Changing how we think and speak about Africa starts with us Africans.

It sometimes seems as if we are conditioned to focus on the negative in Africa and on the positive in the Western world. This often leads us to depreciate our own home as we compare it to the “mighty” Western world. Having traveled between Africa and the Western world, I notice that many minds tend to elevate the West and to think poorly of Africa, and changing that starts with us Africans. We need to change the narrative and speak of the challenges of Africa without forgetting to talk about its advantages, opportunities, and beauty.
For me, it starts with this: I returned to Africa from the United States to seek education and job opportunities, and today I have them both.
I am from the Republic of Chad, I was born in the United States, and grew up in Chad and the Central African Republic. I moved to the United States when I was around 15 to finish high school. After my high school graduation, I had only one thought in mind, go back to Africa regardless of which country it was. I landed in South Africa where I completed my undergrad and postgrad studies. As of today in Africa, I have worked in South Africa, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Somaliland, Namibia, and visited over 20 others.
I realized to each his/her own story and wanting and preferring to live, work and study in Africa should be normalized in our minds. It seems out of the ordinary when people I meet find out that I was in high school in the United States and wanted to study in Africa. This is steering from that comparison of “poor” Africa vs the “mighty” West. To me, it seems completely normal to want or prefer to study, live and work in Africa. There are 54 countries, the choices are wide, and quality education, work, and life can be found. The more I travel in Africa, the more I want to see, discover, stay, and enjoy this beautiful continent; I aim to set foot in all 54 countries.
Africa and Africans deserve a much more positive and accurate narrative than what is presented now. Only Africans living their African stories can present that narrative and truly debunk these myths in the minds of the world.