How Africa is Portrayed in The Media

I'm sure we've all seen one of these kind of pictures somewhere, somehow before now.

http://i49.tinypic.com/fbw3yx.jpg

I bet you haven't seen this young man smile before!  

The following scenes are not as unpopular as we (hopefully) would all like them to be. 

I would bet any money that these kids and their families didn't choose to pick up a weapon, live on the street, beg for food, flee whatever is left their homes, be deprived of the right to live and actually feel alive at whim. 

http://www.afronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Afro_darfur_war.jpg

http://37.media.tumblr.com/d5c08c57a170c122e8966d776e725ef6/tumblr_my2sabO2RK1rfgmbqo3_500.jpg

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02226/poverty_2226036b.jpg

http://wa1.www.unesco.org/most/p95im1.jpg

And so I am at sixes and sevens with an issue. Is the media actually trying to help us (Africa) in someway or another by publicizing only the baddest of the worst sides of my beloved home or are they just looking for a means to rub the fact that she has been exploited and drained of every nameworthy reputation in her face? 
Because if they actually are, then I can't see what they strive to achieve by showing the world pictures of starving kids and throwing quotes like "EVERY SECOND IN AFRICA, A CHILD DIES..." our way, like the seconds in Africa tick faster or something. 

http://kateturner45.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/w430-68de7.jpg

This is one of the pictures that come to my mind whenever I see an advert updating me about how much practically no one cares about Africa. 

And by the way, who even makes these pictures? Do they feed these kids after their sufferings have been documented? 

I lived in Nigeria for 11 years and NOT ONE DAY did I see a naked child crying, arms stretched out with flies in it's eyes. 
What I saw day after day was strangers offering to pay the bus fares of school children who had no money to take a bus home. 
I saw strangers offer you food when they sure as heck knew that they didn't even have enough for themselves. 
I saw my sister take in a small child that was crying under the rain, fed and clothed him till his mother came back.
I saw kiosk "malams" give sweets and biscuits to my brother just for sitting and talking to him for a few hours.

I did NOT see children die every second. 

I don't act surprised anymore when someone tells me that he/she would never go back to Africa voluntarily unless they have to, because it is "not as safe as it is here".

The media tells us what to wear. 
The media tells us what we are to look like.
The media tells us what kind of friends we are supposed to have.
The media tells us what are meant to eat.
The media tells us what cell phone and laptop and tablet to get next.
The media tells us where we want to be at and where we don't.
The media tells us what size we are to wear to feel accepted.
The media tells us not to live our lives and tells us who and what we are to imitate.

So when the media tells you that Africa is "not as safe as it is here", you listen and you repeat that a few times in front of your mirror to make sure it comes across convincingly the next time you are asked when you plan to visit your homeland.

A friend of mine told me today, "The looks of a person doesn't tell you the slightest bit about his or her character, background, family or life." I used to wonder why people, especially youngsters, tend to judge others according to their appearance, but then I realized that it actually isn't that easy NOT to judge someone based on their looks when looks are the first things you see.

I don't know about you, but this is how I see Africa:

It's just my name, it's just my skin holding the border #George Ezra

Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Taking Advantage of Every Opportunity!

I was interviewing a friend, or rather big sister Ebube ^-^, on Monday for my first radio broadcast -that will be put up as soon as possible- when this question came up: 

"If you had the choice between staying here in Austria and moving back to Nigeria, what would you choose?"

Before then, I had always criticized this actually beautiful country I am privileged to be a part of, saying the Austrians...

1.  are so hostile and unfriendly;

2.  are never contented with what they have and take what they have for granted;

3.  were born with a silver in their mouths and don't know what it's like to have gone through hardship;

Courtesy of The Zimbabwean

Courtesy of National Geographic

4.  will see these picture in textbooks or in documentaries and the first thing to come to their minds will be: Africa is sooo poor! They will probably never know how much fun it actually is, especially when you've got your friends or family at your side.


However, her answer made me stop and think. I could either see it like this:

I have had to move to a country thousands of miles way from home leaving behind a part of my family and ALL my friends. I have had to learn a language that I hadn't even known of it's existence. I have had to get used to a foreign culture and blanket mine whenever I went outside my door. I have had to forget my African way of thinking and adapt to the European. POOR ME!

                                                             OR

I may have had to face some difficulties in the first few years of my stay here, but it's about time I stopped asking, "Why did my dad have to choose Austria of all places?!" and started asking,"How do I make the best out of my stay here and take advantage of EVERY opportunity, no matter how little or irrelevant it might seem to be?" 


So right now, I plan to accept and appreciate things as they are, make the best of everything I can, enjoy life and all the doors it opens and respect the fact that some doors are just meant to remain closed! 


All these and more have just been a few minutes from where I live, but instead of noticing and appreciating them, I have spent the past few years mourning and asking "Why?!"

Courtesy of Olympus Fotoforum
Grazer Murinsel. A plattform afloat the sea Mur.

Courtesy of Wikipedia
Schlossberg.
 An arms museum and clocktower at the top of a huge, beautiful  mountain.

Courtesy of  Deutsches-Architektur-Forum
The Graz Art Museum. An extravagant architectural artwork in the middle of the city. 

Courtesy of  Das Wirthaus
Schloss Eggenberg. A beautiful palace built in the 17th century, just 15 minutes away!

So in this manner, I want to say a big thank you to my big sister Ebube for changing my perspective of seeing everything around me, with this answer:

"[...] Here in Austria you have a huge gap of chances to choose what you want to be, but in Nigeria, even if you studied, you could stay unemployed [...] Everybody is important here, but in Nigeria it's difficult. I would like to stay in Austria, but on the other side, Nigeria is my HOME"

Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Seeing a Fellow African on the Street [Part 1]

Scenario 1: Was that your uncle ??

I.    So before/after school you are waiting at the bus stop with a non-African friend-obviously waiting for the bus-, talking about random stuff like the end of the world, what old folks food taste like, how long you could watch fan blades turn... you know what I mean don't you ?

Anyhow, you guys are just standing there disturbing no one but molecules you could be standing on, when a car containing Africans drives by. You as an African will automatically stop talking and will glance at the car, trying not to act too noticeable and the occupants of the car will stare you down until you there is nothing of you to be seen again. 

The second the car is no longer in sight, your non-African friend will ask you about these occupants, and one of the first questions will be: "Who was that ?" or " Did you know that person ?" or "Was that your uncle ?" At that time you will begin to wonder what significance this information  has to your non-African friend, but of course you will not dare to ask.

I can't believe I drew this myself!!  PICASSO WATCH YOUR BACK!! :'D

II.    [...]You as an African will automatically stop talking and will glance at the car, trying not to act too noticeable until you actually recognize the occupant as your uncle/aunt- because frankly everyone you, your siblings or your parents know is your uncle/aunt and you call them that without thinking twice- and become aware of the fact that you are obligated to greet this person.

Immediately you will smile, whether you are in the mood to or not, you will smile and will have to answer: "I'm fine, thank you", whether you are or not, you will be fine, because that  is what they want to hear when they ask you: "How are you my dear?" 
Next they will ask about your parents: "How is your father? And your mother?", and then you will wonder for a second, but just a second, DOES THIS PERSON REALLY KNOW MY MOM AND DAD?? But then you will answer, "They are also fine, thank you".

Lastly, you will be asked to: "Greet your parents for me ooh", and you will try to remember if they had mentioned their name through the whole conversation, or rather, interrogation, but give up in the end and say: "Okay I will". While driving off, the words "Stay in school ooh", will be called out and then you will think: "Really nice thing to say when going home after school".

The second the car is no longer in sight, your friend will ask you about these occupants, and one of the first questions will be: "Who was that ?" or " Did you know that person ?" or "Was that your uncle ?"

TO BE CONTINUED...