The first draft of this article was brimming with anger and contempt, much of which I had to omit.
Just the other day I was going through my feeds and I stumbled upon a picture which had African kids in their tattered clothes and muddy faces smiling sheepishly to the camera. It had this somewhat triggering caption that said:
This is Africa.
It is sad how patronizing foreigners can be sometimes. What's beautiful about kids who cannot afford decent food or clothes? What's so beautiful about the slums most Africans are desperately dying to leave?
If you come to this continent to take pictures of starving children and tag it as beautiful or art, then I'm sorry to inform you that you've just contributed to the negative perception many Non-Africans have about Africans and Africa.
I remember some years back I was having a conversation with a young man from Ireland. He was actually shocked that I had a mobile phone. "You must be very rich," he said, but I was quick to let him know that it wasn't a rarity in this part of the world and that Africans have always embraced technology, even though we contribute a little in making these gadgets. But how true is that? Most of the raw materials used in making these gadgets come from Africa, so it is fair to say we've contributed our own quota (but we can still do more). So what am I driving at? It's simple: most Non-Africans are oblivious to the positive changes and growth of this continent. They still deem Africa to be a dark continent occupied by giant apes or senseless human beings who lack the ability to be creative and innovative.
Before I go any further, I will like to correct something:
Africa is not a country.
Please, whenever you visit this beautiful continent be courteous enough to give your precise location. I wouldn't be in a nice bar somewhere in Amsterdam and tweet: "Hey guys, I'm having a nice time in Europe." Sounds odd, doesn't it? There are over fifty-four(54) countries in Africa, so which are you visiting(or have visited)?
Africa is more than just about starving children and pyramids. Our struggles do not define our beauty, we are beautiful people regardless of the situation we find ourselves.
Africa is more than just about poverty and diseases, we have other stories. Tales of love, joy, and happiness. Every tribe, every country with their unique stories.
Africa has a lot to give--has given far too much already. I don't know why people seem to be oblivious to this fact. I even dare to say that we deserve all the aids we've been getting, but that won't solve the problem of Africa. We need leaders who are accounted to their people; leaders who don't cease power for selfish gains. Africa has all it takes to be great, we just lack quality leadership.
Africa is more than just about starving children and pyramids. Remember this when next you visit this continent in search of its hidden truths--the untold stories and untapped resources of the African people.