Coming from a country in Africa called Nigeria, I always feel the urge to educate the world about Africa and the countries in it. Also being part of the executive team of Lee University's African Student Association, it feels like it is a duty to showcase Africa to the world. Africa is a continent that I think people in the world know the least about, and it hurts, so I feel it's my duty to clear the air about the stereotypes about Africa. There are so many misconceptions and stereotypes people have of Africa, and it is just so sad how people still believe some of the stereotypes. In my first few years at Lee University, my friends have asked me ridiculous questions about Africa, and I realized, instead of getting angry at them, we should educate and tell them the right way. This article is to answer the different misconceptions people have of Africa.
1. Africa is a continent, not a country.
This is one of the greatest misconceptions and one that pisses me off the most. Africa is a continent that has 54 countries that have really diverse cultures. Almost all 54 countries use different language, currency, and passports. Africa is the second largest continent in the world, and for people to constantly call it a country is a grave offense and insult. I believe Africa is the most diverse continent on earth -- it has more than 1500 languages spoken.
2. Not everybody in Africa lives in huts.
There seems to be a constant wrong portrayal of Africa to the world by the Western media. People believe till this day that people in Africa live in huts. This is such a sad picture painted by the media. Africa is a developing continent, which means that a lot of investment is ongoing in African countries, and that means development of cities. For example, my country, Nigeria, was colonized by the British, and since 1915, we have not been living huts. African countries boast some the most beautiful architectural designs I have ever seen.
3. Africa is quite advanced technologically.
I am happy quite happy the Western media is finally reporting on the technological development in Africa. According to CNN, Africa “has become the world’s second most connected region by mobile subscriptions.” The continent has seen skyrocketing rates in the number of mobile phone owners, as there are more than 754 million connections in Africa. Also, Africans are generally are quite up to speed to a lot of technological trends in the world. People in African countries can get the latest technological devices ( phones, video games) before other continents even hear about it get it.
4. Most Africans speak English.
A lot of people have this misconception that people from Africa do not speak or understand English. In fact, the main language of some countries in Africa is English, and in others it's French. English is taught in most schools across Africa from Grade 1 to the end of high school, and it is compulsory for all students. So when people ask me why my English is good, I always have a very irritated look on my face. I have learnt not to blame them, because they simply do not know.
5. Not all Africans are scammers.
There is this great belief and constant joke that most Africans, especially Nigerians, are scammers. Nigeria has a very diverse culture on its own, and it has a huge population. Nigerians are wonderful, nice, and hardworking individuals who would work hard to earn their money rather than scam people. There are definitely some people in every country who are bad, and we have such people here too, but that does not mean that everybody in Nigeria is bad because of a few people. The government of Nigeria works hard to catch scammers in the country.
6. Not all of Africa is poor.
This is the one thing that irritates me the most. People outside Africa have this belief that everyone in Africa is suffering. This is just a sad thought for people to have. Yes, there are people who are actually poor and need food and shelter, but is it not the same all over the world? There are people in America and all over the world who are starving and in desperate need of food and shelter. Africa is a developing place and we are not perfect, but the governments of different countries are trying their best to reduce the poverty rate in their countries. The picture people paint that all African children are dying is just wrong and false. Although the poverty rate in Africa is high, we hope that, in good time, it would drop significantly.
7. There are not animals everywhere.
People think that Africa is one giant zoo full of different kinds of animals. This is a picture most people have in their head when they think of Africa. The first time I saw a lion physically in my life was in Dubai. Animals are not randomly walking everywhere with us; they are kept far away from the cities and in the zoos. Some animals do roam freely in the wild, but they are not everywhere.
8. Not all Africans are black, and we do not all look alike.
People have this misconception that if someone is white, they cannot be from Africa. Most people from North Africa have a lighter skin tone than other people. We do not in any matter or form look the same -- we are very different people.
There are many other misconceptions and stereotypes about Africa that need to be answered, but these ones I believe need to be gotten out of the way. Africa is a developing country, and it is constantly trying to improve and be a better place. African countries have a lot of natural resources, and a lot of work is being done across the continent to make it a more developed place. I hope I have been able to answer some questions about Africa. Please, if you see an African anywhere, try and be more courteous in the way you ask them questions. Africans, please educate people around you more about where you come from.
