries of Africa as a lost
cause that can only be saved by our generosity? Bob Geldof's 3rd rendition
of "Do They Know its Christmas?" released in December 2014 in an effort to
raise money to fight Ebola, proved that in some circles, the narrative about
Africa is still the same. While it is undeniable that there is an
unacceptable amount of human suffering in many countries in Africa, similar
suffering happens in many parts of the world (do people know that parts of
Mississippi, USA have higher rates of maternal mortality than some
sub-Saharan African countries?), but Africa takes center stage as the one
place that cannot seem to rise to the occasion of humanity of its own
volition.
While there has been a huge push to strike down harmful stereotypes and to
change the way that people see Africa (mainly on the part of Africans
themselves), we still see and hear a very narrow side of the story. Some of
the same issues do persist, including poverty and conflict, however, we
rarely get a balanced perspective which shows a picture of progress and some
of the philanthropic efforts initiated by Africans who have actually lived
the reality they seek to improve.
As a child, I carried with me a vivid image of Africa - a distant and scary
place where children like me suffered unimaginable pain. Montages of
skeletal, fly infested babies dying from the devastation of drought and
famine were played over and over on television. Now, almost thirty years
later, it seems we still have to dig deep to find positive images of Africa,
beyond a travel agency advertisement of one of Kenya's amazing safari parks
or Zanzibar's breathtaking coastline. What about the positive images of
individuals from Africa and the numerous African organizations that are
striving for change and achieving significant progress and development?
It might come as a surprise to the outside world to see pictures of the
waterfront promenade that spans three kilometers of Luanda's bay full of
joggers, bikers and roller bladers on any given night of the week, or when
they find out that plastic bags have been banned in Rwanda. It may be
completely unexpected to learn that South Africa has a 180,000 square meters
shopping mall in Durban, or that the Library of Alexandria in Egypt (yes my
friends, Egypt is in Africa) was voted one of the top 25 most modern
buildings in the world by CNN Travel, or that Windhoek Lager, a fast growing
premium beer from Namibia is now sold abroad in 20 countries or even that
cell phones are being used even in the most remote areas of numerous
countries in Africa for all kinds of life saving financial and informational
transactions. And how can we ignore all of the bright minds and innovations
coming from Africa? Dele Olojede, the Pulitzer prize winning author from
Nigeria or the 22 Nobel Laureate Winners from Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya,
Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe, to name a few.
The recognition of these achievements should not however, divert attention
from the blaring poverty that has stunted the potential of many communities
in Africa. After working on community health and immunization for two years,
I witnessed with my own eyes a level of human suffering that should not
exist anywhere. I saw babies shrinking away from crippling malnutrition and
children not even 10 years old abandoned on the streets and shining shoes
for pennies a day survival. I walked through slums where mounds of trash
blocked road entrances and children played in nuclear green water full of
microbes and disease. I have seen women carrying 20 kilos of pineapples on
their head for hours in the punishing sun. In short, I have seen things that
have made me wonder how so much suffering can still exist in the 21st
century anywhere.
However, even through all of this, I have met and worked with people who
want to help improve life in their countries and to bring about more equity.
I have also met Africans who are educated and successful who do not belong
to the bloodlines of the ruling elite - a common misconception of middle
class working Africans. Yes, there are still many issues that need
resolution and to be addressed in African countries, but isn't that the same
for most countries around the world? There is a much larger picture, a
bigger story of Africa, that is still not being told.
However, if we continue to listen to and believe the same narrative which
only paints Africa as a poor continent with such hopelessness and despair,
we will only help to perpetuate a massive disservice, not only to those
Africans who are succeeding and giving back to their societies, but also to
those who really do need help. When we stop viewing them as victims, maybe
we can actually begin to achieve some measure of equality - the kind of
equality that aid organizations and governments constantly include in their
mission statements and fifteen year plans. Once we stop seeing them as
lesser human beings and start seeing them as drivers of their own destiny,
perhaps we can stop confusing pity with compassion. Maybe then we will
recognize the strength, diversity and humanity that exists across the
collection of countries that make up one of the most dynamic, vibrant
continents on earth with a potential that we can only dream of.
About <http://www.siliconafrica.com/author/julie/> Julie D. Hackett
Julie D. Hackett is an independent consultant who has lived and worked in
Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa. As a Health Communication Specialist
with over ten years of experience in international development, she has had
the honor of experiencing the beauty and challenges of parts of Africa,
through her work with UNICEF and The World Health Organization in Angola and
Nigeria. After having the privilege of traveling to thirteen countries in
Africa, Julie is looking forward to discovering more of the continent's
richness and diversity and sharing these experiences through her writing and
photography. Julie is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and currently lives in
Luanda, Angola.
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