The articles below are the most recent additions to the Africa's Image category of Africa InfoServ. To read an article, click on its title. To see more Africa's Image articles or to search a particular topic, click on Africa Archive. Articles marked with a magnifying glass ( ) are longer, more analytical pieces. More detailed background information on this section may be found at the bottom of the page.

There are five subsections in "Africa's Image in the World":

1. Africa in World History
2. African Culture
3. Profiles
4. Contemporary Issues
5. Africa in the Media

Africa in World History
Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: Africa in World History
	1.	50th anniversary of the Independent States of Africa Conference
		Author: Akyaaba Addai-Sebo	Date Written: 17 April 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in World History	Document Origin: Pambazuka News 363
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL: http://www.pambazuka.org
		Key Words: 50th anniversary, Independent States of Africa Conference,
		Summary & Comment: From April 15 to 22, 1958 for the first time in history independent African states gathered together with the common aim of evolving strategies to safeguard their independence, plan for the total liberation and unity of Africa, and shape their common destiny in their own interest by raising the living standards of their people through economic, cul . . . [expand]
	2.	A positive image of Africa
		Author: Gina Gallucci	Date Written: 26 May 2007
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in World History	Document Origin: Frederick News-Post
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL: http://www.fredericknewspost.com
		Key Words: cuisine, food, culture, United States
		Summary & Comment: "While many people consume hot dogs and hamburgers this holiday weekend, fried plantains and rice - and gravy with grains and okra - were two of the dishes people enjoyed Saturday during USA-Africa Day at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School... The event was held to show local residents a positive image of Africa." [Abbreviated with a link to the full a . . . [expand]
	3.	The story of Africa: African history from the dawn of time
		Author: BBC	Date Written: 4 January 2007
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in World History	Document Origin: BBC
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk
		Key Words: early history, slavery, colonialism, contemporary Africa
		Summary & Comment: "The Story of Africa tells the history of the continent from an African perspective." Audio programmes and some text available. [Abbreviated with a link to the website.]

African Culture
Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: African Culture
	1.	The hyena case
		Author: Mosala Mufungizi, Nairobi	Date Written: 1 March 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: African Culture	Document Origin: New People #113 March April
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL:
		Key Words: hyena, traditon, culture,
		Summary & Comment: An elder from the Borana community tells the author about the hyena case. A man forgot to take his goat home from the pasture; hyenas ate it. The next day he went out hunting for the hyena, and he killed it. The elders summoned him and here below is the proceeding.
	2.	D R Congo: The unseen face of Africa
		Author: Mosala Mufungizi, Nairobi	Date Written: 1 March 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: African Culture	Document Origin: New People March/April #113
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL:
		Key Words: DRC, image, culture,
		Summary & Comment: The author exposes the true being of Africa that is reflected through the values of humanness that are deeply embedded in the practices, beliefs, and other cultural activities of its many peoples.
	3.	A blind man catches a bird
		Author: Mosala Mufungizi, Nairobi	Date Written: 1 March 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: African Culture	Document Origin: New People #113 March/April
		Secondary Category: -none-	Source URL:
		Key Words: tradition, story, blind man, justice,
		Summary & Comment: Here is a traditonal story of African wisdom and justice. “How do people become friends after they have fought?” DN

Profiles
Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: Profiles
	1.	South Africa: Janine Lazarus discusses her career
		Author: Interview	Date Written: 15 May 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Profiles	Document Origin: RAP 21
		Secondary Category: Southern Region	Source URL:
		Key Words: South Africa, media, Janine Lazarus, journalist, interview,
		Summary & Comment: RAP 21 interviews Janine Lazarus on her career, the obstacles she has faced, and how she contributes to improve the overall media landscape at home and abroad. DN
	2.	Online Freedom Newspaper finds freedom elsewhere to serve Gambia
		Author: Pa Nderry M’Bai, Freedom Newspaper,	Date Written: 23 April 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Profiles	Document Origin: RAP 21 Newsletter No 12/2008
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL: http://www.rap21.org
		Key Words: Gambia, freedom, newspaper, online,
		Summary & Comment: Here is an exclusive discussion with the editor of one of Gambia’s most controversial news sources - Freedom Newspaper. Eight thousand people a day from all around the world read the paper online. DN
	3.	Tribute to a man of honour, Captain Diagne Mbaye
		Author: François-Xavier Nsanzuwera	Date Written: 3 April 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Profiles	Document Origin: Pambazuka News 359
		Secondary Category: Central Region	Source URL: http://www.pambazuka.org
		Key Words: Rwanda, ICTR, Tutsi, genocide, Diagne Mbaye,
		Summary & Comment: One of the achievements of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is the recognition of the genocide of the Tutsis. François-Xavier Nsanzuwera reflects on the legacy of Senegalese Captain Diagne Mbaye, a true exemplar of Pan-Africanism who died in Rwanda as he fought against the 1994 genocide. Captain Diagne Mbaye was a blue helmet of the U . . . [expand]

Contemporary Issues
Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: Contemporary Issues
	1.	What does China think?
		Author: Stephen Marks	Date Written: 27 March 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Contemporary Issues	Document Origin: Pambazuka News 357
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL: http://www.pambazuka.org
		Key Words: China, Africa, stereotype,
		Summary & Comment: There is little understanding outside of China about the different perspectives of Chinese intellectuals. They are far from being a homogeneous group. In this extended review of recent publications about China the author argues that there are few, other, important, global players whose affairs are so exclusively analysed on the basis of ignorance a . . . [expand]
	2.	Of national lies and racial America
		Author: Tim Wise	Date Written: 18 March 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Contemporary Issues	Document Origin: Counterpunch
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL: http://www.counterpunch.org
		Key Words: racism, USA, America, denial, Jeremiah Wright,
		Summary & Comment: Race relations in North America, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa have a common feature – a continued denial by the beneficiaries of the brutal theft of ancestral lands as well as the riches beneath them, enslavement, and the continued dehumanization of African and Aboriginal people with impunity. In this opinion piece, Wise discusse . . . [expand]
	3.	Ethnicity: Releasing Africa’s “suppressed rage”
		Author: Kofi Akosah-Sarpong	Date Written: 4 March 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Contemporary Issues	Document Origin: Pambazuka 350
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL: http://www.pambazuka.org
		Key Words: ethnicity, histories, traditional values, nation,
		Summary & Comment: The author presents a key challenge for African leaders: how to work with states created by Europe so that they are able to appropriate the various ethnic groups’ histories and traditional values that form their nation-states for the peace and progress of all. "We have met the enemy, and he is us," Pogo. DN

Africa in the Media
Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: Africa in the Media
	1.	Kenyan media – We too are to blame
		Author: Tajudeen Abdul Raheem, Pan-African Postcard	Date Written: 13 May 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in the Media	Document Origin: Pambazuka News 370
		Secondary Category: Kenya	Source URL:
		Key Words: Kenya, media, blame, film, journalists,
		Summary & Comment: The author asks, Do we expect too much from the media when we ourselves are failing African societies? In general African journalists are badly paid and ill treated by their employers, governments, and the wider society. It is convenient to blame the media but every Kenyan and to some extent all of us who live in the country. In conclusion he asks . . . [expand]
	2.	South Africa: Reality TV takes on HIV/AIDS
		Author: PlusNews	Date Written: 5 May 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in the Media	Document Origin: IRIN/Plus News
		Secondary Category: AIDS and Health	Source URL: http://www.plusnews.org/
		Key Words: South Africa, reality TV, HIV/AIDS, SABC, ABMP,
		Summary & Comment: Despite years of campaigns and messaging there is a huge gap between HIV/AIDS awareness and the realisation of personal risks that cause people to change their behaviour. Fear-based campaigns increase stigma and push people farther into denial. The reality TV show, Imagine Afrika, is part of a campaign by the African Broadcast Media Partnership Aga . . . [expand]
	3.	African journalists discuss World Press Freedom Day
		Author: Special Edition Newsletter: No 13/2008	Date Written: 1 May 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in the Media	Document Origin: RAP 21
		Secondary Category: -none-	Source URL:
		Key Words: press freedom, journalists,
		Summary & Comment: World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on 3 May. It is a day to honour journalists who have risked their lives for the right to a free press in their country. Here five journalists - from Kenya, Algeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tunisia - tell how they see the issue of press freedoom and the role of journalists in repressive situations. DN

The "Africa's Image in the World" section features articles, essays, reports and other documents that lift up Africa and that are not usually found in international, especially Western, media. Indeed, most coverage of Africa in mainstream international media is adversity-oriented. It perpetuates an image of the continent as backward, poor and violent. While not ignoring issues of adversity, nor romanticizing Africa, "Africa's Image in the World" will include material that broadly contextualizes social, political, economic, cultural and other issues in a manner designed to elicit awareness of and respect for the dignity, dynamism and resilience of the African peoples.

The purpose and content of the five subsections is as follows:

1. Africa in World History - features articles, resources and links that document Africa's rightful place in world history and its contributions to the development of global civilization;
2. African Culture - features articles, resources and links that describe and celebrate African cultural (artistic) contributions;
3. Profiles - features African individuals and groups that have made leading or major contributions to the continent and its peoples;
4. Contemporary Issues - features articles, reports and links that broadly contextualize African social, political, economic, cultural and other issues in a manner designed to elicit awareness of and respect for the dignity, dynamism and resilience of African peoples.
5. Africa in the Media - features analyses of the way Africa is often portrayed in media around the world and offers alternative approaches.

"Africa's Image in the World" is edited by Gary Kenny. For many years Gary worked with the Inter-Church Coalition on Africa which maintained a program called "Africa's Public Image." Gary coordinated a variety of projects designed to counter African stereotypes including public exhibitions of contemporary African art, public lectures featuring Africans offering alternative views of the continent, and the development of guidelines to assist educators, media and non-governmental organizations concerned to represent Africa in a fair and just manner. Assisting Gary is a group of advisors that includes African men and women in Africa and Canada.

"Africa's Image in the World" is a work in progress. It will be regularly evaluated and adjusted to take into account the constructively critical comments of readers and others whose opinions are sought.