Author Archives: Garibaldi Jos Mensah Agbokpor

POSITIVE VIBRATIONS : THE MAKING OF A REGIONAL HUB

Posted on December 3, 2014 | 1 comment

Carpe Diem Djibouti! With global trade becoming increasingly competitive, small countries that lack substantial natural resources, technological advancements and model infrastructural setups are at the mercy of unforgiving market forces. Believe it or not, but one such country does exist. The odds are greatly stacked against them. With a population of about 903,0001, all concentrated in the countrys capital, it says volumes about economic set up and general opportunities in the country as a whole. To make matters worse, Djibouti is located in a portion of Africa besieged by instability and conflict. This combination of unfavorable statistics, geology and infrastructure are surely not the sort of cards any leadership would like to be dealt in a globally competitive game where the winner takes all.

Goupet

There are various ways to view a situation. The Djiboutian leadership understand this very well in my personal opinion. Knowing their place has enabled them to strive for a better position or better still, to brighten their corner. They have taken the initiative to become regional giants in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty that surrounds them. When the dust settles, they will have a comfortable lead. Sound economic and political decisions will be responsible to Djiboutis call to fame and advancement.

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Located at the southern entrance to the red sea, the port of Djibouti is strategically positioned and placed at the major international shipping lanes connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. Now this position can be abused or its potential profitably tapped to benefit the country and her neighbors who rely on her. As mentioned earlier, Djibouti is surrounded by countries facing internal conflict and land locked countries who are or have been affected adversely by the conflict surrounding them. With a majority of goods coming in from Asia and and Europe, the land locked countries that would normally rely on the ports in larger countries with ports are left with no other choice that to rely on Djibouti. Realizing this, Djibouti has made substantial investments into her ports and gradually expanded her reach within the sub region. It is her target to become a major player in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

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Since 1998, they have handled all of Ethiopias maritime traffic2. Their ambition is evident in the way they have branded themselves, introducing the notion that they are the regional hub that links 19 countries and 138 million people. Looking into the future, they have launched a master plan to ensure that other parts of the country also receive equal attention. This plan involves building another large capacity port in the city of Tadjoura. The plan also includes the improvement of existing infrastructure and the building of new ones to help develop that section of the country. There is already a spawning interest in that project from international businessmen who have a heightened interest in mineral deposits in Ethiopia. This would give Djibouti a share of the mineral wealth of Ethiopia. All this growth and expansion helps creates jobs and spins of new businesses that provide a variety of services. Yet another port is being built to explore what little mineral wealth is found in Djibouti. Lake Assal, located in central western Djibouti,is the worlds largest salt reserve. To better exploit this asset, a new port is being constructed in Goubet to streamline the export of salt and gypsum from the lake. An estimated 5 million tons of salt produced yearly should make Djibouti a contender in the global salt trade. Whatever growth the countries that rely on Djibouti for trade experience, Djibouti stands to gain. This will thus require Djibouti to have a more friendly and involved foreign policy in the region.

DjiboutiPort

Having chosen a pathway for development, the government of Djibouti is well aware of the obstacles they will encounter. Being an advantage, their location can quickly turn to become more detrimental to their development. Located in a volatile region, puts a lot of security pressure on their budget. Their chosen path could draw potential extremist activities to their turf. It is a well known fact that such groups and organizations thrive in chaos and promote anarchy. Should a force like this surface in Djibouti, their security apparatus will be well overwhelmed. A small kid who walks home with the big boys is seldom or never bullied. Once again, Kudos to the leadership of Djibouti. Already maintaining the presence of French troops in the country, they have gone a step further to allow the United States to have a military base in the country. This will bolster their security and improve investor faith in their stability as a nation. Their position is ideal for the United States also, being close enough to the middle East for them to launch operations from. They also use the base to monitor and protect the international trade routes from pirates that plague the region. There is a mutual benefit for the interests of both countries. Growth requires stability and security, France and America provide that. America needs a presence in the region to keep tabs on her interests both in the sub region and the middle east, Djibouti provides that. Needless to say, but Djibouti will also benefit from training and logistical support from her guests to help bolster her ability to maintain her security and sovereignty.

camp lemonnier

Security and prosperity are the key to improving the well being of a people. Djibouti seems to have found not just the recipe, but have also home grown the ingredients necessary to complete the dish. Other aspects of the economy which rely on security, and infrastructural development will gradually pick up as the peace, stability and wealth creation gains traction.

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This type of news is hard to come across in western media. The African success story in the making. Being of African origin, and the fact that I had to do substantial reading and research to come across all this information about Djibouti, nothing surprises me. Besides, I prefer the silence. Knowing how the media blows news out of proportion, a reportage on this successful partnership will only attract unwanted attention to this small country that is bracing itself to do big things. Personally, I am also at fault for not expecting such big strides from Djibouti. I have always been of the impression that small countries with little or no natural resources do not stand much of a chance in world trade. There is still more to learn about Africa, the knowledge to be gained is as vast her cultural and language diversity. Partnerships do make a difference, the difference is determined by the gains and losses to the parties involved. My stereotypical view of the region wrongly encompassed Djibouti, and I had a rather uninformed picture of Djibouti. I am impressed by her dreams and achievements. Carpe Diem Djibouti!!

REFERENCES

1United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2013). World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision, DVD Edition.

2www.portdedjibouti.com

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Posted in Development, International Relatons, Politics

We need a hero

Posted on October 17, 2014 | Leave a comment

The protests that swept through north Africa and the Arabian peninsula made the headlines throughout out the world. However, it was only the cries and protests of those in big and oil rich countries that were heard. Small countries that are considered to have next to nothing to offer the world never made the headlines, in-fact, they never do until something really gruesome or catastrophic happens.

The people of Djibouti can be placed in such a category. A lot of human rights violations and press stifling occurred in Djibouti, these events occurred concurrently with the arab spring.

Djibouti is a semi-presidential republic. An elected president exists alongside a prime minister and Cabinet who are responsible to the legislature of the state. It differs from a parliamentary republic in that it has a popularly elected head of state who is more than a purely ceremonial figurehead, and from the presidential system in that the cabinet, although named by the president, is responsible to the legislature, which may force the cabinet to resign through a motion of no confidence.

Ismail Omar Guelleh, the president of Djibouti has been in office since 1999, but his government has been in power for 34 years. Guelleh amended the constitution to make it possible for him to have a third term in office. The Djiboutian people frowned on this, and they began to protest, these protests took place in the months leading up to the Djiboutian presidential election in 2011. On February 18, thousands rallied against the president, gathering at a stadium, intending to stay until their demands were met. They were calling for the resignation of the president. The demonstration escalated into clashes after dusk, as police used batons and tear gas against stone-throwing protesters. And like everywhere in the world where the sitting president becomes unpopular, opposition leaders from the Union for Democratic Change, an umbrella group of three opposition parties, gave speeches at the demonstration, reiterating and echoing the cry of the people calling for Guelleh to step down. The peaceful protests quickly turned into clashes, and these were reported to be growing in frequency and seriousness. This occurred on the second day of protesting. Anti-government protestors had another run in with security forces barely 24 hours after hundreds of protestors demanding the president step down threw stones at riot police who fired back with tear gas. One policeman and one protestor lost their lives. The organizers and front runners of the protests were arrested. These arrests proved to be the wrong approach. The next day, the authorities were forced to release three opposition leaders, as opponents of President Ismail Guelleh clashed with police once again. The opposition parties and protest organizers were scheduled to meet on the 24 February to plan more mass protests for the following day, and subsequent days if their demands were not met. Police arrested 300 organisers during and after the mass protests on February 18. Torture and other inhuman means were being employed to seek information from the detainees and other activists with the main aim being to quell the protests. Another major protest had been scheduled for February 24, none of the leaders showed up. Bourhan Mohammed Ali, a main opposition leader said he feared the protests had lost momentum. Protests had been planned for March 4, but it remained to be seen if the Djiboutians would be able to continue to protest in the absence of the 300 who had been earlier arrested. As if to show that he answered to no one, the president and ruling party ordered the opposition to cancel a match they had planned for March 3. The opposition refused, and on the day of the protests, police and government troops filled the streets and blocked the main route to the capitals stadium the location of the planned protest. This succeeded in stopping the protest. Another protest failed to get off the ground because 4 opposition leaders were arrested by security forces before the protest day. The sitting president was using the state apparatus to silence the voice of the masses in the name of security and stability, when his very actions were doomed to collapse the very institution he showed he was protecting. Anyone who spoke up was scooped up by the security forces for questioning and then detained without trail. The president of the Djibouti human rights league was also arrested for lashing out against the government and the human rights violation it was perpetrating on its people. Another move that should have made headline news was the expulsion of US election monitors a month before the polls. The president was sowing seeds of dictatorship. Not to anyones surprise, the president won by a whooping 80% margin in an election that was boycotted by the opposition. It is such behavior that spurs the rise of revolutionary figures, a local hero who will brave the odds and stand firm to fight for justice. One who will not employ the barrel of the gun, but rather the use of intellect and written procedure to overcome the very force that put the procedures in place to quell any form of rebellion. Djibouti needs to breed one quickly.

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Posted in History, Politics

COLONIALISM: BEFORE AND NOW

Posted on October 8, 2014 | Leave a comment

Social creatures is what best defines us as humans. Our history bears proof of this. We have lived in communities for as long as we can remember. We co-operate with each other both on the individual and community level. Just like a family, each community needs a head, these community heads are those who represent our interests when it comes to inter community relations. A well organized community structure is one that thrives and benefits in all facets of inter community interaction. Like individuals, groups tend to take undue advantage of other groups. This often leads to issues and can breed never ending conflicts, or on the other hand undeserved servitude for generations, these last so long it becomes the norm. The world has seen more than enough of such behaviour from the so called powerful nations. From the days of slavery through to colonialism and imperialism. It is ironical when the history of the current powerful nations of the world is scrutinized. It appears they have all been subjects to another authority of some sort one way or the other.

No matter how you look at it, I do not share the notion that colonization has any advantages. There are so many effects of colonization and in my opinion they leave nothing but whole generations dependent on others for their well being. Those however being looked up to have not the slightest interest in the well being of those they have subdued, they are indulging in self preservation.

MEANING AND HISTORY OF COLONIALISM
Colonialism is the process or policy where a state or group of states acquire political control of another state or states either through military invasion or diplomatic ways. The number one reason for this is economic, and it is resource (natural and human) based. Current political and economic ties between most nations stem from colonialism. Although it stretches far back into human history, destructive colonialism as I prefer to call it started in the 15th century when Europeans started to travel the world in the name of discovery, these trips were pioneered by the Portuguese and Spanish exploration of the American continent, and the coasts of Africa, the Middle East, India, and East Asia. Even the mere mention of discovery sparks another debate, as most of these lands were already inhabited upon their arrival, however, this is a topic for another day. Upon their arrival, they were astounded by the wealth, order and diversity they found in these places. Most of these explorations were financed by the crowns of their respective states, so it was mandatory that they claim the “new found land” in the name of the crown. During the 16th and 17th centuries,England, France and the Dutch Republic had established empires overseas and were competing with each other. Evidently, this was taking on a competitive dimension. All colonies were property of the crown, that is to say the royal family of the colonialists owned the lands they had colonized, as strange as it sounds this was the order of the day. It must be noted that not all colonies fell without a fight. Some of them fought back and were killed almost to the point of extinction.

COLONIES
The world as we know it today has been shaped by events of the past, notably colonization. Countries are labeled either as french, english or spanish speaking,this is a direct result of colonization. Most Asian, African and middle eastern countries were colonies of one western power or the other. At one point in time, the queen of England was known as the largest land owner in the world. The most interesting colony based on its history and current policies is the United States of America. America was a british colony that completely severed all political control from england with the help of the french. This help was motivated by a longstanding rivalry between the french and english. It was a way of redeeming french pride from their defeat in the seven year war, and also heavily influenced by econmic gains should the enterprise succeed.
In the case of Africa, because there were a lot of players in the division of Africa, and the potential for Africa to be a break away colony, no western country aided in the independence of any African country. After all they all gained from the loot, and there was no reason to stir the boat. Even after independence, most countries still had to battle the political hurdles that were placed before them. That is where the concept of Neocolonialism comes in, this is simply indirect colonization or imperialism. Colonial masters still wanted a say in the politics of independent nations. America was a front runner in these practices. A CIA declassified document outlines these plans though not to the exact detail. There is however an admission of involvement. An example is the CIA “backed” coup that over threw Ghana’s first president.

EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION
The effects of colonization is evident today in many forms. It includes the extinction or near extinction of tribes,economic dependence, stymied development, corruption ( brought on by more modern forms of colonization), wide spread poverty, change of cultures and a loss of self esteem and identity. Most of the colonized territories were forced to change their way of life and to adapt that of their masters. The French for instance had the policy of assimilation, this was an ideological basis of French colonial policy in the 19th and 20th centuries. The French taught their subjects that, by adopting French language and culture, they could eventually become French. This led to the demise of various cultures within current french speaking countries of Africa. Economically, the colonists exploited the natural resources of the colonies after they had taken political control of them. A close study of the colonial transportation systems of West Africa reveals just that. Railways were laid from resource rich areas to the coast for transport to the west. All of these resources were taken free of charge, and they continue to be taken today for next to nothing. When the colonialists were finally thrown out, they ensured that they held a political influence on their old lands. This they did through various means, including but not limited to murder, espionage and economic hits. The new born countries were denied their rightful place in the modern trade of resources, the buyers fixed the prices of both the raw materials and finished goods. In a speech to the british parliament on 2nd February 1835, Lord Macaulay said “I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”the bristish therefore developed methods to achieve just that. They referred to natives where ever they conquered as savages and bushmen. And where the people refused to be governed, they were subdued militarily. This trend persists today in the part of west africa where I come from. Anything european is considered better than its indigenous equal. This method is applied to materials as well as humans. All the third world countries can be found in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the middle East. Most or all of these countries were once colonies of one power or the other. Today African countries that are rich in natural resources are surprisingly dependent upon western powers. This defys common sense.

MODERN DAY COLONIALISM
Today, quite contrary to what most believe, colonialism still exists, but in more subtle forms. They come in the form of military co-operation, economic partnership and other forms that create the impression of trying to help. Like the popular american saying, “there is nothing like free lunch”. However most of the leaders of the third world do not realize this, or are coerced into accepting such programs. America is believed to be in the fore front of modern day colonization. Coming from a colonial past, you think they would know better. In his book “Confessions of an economic hit man1”, John Perkins outlines an intricate plan to form a global empire, this is identical to colonialism as we know it. It however takes on a complex form that can range from bribery of political leaders to mass murder through conflicts. Many of the current global political crises have their roots deeply embedded in modern day colonialism and rebellion.

Colonialism has its winners and losers. However you look at it, it is a bad practice that has profited many if not all the countries in the western world. It has worked to the detriment of the the victim countries. It still continues today albeit in different forms and under several guises. Many have suffered and continue to suffer because of this.
1. Perkins, J. (2004). Confessions of an economic hit man. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.

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Posted in Development, History, International Relatons, Politics

Welcome to Djibouti

Posted on September 10, 2014 | Leave a comment

Welcome to Djibouti

The Republic of Djibouti, geographically located at coordinates 11 30 N, 43 00 E, is perched on the northeast coast of the Horn of Africa. It is strategically located at the crossroads of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Border-wise, she has Eritrea to her north for 68mi, Ethiopia stretches from the west to the southwest with a shared border line of 217mi, and to her south lies Somalia for another 36mi. Djibouti’s land area is 8958mi². Total water area is 7.7220mi². Djibouti has a total coastline of 195mi. The capital, Djibouti, which is also the largest city in the country is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Tadjoura A 2007 estimate put the country’s population around 773,000. French and Arabic are the official language, although Somali and Afar are widely spoken. Djibouti is dominated by Moslems who account for about 93% of the population and Christians are about 7%. 0.23mi of her coastline forms the narrow Gulf of Tadjoura. The northern coast near the Eritrean border faces the Strait of Bab al Mandab on the southwestern tip of Yemen.
This country is formed of a triangular depression. This is as a result of the collision of the general tectonic trends of the Great Rift Valleys of Eastern Africa. These run North-South and NorthWest-SouthEast and have generated a complex fragmented relief of high blocks and subsidence zones. Formed by the Ethiopian Highland in the west, The Somali Plateau in the south and the Danakil Horst in the east, Cenozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks make up most of the country.
Her climate can best be described as that of a desert, having attributes of being mostly torrid and dry.Djibouti has about 163.5 mm (6.4 in) of rainfall per year. The driest month is June, averaging about 0.1mm of rain as compared to April which has about 28.9mm of rain, making it the wettest month in the region.
There are 5 lakes in Djibouti. Lake Abbe is the ultimate destination of the waters of the Awash River. It lies at the Afar Triple Junction, the central meeting place for the three pieces of the Earth’s crust, a defining feature of the Afar Depression. Here three pieces of Earth’s crust are each pulling away from that central point, though not all at the same speed. Lake Afambo is one of a chain of lakes into which the Awash river empties its waters. It is located at the eastern end of the Afar region of EthiopiaThe lake lies on a roughly north-south axis, 13 kilometers long by two wide, having 1760 hectares of open water.[1]Afambo receives its inflow from Lake Gummare from a channel at its northern point, and has its outflow in the swamps on its southwest shores where it empties into Lake Bario. Lake Assal is a crater lake in central-western Djibouti. It is located at the western end of Gulf of Tadjoura in the Tadjoura Region, touching Dikhil Region, at the top of the Great Rift Valley, some 120 km (75 mi) west of Djibouti city. Lake Assal is a saline lake which lies 155 m (509 ft) below sea level in the Afar Triangle, making it the lowest point on land in Africa and the third-lowest land depression on Earth after the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee. No outflow occurs from the lake, and due to high evaporation, the salinity level of its waters is 10 times that of the sea, making it the most saline in the world after Don Juan Pond.[1][2][3][4][5]. Lake Assal is the world’s largest salt reserve. Te other lakes are Lake Gummare and Lake Bario. Djibouti has no permanent rivers but instead has a number of permanently or intermittently dry riverbeds called Wadis.
Djibouti is an ideal vacation destination for the entire family. She has year round favorable weather for vacationing. Warm and sometimes humid, the average temperature is 29.9 degrees Celsius (85.8 degrees Fahrenheit). This makes outdoors activity fun. Djibouti has a full palette for all those who like to have fun, and have a feel of nature in the process. We have it all, from a cool day at the beach to hiking and climbing.
For those who like the water, Djibouti boasts of a variety of beaches with white sands, whist others have darker sands, and some also consist of volcanic rock features. You can just chill out at the beach during the day and enjoy a cool breeze while you soak in the beauty, and relax with the calm waters providing serene sounds. Alternatively, you can party in the evening with other tourists and locals when you attend one of her world famous beach partys, where you can listen or dance to, contemporary local music with a mix of arabian and western infused music while you enjoy cool drinks in a scenic atmosphere. One can also sample exotic cuisine and snacks from one of the numerous international class restaurants that line the beaches.
The Djibouti tourist board sets strict and well enforced safety and sanitation standards for hotels and restaurants that leave the customer with nothing less than a great variety of clean and world class hotels, resorts, restaurants, night clubs and discos. Your only worry when you patronize any of these services is your potential and tendency to overstay, which your are more than welcome to do. From prompt and courteous service, to well dressed and professional staff who aim to make your stay an enjoyable one. Our hotels and resorts boast of industry leading spas and recreational facilities that are well managed and maintained.
If you would rather tour the country, there are various breathtaking sites, historical places, lakes, rivers, mountains. The climate and weather supports such adventures giving you nothing but cool breezes all the way. There is the occasional rainfall that further cools the weather. Your only problem would be where to start and in which direction to head.

300px-DjiboutiLacAssal2 300px-DjiboutiLacAssal2 Djibouti-aerial-sea-web Djibouti-boat-web Djibouti Djibouti3_web DjiboutiPort EF-D4-47-9E-57-60-39-B2-36-B6-0D-AE-08-F9-D8-75-05-3A-7C-10 Facts1 Moucha-Island_interior_billboard bali_safari djibouti-beach djibouti survol_djibouti07-500x375 tumblr_m4wlx5Fapl1rx8i7eo1_500 1 2 3 4 5 6

Sources:

http://www.djibouti.climatemps.com/precipitation.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djibouti

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Lakes_of_Djibouti
1.Robert Mepham, R. H. Hughes, and J. S. Hughes, A directory of African wetlands, (Cambridge: IUCN, UNEP and WCMC, 1992), p. 166
Warren, John K. (23 February 2006).Evaporites: sediments, resources and hydrocarbons. Birkhäuser. p.280.ISBN 978-3-540-26011-0. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
1. “Lake Assal”. Encylopeadeia Brittanica. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
2. “Lake Assal – Djibouti”. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Retrieved 25 May 2011.
3. “A life of constant thirst beside Djibouti’s Lake Assal”. =British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 4 December 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
4. “Lake Salt Project, Djibouti:Environmental Impact Assessment”. Government of Djibouti:Salt Investment S.A.Z.F. November 2008. pp.1–xii, 29. Retrieved 25 May 2011.

 

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Posted in Physical Geography, Tourism

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Visual Synecdoche

Posted on September 3, 2014 | 2 comments

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It has become customary for anyone who wants information on a specific subject to search Google. Most of these searches provide lots of information from which to choose. Majority of this information is accurate and well maintained. You can choose to view the web in general, images, news feeds or videos related to your specific search. These search results sometimes contain items not related to the subject of interest. I decided to conduct an image search on Africa to see what images there were of Africa, and also to know how someone who had not been to Africa, or had no knowledge of the continent would perceive it after doing a similar search. After all, the internet is now a major source of information. It is also a place where you can receive timely updates on developing stories and issues. Most of the images found online would be works of professional photographers, journalists, tourists and everyday people. This would therefore give you an idea of how Africa is perceived by people from the continent and beyond. These pictures will attempt to generalize life, usual and unusual sights on the continent. News reports and updates will also inform you on the general state of the continent.

The images I saw were shocking and depicted life as a miracle on the continent. They were divided into categories whose titles even said volumes. They were, “Culture, starving, poor, dancing and tribe”. The bulk of the images contained black Africans dressed in primitive traditional attire, bone thin children with captions like malnourished, famished or poor. I also saw images of people living in shacks and straw huts. Other pictures also depicted young men in rag tag clothes wielding weapons(machetes and automatic firearms) with backgrounds showing either deserted city streets or fleeing civilians carrying or carting items. It is a well known fact that pictures say much more than words. The tone of these pictures lead only to one conclusion. Those who do not know Africa or have never been to the continent would view her as a place that is filled with backward people and conflict and suffering. Aside these disturbing images, there were also those of wild animals roaming freely in jungles, the tone of these pictures suggested that one was expected to encounter such creatures on a normal basis on the continent. In browsing the images, I could not help but notice the use of certain words to describe the pictures and to provide a narrative on the images. Even the most joyful looking pictures had captions that sought to take the joy off the faces of those captured. Captions range from words we identified in class as leading to stereotyping, like “primitive, hunger, poverty, disease, war, conflict, suffering”. A term like “sad poverty” caught my attention. I tried to understand its meaning but drew a blank. It seems all of these pictures tried to out do each other by showing the most gruesome image and or couple it with a caption that does exactly what it is supposed to do, and that is to capture your attention. I have never come across such a combination of descriptive words, not even in class.

If I were to write a descriptive paper on Africa based on the images I saw on the search I conducted, I would, with the help of the captions, describe the continent as full of primitive tribal people, conflict, hunger and disease, and also a place where wild animals roamed free. I would never advise anyone to visit the place. I would view Africa as a place where life was mainly survival of the fittest, an absence of law and order prevailed and chaos was the norm. However, I would be very wrong in my description based on the content I viewed on the internet. Just like any other place on earth, Africa has her challenges, and it is unfair how she is portrayed. The images were biased and tilted in a direction where the viewer was expected to think. I must add that most of these pictures were taken by professional photographers with the intent of sale to media houses. Also, others were taken by NGOs seeking funding for one project or the other. The media needs shocking images to sell news, whilst the NGO’s require compelling pictures to justify funding. I am not contending that assistance is not needed by Africans. One must however get a fair and unbiased view of the continent, one that shows both the beautiful and ugly sides. This would be real, and you can make well informed decisions based on the truth.

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Posted in Stereotypes

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