AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY
One day in high school while at lunch, I sat down with a group of friends who were having a conversation about a new guy that had just transferred to our school.
“Did you meet him?” Someone asked me.
I shook my head. I was hungry and didn’t want to be bothered.
“You may know him,” another friend said.
“Why?” I asked.
“He’s African.”
I lost my appetite.
One of the biggest misconceptions that Africans in America have to deal with is that Africa is a huge country where everyone speaks “African” and wears “African clothes” and dances “African” in tribal ceremonies that are held for the king of “Africa” (who Eddie Murphy played in that movie); and despite the fact that it can hold the land occupied by China, India, Europe, Argentina, New Zealand and the continental United States, with room to spare, everyone knows each other.
<– I don’t know him. (Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe)
<– Or her. (Charlize Theron, South Africa)
The Language of “African”:
Of the 54 countries in Africa there are around 2500 languages spoken, and up to 8000 dialects. Aside from the indigenous languages, the English speaking countries all have distinct accents in English; not to mention people that repatriated to those countries from America, Australia, and Europe, and came back with sounds of their own. If there is any common language, it’s the eye language; the common and understood look that two Africans may give while in a room with non-Africans who are finding pleasure in dissing the continent.
The “African” Way:
If you’ve ever visited Africa as a non-African, you may remember things being referred to as “the African way”. That, just means in comparison to your way. If the said speaker were a Burundian speaking to an Ivorian, the said “African way” would quickly become the Burundian way.
Call Me Who I Am:
You may find that when you call a Nigerian something other than a Nigerian, they may look at you like you have something on your lip. If you call an African non-Nigerian a Nigerian, they may look at you like they want to kill you. Although in America groups like the ASA bring Africans together for peaceful fellowship, you may still find that they don’t want to be mistaken for one another. Ethiopians and Eritreans are other groups that don’t like to be confused as the other, even though they were once the same country. Even further, try calling a Yoruba (Nigerian) person Igbo (Nigerian). They will correct you. Try calling a Vai (Liberian) person Bassa (Liberian). They will correct you.
If you don’t know which country someone is from or what language they speak, ask.
African Crash Course (as written by Melony Ochieng):
It comes as something of a surprise to many Africans to discover that all Africans look the same to non-Africans.
How do you tell a Nigerian from a Kenyan, for example; and I am not talking about passports or clothing? Well the easiest way, of course, is the name: for example Ogunkoye can only be a Nigerian and Njoroge from Kenya.
And so where do the Dunns come from? They are certainly from Liberia or Sierra Leone. Surely, everybody knows that the loud and cocky ones are the West Africans; the brooding and sly ones are the North and South Africans respectively; the East Africans always say yes, even when they disagree with you violently.
To be more specific, the Cameroonians will borrow money from you to buy Champagne; whilst the Ghanaians think they invented politics. The Congolese think they have the best music and the best dancers; the
Nigerians have a thing about clothes; and the Ethiopians believe they have the most beautiful women on God’s earth. Moroccans actually think they’re French, and so do the Burkinabes. Algerians just hate the French; Sierra Leonians simply smile profusely; and Liberians can’t get over America.
All East and South African countries have the same national anthem, but the South Africans sing it the best.
The South Africans have no hair; the Zambians and Kenyans have prominent foreheads; the West Africans have short memories and never learn from their mistakes; the concept of order and discipline must have been invented in East Africa; the words don’t exist in West Africa, especially in Nigeria.
When a cabinet minister is “caught with his hands in the till,” he commits suicide in Southern Africa; in West Africa he’s promoted after the next coup d’etat.
In athletics, the divisions are quite simple: from 800m to the marathon the East Africans hold sway; the West Africans are only good at the sprints; and South Africans can only sing. But when it comes to football(soccer), the North and West Africans dominate the lesser-skilled East and South Africans.
Tags: Charlize Theron, Robert Mugabe
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July 11, 2008 at 2:03 pm
The Post is on Point Once Again ………………i will give you another A+
I am glad that u did not cite Us in your crash course ……………I think that despite our difference African People are very respectful towards each other
Awhile back a friend from the US would always tell me that anytime she would see me she would think of ” Coming to America ” …………..i believe that she did not know exactly the message was conveying to me
Words are Powerful ……………………Lets watch what we say
July 12, 2008 at 12:42 am
Found your site via a link from another site but you’ve been posting some interesting topics.
I am afam and was raised to be interested in the continent of Africa. I have traveled to a couple west african countries. I am genuinely interested in the diversity of the continent and can sometimes tell the differences between certain tribes from the small knowledge that I have. I agree when you say ‘ask’ if you want to know about a person, but mention to African natives that although they have endured many ignorant comments from people there are those of us who are genuinely curious and not unaware that Africa is not a country. sometimes when asked where they are from African natives will respond “Africa” assuming that I don’t know anything but I’ve learned to get past that assumption of my ignorance and when they say their name or if I can guess by characteristics where I think they may be from it’s actually a good icebreaker because then they know I’m not someone who has accepted the traditional media stereotypes and want to ask an insulting question. I just wish more of us, on either side, could look past stereotypes. Sadly, Birima there are many people who only have those ridiculous media images to base their knowledge, unaware that it was derived from the afam ‘motherland fantasy’. You should explain it to your friend. She probably has no clue that it’s insulting. It’s just as hurtful for those of us afam’s who aren’t ignorant like that but get dismissed in the same way when we make inquiries. I will say this, as maybe an explanation for those who didnt have parents like mine to combat all of the lies told in school, print etc for many years many maps in U.S. classrooms the continent of Africa appeared smaller than Greenland in maps even though it was second largest continent. not making excuses but trying to explain where some of the myths and ignorance originate. It’s only through shared information that we’ll really get to know one another a push past the confining stereotypes
July 12, 2008 at 9:14 am
This blog is a great idea, and it is much needed.
I am African-American. My mother dated a Nigerian man when I was a boy. He couldn’t stand it when I would preface a question about with, “In Africa, do they…”, or “Why do Africans……”, or “What’s Africa like?” He was quick to remind me that Africa is not a country.
I think that if an American unwittingly makes an insulting statement, you should tell that person in a tactful way. Whether you would do that or not probably depends on your personality, I’m sure. Although I not African-born, because of my childhood experiences with Nigerians, when people talk about Africa, I usually ask them which country they are talking about.
If a white person asks me, “why do black people (fill in the blank)?” I often tell them, “I don’t know”. Those 3 words alone will leave a puzzled look on their face, and get them to start thinking.
July 12, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Hey,
I’m grateful for this site. I’m African-American and have lived in francophone Africa as a volunteer. I hate that Africans come here to America and get perceived as dirt poor, uneducated, and here to make their fortune. When I see Africans, I always speak. If they’re French-speakers, I surprise them with fluent French. If they’re from Ghana, I say “akwaba” (sp?) which means welcome. I tell them about my trip there ans ask which region they’re from. For most countries I know a little something from the history to the capital. You should see the face of men from Cote d’Ivoire when I tell them I know about the dance ‘The Mapouca.” lol. I love the diversity of African culture. I hate how so few of us here know anything and how most Africans assume we are ignorant and don’t give us a chance. When I ask an African where he/she is from, invariably I get a terse answer, “Africa.” I say, I know that — which country? Then when I add share what I know or ask a few questions, they’re amazed and begin smiling. It’s a great feeling to connect with other people. I wish Africans (who like African-Americans can be sensitive and quick to be insulted) would give us a chance adn recognize that most of us who don’t know and who do ask “stupid” questions or say stupid things, don’t mean any harm. I also wish we, African-AMericans, would get to know AFrica from more than Tarzan films. I think both Africans and African-Americans can do better and cut each other some slack.
July 13, 2008 at 9:50 am
so true… so true
it never ceases to amaze me how people know the name of paris hiltons dog and dont know africa is not a country? and are not worried about this
July 13, 2008 at 6:22 pm
C & Ken, you are both right. It’s a strange dynamic, because at times I feel as though some Africans may interact with African-Americans as though they are ignorant until proven otherwise. In my second piece I discussed where that habit may have come from; they may have been criticized and/or ostracized for their heritage somewhere in their past, or were raised by someone who was, and therefore lump all African-Americans together in assumption (and fear) that the same kind of condescension will happen again. The problem with all generalizations is that it undermines the concept of individuality and autonomy. Just because one person who happens to be a certain race does something doesn’t mean that it’s reasonable to expect that everyone within that race is without a mind (and consciousness) of their own.
Because we are the next generation, we have to teach those after us (children, mentees, even friends), about the variation of our race and cultures and how to interact with each other in ways that do not offend, or assume the worst of who we are speaking with.
July 16, 2008 at 12:27 pm
This is an excellent post; I love your blog. Take care!
July 16, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I love what u said about Sierra Leoneans. Some people are so stupid that they think that Africa is a country, I don’t blame them though because they knoe no better. I am always a bit uncomfortable when someone calls me a Nigeria, is Nigeria the only country in Africa. But I do like Naija it’s just i dont want to be called a Naija girl I am a SALONE girl.
July 19, 2008 at 9:23 am
This here is a Cameroonian who hates champagne, despises the French, knows their language and would not speak it, thinks he invented politics and does not care about soccer. Any more stereotypes?
July 19, 2008 at 9:24 am
My point is, if you are so sensitive about Americans putting you in a box, do not do the same to other Africans. Tufia!
July 20, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Bobby,
I added Melony’s piece as a light-hearted addition to the post. You certainly can’t believe that all I think South Africans are good for is singing. I know Cameroonians that thought the joke was hilarious. I guess, to each his own. No offense.
July 23, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Nigerians are the coolest, especially Igbos. I thinkit is difficult to be an African in america. I am not African American and I am not just African, I am Igbo and thathsmy language and my culture. I respect other Africans but I know just about them the way I know about India or Poland. I think we are as similaras the general human experience allows us, but besides that I dont really see anything else besides on an individual level.
July 30, 2008 at 10:41 am
Excellent post to an excellent blog!
I live in canada and the US is our closest neighbours. I have travelled into the States and had Americans ask me very ignorant questions (living on the same continent, I would just expect Americans to know that Ontario isn’t another State of the US, or that the whole of Canada isn’t covered in ice and snow and we don’t all live in igloos). So it stands to reason that Americans (and Canadians actually) would ask Africans ignorant questions. I know that here in Canada school children learn very little about Africa and all her countries and peoples. There are some who are working very hard to get “African Studies” or more of it added to the required curriculum.
Excellent blog. I will return to read more.
August 3, 2008 at 10:51 am
This girl asked me once if I know this guy from the Congo. They don’t think Africa is one country, they think it’s one big village and we all know each other.
I didn’t know the guy from the Congo ( I’m Sudanese and I’ve never been to the Congo!)
I agree with KEN
August 6, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Found your blog through an online magazine I subscribe to. This is brilliant! We only need to find a way to school everyone else about this.
Great job!
August 14, 2008 at 2:21 am
its comforting to know that we all suffer the same ignorance from others. worse still we even suffer discrimination in our own homes and countries. i hope this will be the start of a global awakening-that africa with all its states, problems, issues, secrets and successes (we have them in plenty) will not sit back and be ignored! we are here and let everyone know it. Africa Rules!!!!!!!
August 14, 2008 at 7:20 am
Allow me to state that your blog is informative and that it adds humour .However,i would like to deny your quote that Zambians have prominent foreheads.I am zambian myself and I strongly disagree that the majority of zambians have big foreheads.And we southern africans do not all have the same national anthem.Did you research that?And Southern Africans and East africans do not lose tournaments because of skill.We just don’t have the facilities as other west african nations do to train .
August 22, 2008 at 10:20 pm
The ignorance of many people in the West never ceases to amaze me. Yet, there are numerous educational resources available at their fingertips, doorsteps and neighbourhoods: books, documentaries, museums, not to mention the great World Wide Web. Unfortunately, you will find that an urban youth in an African country knows much more about the US than an American youth knows about Africa. Ask any African who has interacted with foreigners and he or she will tell you about an encounter that involved prejudice and pure ignorance portrayed by these foreigners. No, Africa is not a country! Surprised?
Check out Binyavanga Wainaina’s “How to Write about Africa”.
August 25, 2008 at 12:06 am
Hi. I’m a mixed African-American. Oddly enough, i took a class called World Cultures: Africa at NYU. To the previous poster, you would actually be surprised how little the US spends teaching the urban youth ( i assume you mean black kids) about themselves. If you looked into any history book, you find maybe a page or two of African-American History. One page will talk about slavery, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and the Emancipation; and the other will include Civil Rights Movement (Brown vs. Board, Dr. King, Rosa Parks). They tend to skip the years before slavery and in between the end of slavery and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. There is barely a mention of Jim Crow, The Tuskegee Experiment, or anything else that is specifically black American. The West has the most Eurocentric school systems, so don’t be surprised if anyone asks if you’re from the country of Africa, especially AA because that’s all we know.
August 27, 2008 at 3:13 am
A very enlightening post and blog all together. Achieng’s writing was very funny. She should have however said Kenyans kick arse in athletics
September 23, 2008 at 8:57 pm
i am white, was born in south africa and now live in the states. i was talking to my (american) office mate (who is black), and is very into her “african roots”- per her own admonition. i was telling her about being born in south africa, and she asked me which country it was in.
i think this is more of an “american phenomenon”. americans dont seem to know whats going on outside of their own borders.
September 25, 2008 at 9:14 am
No, that is because of what we’re taught in our schools( unless,I go to an HBCU), from our folks and the exposure we had/may not had around them. Growing up, I was raised in diversity.Although I was raised around a couple of Black people, there weren’t a lot Africans in my state back then.That was in the 1970’s( I’m from Georgia,USA). Today if you look at the demographic landscape of my city and even various parts of my state, you will see tons of them. Go to the outskirts like Clarkston, College Park, Atlanta,Norcross and just about in every part of Georgia, you’ll see them.
Honestly, I’ve never been out the US, but I had to “improvise”my experience by learning through them and by my ex, who was Cote Ivoirien. I’ve always was fixated about it because they helped me to learn about their individual cultures that I would otherwise would never be able to learn about here. One of my nephews came home and told that his teachers said that Africans( in generalist terms) were poor. I had to correct him because not all Africans are poor. It’s just like anywhere else, you have the poor and the rich on every continent. I’ll never forget what my Senegalese friend said about his living standards in his homeland. He was from the upper crust of Senegalese society. I looked at where how he lived and man, wow! he lived it to the core. He said that the money that his American father in law made on his retirement check could probably afford him a nice house and a maid in his country. He not only taught about some of the people of Senegal, but he taught me about their foods, schools, clothes and history. He was very intriguing to listen to.He filmed segments of his homeland. It didn’t resemble the ugliness that we, as Americans, are hip to seeing here.
I’ll never be an expert of African culture because I wasn’t born or raised in the country, but information that I’ve learned from them is educational. I’ve always wanted to go to Africa and visit, Senegal,Ghana ,Tanzania, Kenya and plan on doing it one day. All of what my friends taught me about their homelands make me want to learn more about their countries.
November 17, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Great blog. However, we have to be aware that no one will respect us or care about our complexity until we market ourselves adequately. We don’t consider the relevance of selling ourselves to the world. People will be dazzled by the most shocking and exotic aspects of us unless we sell our best assets. It’s not their fault. it’s human nature. When you visit a place, you want to see what is different about it.
Let’s take these negatives and turn them into something profitable for us.