Don’t worry about Africa

A wise man recently told me that people’s history is formed in thousands of years. The statement got me thinking about the ever-evolving path of Africa. As close down the year, I reflect on the African narrative, and the blog’s mission to participate in reshaping that narrative.

The current movement of reimagining, rewriting, and rethinking the African narrative comes at a time when Africans are no longer buying the tired “dark continent” perception. Reading about history worldwide reveals how communities, societies, and continents take millennials to shape their lives. One generation feels the burden, the second generation fights it, and the third generation makes the changes; and the cycle continues.

We Write Afrika was born in 2022 from the need to highlight the positive in Africa in response to the pejorative uninformed opinions about the continent. The aim is to share information and a narrative that shows the past and the future of a bright continent, as well as storytelling from the local perspective. Africa is going through its trials and triumphs while it is building itself. One only looks down on Africa if they compare it with other parts of the world, usually based on international branding and social media. Dirt roads in African villages look like poverty because it is compared to the paved streets and buildings of a Western country. The comparison overlooks the dirt road and shacks that are also found in those same Western countries. Labelling conflict in Africa as the status quo of the “war-torn” continent overlooks the thousands of conflicts and wars that took place in the continents that are today considered “modern”. The thought that it is a “dark” continent is often a ploy to cover up the fear of seeing Africa beat all the odds and take over many sectors. We all go through our history, face trials, and build the successes to get to where we need to be. Our fault as Africans is that we mostly still teach a Western-washed curriculum in schools and our youth believe the lives of others we see in the media. The other’s fault is underestimating what the continent is capable of achieving.

This reimagining, rewriting, and rethinking process is a long one and will take the time needed to achieve the end goal. The encouraging news is that thousands of African and Afro voices around the world have gathered around the process and are reclaiming the African story.

So don’t worry about Africa-the continent is growing, building shifting, struggling, winning, shaping, fighting just like any other part of the world. It is our story, and we are going through it on our way. No pity party is needed.

Onward to 2025. To more successes and trials, as we shape our history and narrative. The only way to go is forward, and we will make it one way or the other.

Deborah M Ndjerareou