The African continent, historically called the cradle of humanity, has always been a major point of interest for the world economy, but also a source of curiosity for a large number of people who by ignorance are often fed with stereotypes.
Indeed, it is by discussing with different interlocutors that I finally found that for many people, when Africa does not ring with war or poverty, it is associated more or less with a “wild” context, these types of reactions which may be offensive at first glance are actually understandable and I will explain why.
"AFRICA, THIS GREAT COUNTRY !!!"
The first observation that I have been able to make in the recent years is this offbeat vision that we sometimes have of Africa, which is not a continent in itself but rather a kind of big country. If you are an African descendant you have surely heard this type of thought: “Do you know how to do the African accent? really?? Africa have multitudes of nations, languages and cultures so...
Then there is this face that reflects Africa through its diaspora, which for a long time has cultivated the idea of living abroad as being an obvious social success. This large exodus has created a complex among the younger generations who, for the sake of accomplishing themselves as their elders, have forgotten their primordial importance in African societies.
So it's by observing on both sides behaviors, sociology and media that I have came to realize that faults in this story are shared, we are in some ways all responsible of this situation. It is true that the geopolitical difficulties and the many conflicts around African countries are real and very disabling for the development of the continent, but we must not ignore the efforts and progress of the various economical actors on the ground whom are giving a new breath to Africa.
It takes time and a lot of work for these postcolonial mentalities to disappear, but the good news is that the change in societies is already visible, it is a transition period that I decided to put in light through this blog, but also through tourism by creating MyAfryka.
Because visiting Africa is not just about safari, but it is also to discover the different gastronomies, it is to understand a particular urban dynamics but especially to drink from a historical and an inexhaustible source of culture.
Come with me, I'll take you to see what my Africa looks like.
Comments