Affrika

An attempt at starting a book club in Tamale brought my attention to an article  about writing about Africa. I loved it, and find it so interesting now I’ve been writing myself about Africa, reading about it, and actually experiencing it.

My favourite points;

Africa is a continent, not a country: even the Australian government has made this mistake on their websites. I have heard using the term ‘African’ is sometimes controversial, as Sudanese people are so different to Boers, as to Algerians. “In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don’t get bogged down with precise descriptions. Africa is big: fifty-four countries, 900 million people who are too busy starving and dying and warring and emigrating to read your book. The continent is full of deserts, jungles, highlands, savannahs and many other things, but your reader doesn’t care about all that, so keep your descriptions romantic and evocative and unparticular.”

The mention of the African sunset in literature. “Readers will be put off if you don’t mention the light in Africa. And sunsets, the African sunset is a must. It is always big and red. There is always a big sky.” As my roommate pointed out (and not to sound too cynical); the sunsets are beautiful, however I’m not too sure on the difference in appearance here to the sun setting in Australia (or the rest of the world for that matter).

And of course, generalisation; “Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life—but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause.”

I hope I haven’t made any of these mistakes, and I do take time to be critical of my judgements and thinking. It’s hard not to stereotype a country or continent that you have never been to, and is widely romanticised in literature, press and cinema. Also it is something that is so different to what we know or have experienced. Having said that, I’ve been lucky to lead a relatively ‘normal’ life in Ghana. It may be different to the Ghanaians living in the small communities, but it is the same as my UN colleagues living in Tamale. So I can’t say much for Africa, as my experience is one fifty-fourth of the continent. But I am quick to dispel the stereotypes that are mentioned in the article, and I cringe when I see donor campaigns or advertising that paints Ghana and Africa in the ‘desperate’ light. Although there are some serious human rights abuses and humanitarian crisis happening that you cannot ignore, there are also so many wonderful developments, ‘normal’ living and enriching experiences that are much better to mention.

I highly recommend you read the article, it’s an easy read and from an African person (which is actually quite the change; most things you read about Africa are written by foreigners). While here is a good example and critique on aid campaigns. And here is a fabulous TED talk about the dangers of a single story.

There is a long list I could write about books/articles/movies NOT to read about Africa. I’ve read my fair share of them already and they make me cringe.

There’s your homework for the week – class dismissed!!

Yes, I'm guilty of it. Stereotyping: the token white person with all the 'local' ladies, and malnourished children... did I really do that??

Clearly I got awkward with the situation, and decided it wasn't for me