Life
My Africa is NOT Hungry!
While I applaud the efforts of organizations like UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), for constantly advertising the plight of the less privileged African mothers and children, the world needs to know that Africa is not hungry. Africa is not helpless. Africa is not a dying child looking for help.
Africa is a giant, which has just failed to take giant strides, due to sheer mismanagement of resources and greed among some of its people.
America has beggars, hungry children and poor people too. Have you ever seen them in the news? The U.K. has its fair share of the poor too. Have you ever seen them in the news? So why is Africa’s poverty so magnified by the press that it overshadows its progress?
The world needs to know the Africa I know. The one that is bursting with potential. The Africa that is full of intriguing culture, intelligent people and ancient wisdom that will make even minds like Einstein’s stop to think. The Africa, that produced minds like Chinua Achebe and heroes like Nelson Mandela.
Africa might not be running the race of development as quickly as other continents. Africa might be taking baby steps towards development, but it is moving forward. I am not appealing to the media to perpetually paint a beautiful picture of Africa, but they should be fair in their assessment, and not just tell one side of the African story.
The media should be careful, not to keep painting the picture of Africa the victim. But should concentrate on painting the picture of Africa the victorious.
For one to truly see the beauty in Africa, One must continually look through the lenses of hope.
I am very hopeful.
Chiamaka O. is a writer, and student. You can follow her on twitter @YellowIgboGirl or check out her blog, http://yellowigbogirl.wordpress.com.
