Negative stereotypes and narratives on Africa cost to the continent up to $4.2 billion a year, report finds

By Danilo Desiderio

In journalism, there’s a famous adage: “When a dog bites a man, it is not news, but when a man bites a dog, that is news.” A similar trend is evident in how global media covers Africa.

A report from Africa No Filter, an organization dedicated to combating harmful narratives, reveals that the continent is frequently depicted through a skewed perspective. The media often emphasizes Africa’s structural economic challenges and highlights negative occurrences such as famine, conflict, violence, and electoral fraud, while neglecting uplifting stories.

Although disaster narratives tend to attract attention, this biased representation poses a significant problem by distorting investors’ views and raising doubts about Africa’s capacity for development. For a continent already facing debt challenges, securing the necessary investments for growth becomes increasingly difficult.

This negative portrayal affects global credit rating agencies, resulting in downgrades and skepticism regarding African nations’ ability to repay their debts. Consequently, potential investments in Africa are discouraged, or countries are compelled to accept unfavorable lending terms.

According to Africa No Filter, these distorted perceptions cost African nations approximately US$4.2 billion each year. The report highlights that international investors often perceive African countries as riskier compared to other nations with similar political and economic contexts. Furthermore, the study indicates a correlation between positive media coverage and lower risk profiles, leading to reduced bond yields.

While the study has its limitations, as noted by its authors, the concerns raised by Africa No Filter are legitimate. The excessive focus on Africa’s socio-economic challenges has a cascading effect on other vital sectors, hindering development opportunities.

One such sector is tourism, which is crucial for many African nations aiming to enhance living standards. If global media shifted away from depicting Africa solely as a region plagued by conflict, hunger, and disease, tourism could experience substantial growth.

The report concludes with a call for global media to abandon harmful stereotypes, stressing that biased narratives not only result in unjustifiably high borrowing costs – even for African nations with sound credit ratings – but also impede the growth of essential sectors like tourism.

Danilo Desiderio serves as the CEO of Desiderio Consultants Ltd in Nairobi, Kenya specializing in African customs, trade, and transport policies.