Images of Africa in the international media overwhelmingly convey the poverty, disease, and warfare afflicting much of the continent. But the media rarely tells stories of hope in Africa. It is time for the world to take another look at Africa – the continent that Africans see for themselves.
The New York Times and the Pew Global Attitudes Project recently released a survey conducted in 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, revealing Africans’ positive perceptions about their continent. According to the NYT report, “a plurality of Africans say they are better off today than they were five years ago and are optimistic about their future and that of the next generation.”
Even in Nigeria, where a majority of respondents were dissatisfied with the April 2007 election and with the general governance of their country, “69 percent said they expected that children growing up in Nigeria would be better off than people today.” This response is significant because it is coming from a generation of Nigerians that have seen their country’s wealth slip through the hands of corrupt leaders and its infrastructure decay.
While the poll reveals that Africans are realistic about the problems confronting the continent, they have also seen improvements in many cases, and they are hopeful for a better future. It is time for the international community to reject the popular view of a bleak and desperate Africa and to share in the continent’s hope.
Published Date: July 31, 2007