The portrayal of Africa by mainstream media, particularly Western media, paints it as a dark, ugly, hopeless place that is ridden with civil war, militant groups, corruption, violation of freedoms, starvation, chaotic urbanisation and utter desperation. This gives people who have never being to Africa a false, misleading impression of the continent.
Africans on Twitter have came together to showcase the beauty, diversity and innovative modern architecture of the continent that Western media rarely show their audiences. It all began with the hashtag #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] by Twitter user Mango [2]:
#TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] join us in the HT showcasing the beauty of Africa!
— mango (@lunarnomad) June 23, 2015 [3]
Soon, other Twitter users from all over joined in the effort. Here's a sampling of tweets from the campaign.
Nairobi, Kenya:
Nairobi, Kenya #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/Vez4qHspjr [4]
— talhas wife #3 (@ShamsaAhmed) June 23, 2015 [5]
Antananarivo, Madagascar:
Antananarivo, Madagascar #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/zY69whnM4F [6]
— mango (@lunarnomad) June 23, 2015 [7]
Khartoum, Sudan:
Khartoum, North Sudan 🇸🇩 #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/YV2mTgSSsh [8]
— ForgottenBeauty (@forgottenFINES) June 23, 2015 [9]
African food:
#KCA [10] #VoteJKT48ID [11] BadassAfricanne: “Africans eat bugs” #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/PcuWxhbYKD [12]
— A. Handy As (@Ar_Handy) June 23, 2015 [13]
African weddings:
African Weddings #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/EdpDnMV2Y4 [14]
— I Am THE CULTURE (@Toussaint215) June 23, 2015 [15]
Limpopo, South Africa:
Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/IRGaBsZNRc [16]
— Lesego Semenya (@LesDaChef) June 24, 2015 [17]
Somalia:
#TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] SOMALIA pic.twitter.com/CiiZCItC9s [18]
— deeq mahamud (@Deeq744Deeq) June 23, 2015 [19]
Lagos, Nigeria:
#TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] IN LAGOS an entire city built from reclaimed land from the sea. Significant progress pic.twitter.com/6KIbckZMa2 [20]
— Village HeadMaster (@misterkaris) June 24, 2015 [21]
Uganda:
The Pearl Of Africa, UGANDA. #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/zp9UBGm1Wf [22]
— This Is Uganda (@ThisIsUganda_) June 24, 2015 [23]
Côte d'Ivoire,:
HOME. IVORY COAST. #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/fIuJ0v0jnU [24]
— rochana (@itsrochana) June 24, 2015 [25]
Soweto, South Africa:
Soweto, South Africa ❤ #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/atK30zuAf1 [26]
— Lesego Semenya (@LesDaChef) June 24, 2015 [27]
Traditional African villages:
various traditional African villages #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/POTS6RzNwW [28]
— mango (@lunarnomad) June 23, 2015 [29]
Aswan, Egypt:
#TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] Nubia houses in Aswan, Egypt pic.twitter.com/iLoI3Vhy3Q [30]
— Nad!a A. (@Nadiaalie) June 23, 2015 [31]
Cape Verde:
My family's beautiful country of Cape Verde #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou [1] pic.twitter.com/14KSQZ0fuI [32]
— Christina (@tinaaxlopes) June 24, 2015 [33]
There is an increasing yearning among Africans to control their narrative, and the hashtag #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou is just one example. Sites like Africa is Country [34] and This is Uganda [35] have also come out to challenge portrayal of Africa in mainstream media.