"Stop trying to 'save' Africa"
Uzodinma Iweala, author of "Beasts of No Nation," sounds off in the Washington Post on media depictions of Africa and celebrity cause-marketing.
Such campaigns, however well intentioned, promote the stereotype of Africa as a black hole of disease and death. News reports constantly focus on the continent's corrupt leaders, warlords, "tribal" conflicts, child laborers, and women disfigured by abuse and genital mutilation. These descriptions run under headlines like "Can Bono Save Africa?" or "Will Brangelina Save Africa?"Echoes of Easterly and Jen Brea. Though I feel her approach, as apposed to Easterly's op-ed, will more upset readers that are genuinely trying to help then change perceptions. There has been lots of op-eds like this one in the last year, however few detail alternative recommendations - just criticism of easy targets. See a related earlier post on Bono.
...There is no African, myself included, who does not appreciate the help of the wider world, but we do question whether aid is genuine or given in the spirit of affirming one's cultural superiority... And not only do such depictions tend to ignore the West's prominent role in creating many of the unfortunate situations on the continent, they also ignore the incredible work Africans have done and continue to do to fix those problems.
...Before the next such summit, I hope people will realize Africa doesn't want to be saved. Africa wants the world to acknowledge that through fair partnerships with other members of the global community, we ourselves are capable of unprecedented growth.
Also see an old, and sarcastic, article: How (not) to write about Africa.
Labels:
Africa,
Development,
Marketing
3 comments:
So in the above post I almost wrote: "don't bite the hand that feeds you." - but realized how condescending that might sound. I think what I was trying get out with that sentence that I didn't write was this:
Part of the reason why Sachs sways leaders and Easterly doesn’t is the way they write and convey their messages. (See other op-eds by Eastlery, not the one above.) It is important to not become counterproductive with criticism. Readers don’t react well to being criticized and their good intentions insulted. They like to hear they can make a difference. They don’t like to here just criticisms of ideas, without alternatives and options. They want to know what they can do, if you are telling them that what they are doing is wrong. I agree with the underlying message of these many articles that criticize Africa’s media depiction in Europe and the US and that more aid dollars alone will not be enough to make a difference. But I also feel these articles would be more effective if they choose their words more carefully and offer details and facts about why this depiction is wrong and what can be done instead. The advocacy of Bono, Sachs and Brangelina has hopefully brought the development challenge of Africa back onto the policy table. Now articles and efforts should focus on getting the right policies, programs and initiatives on the table, not just criticize those who helped bring the general issue the attention it deserves. Because in the end, cooperation (whether that be aid, trade or investment) will be needed between Africa and the US and Europe.
I very much agree with Rodrik's comments here, especially those at the end:
http://rodrik.typepad.com/dani_rodriks_weblog/2007/07/easterly-takes-.html
Because it is also important to remember that these peoplle that are buying RED prodcucts and attending Live Aid could also be writing letters to Congressmen about trade reforms. And the millionaires writing check to build Millenium Villages could also be investing in Africa with their companies.
I find it interesting that Uzo, who grew up in the DC suburbs, attended St. Alban's prestigious private high school, and worked for Jeff Sachs' Millennium Promise, sees himself as any more appropriate of a spokesman for Africans than the celebrities that he scolds.
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