INTRODUCTION
Africa is the only continent at the center of the world through which the Equator and the Greenwich Meridian cut across. It is the second largest of the 7 continents of the world. Africa covers about 23% of the continental landmass as well as the 2nd most populous continent with about 19% of the world population.
source: World Atlas by Macmillan
In landmass and population, Africa is bigger than Europe, North America, South America, Oceania/Australasia. The continent is blessed with physical variations of aesthetics, mineral resources, human resources as well as cosy weather in beautiful occurrences. We dont have to talk about bad weather because there is no need.
The greatest diversity of lives (plants and animals) and nature can be found in Africa as well as anything great. Forests, deserts, highlands, lowlands, landlocked and coastal countries, equatorial and tropical climate, temperate and tropical, rivers and lakes. Also surrounded by seas (Mediterranean to the North and Red seas to the North-East), oceans (Atlantic to the west and Indian to the east), not a thing known as beauty cannot be traced to Africa.
Source: Microsoft Encarta
It is no doubt the most tectonically stable continent with rare or atypical occurrences of natural disasters. Blessed with hardworking individuals that believe in hard labour and working with their hands, people with pride (self-importance), never lazy. No wonder Africans are in every countries of the world doing great exploits.
No white tells the story of great resources gotten from Africa or they still get from Africa. Speak rarely of great individuals who are Africans that have made a remarkable contribution to the world.
A seven years old girl on American got talent was asked what she would do with the money if she eventually emerges as the winner of the contest; she said, I will send the money to Africa to help the poor Africans. People feel so sorry for an African with single story of cataclysm, upheaval and misfortune.
One of the most horrible moments to endure abroad is the low self-esteem imposed by the whites through security consciousness when around an African. Whites have mentality of backwardness and troubles whenever they see an Africa.
However, it is saddening that many outside the shore of the continent think of Africa as a country not as a continent, no wonder a reporter said China, India, Africa and other countries. Actually, the border line and diversity are becoming less important as unity and brotherhood is the daily mantra. That is why I have a different picture of Africa map.
The Western mental map of Africa was drawn by John Locke who made an awful report about Africa following his voyage. He said some are without heads, others having their mouths and nose on their breast. Also, other western writers follow suit including African writers. It is however saddening that Africans traded their values with little importance they attach to themselves and with betrayal of trust.
It is no news that an American will think of one thing whenever Africa is mentioned backwardness. Many Europeans thinks of poverty whenever they hear Africa. Others think of starvation, laziness, pestilences, diseases, terrorism among other bad things that can be imagined. Seeing an African in Europe, there will be proper monitoring; they think average Africans are thieves, corrupt, saboteurs, without honour etcetera. Can we be correct to say average Americans are gamblers or drug addicts or smokers? Can we rightly associate Frenchmen with promiscuity? Can we rightly paint Englishmen swindlers? We cant go on with sweeping generalization without committing fallacy. There is need to tell a balance story.
Source: World Atlas Map by Macmillan
There is need for balance story about Africa and the best to talk about Africa should be an African expert not from Britain or America but an African expert from Africa. Only an African expert can write a balance story that will be glorifying.
This article serves as an ogle or eye opener to the world about the continent of Africa and will discuss the countries in Africa with their great virtues, heroes and development over time as well as their contribution to humanity in general. Africa does not in any way depict backwardness; it is a land of honour, dignity, stateliness. Join the train as this article brings to you great things you need to know about Africa from one country to another until the countries of Africa is well presented in a dignifying way to the world in this episodic article.
To be continued...