Photo: Pierre Holtz UNICEF CAR www.hdptcar.net
The international news on Africa all too often leads with headlines such as “U.N. Reports Gang Rapes on Congo Border”, “Somalia: The most corrupt nation in the world”, or “Cholera kills 1,555 in Nigeria”. Our media and educational system constantly feed our minds with this type of negative information on Africa. As a consequence, the average American has a very narrow-minded image of the continent, filled with lions, malnourished children, corrupt officials and rebels. We rarely see or hear anything different and therefore see such images as the truth.
After being cared for and embraced by the African people for the last seven months, this author has inherited a deeper and more powerful understanding of the African world. When I close my eyes and reflect on the seven months I spent on the African continent I remember the people of Africa as warm, tolerant, respectful, hospitable, community-oriented, heterogeneous, altruistic and united.
Photo: Jamie Dannenberg
Reflecting on my many travel experiences on public transport in Africa, the primary mode of transportation for most Africans, a particular scene on my journey from Senegal to Ghana stands out in my mind. The bus pulled off to the side of the road, and we stepped off to stretch our legs and take a break from our long four-day journey. The sun was going down, while a mama (mother) and her four-year old daughter placed their prayer rug on the grass just a few feet away from the bus and began their daily ritual of prayer to Allah. We may have been entering a predominately Christian country, but the mama and her daughter were not receiving any second glances. Despite negative American perceptions of African religious and tribal wars, this provides just one of many examples of religious tolerance and respect among the African people.
Photo: Jamie Dannenberg
The warmth, hospitality and strong sense of community among the African people was still quite apparent despite the language barrier that existed between myself, family members in my family compound, and community members residing in Guinaw Rail – an urban residential neighborhood just twenty minutes outside of Dakar. Day after day the people of Guinaw Rail would invite me into their homes for Attaya (tea), a meal, or even to participate in a marriage ceremony. These daily gestures exemplify the welcoming spirit, altruistic demeanor and unity of the African people.
Photo: Jamie Dannenberg
If you close your eyes and imagine an African person, what do you see? Some people probably envision a very dark skinned individual with obscure piercings and animal skin clothing standing in front of a thatched hut. Perhaps they see a naked child with an enlarged stomach suffering from malnutrition. These images are all very distant from our Western world and provide a very homogeneous view of the African continent.
Thanks to modern technology and O’ia-da International Inc these barriers can be overcome through virtual cultural exchange. Students in Newark, New Jersey are able to have an open forum with their peers in Cape Coast, Ghana. Through this communication, these students, on opposite sides of the world, connect with one another and find similarities across cultures. The walls are broken down and these youth are able to appreciate another's culture.
Photo: Jamie Dannenberg
Using technology, such as video conferences alluded to above, and other new methods of education, the Western world can begin to gain a much more holistic, optimistic and truthful perception of Africa and its people; an image that more closely mirrors this author's idea of the African people – one of great strength and spirit.
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