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Africa's Image in the World
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":
- Africa in World History
- African Culture
- Profiles
- Contemporary Issues
- Africa in the Media
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Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: Africa in World History
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50th anniversary of the Independent States of Africa Conference
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Author: Akyaaba Addai-Sebo
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Date Written: 17 April 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Africa in World History
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Document Origin: Pambazuka News 363
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
http://www.pambazuka.org
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Key Words: 50th anniversary, Independent States of Africa Conference,
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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 . . .
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2.
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A positive image of Africa
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Author: Gina Gallucci
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Date Written: 26 May 2007
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Africa in World History
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Document Origin: Frederick News-Post
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
http://www.fredericknewspost.com
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Key Words: cuisine, food, culture, United States
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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 . . .
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3.
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The story of Africa: African history from the dawn of time
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Author: BBC
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Date Written: 4 January 2007
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Africa in World History
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Document Origin: BBC
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
http://www.bbc.co.uk
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Key Words: early history, slavery, colonialism, contemporary Africa
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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.]
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Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: African Culture
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1.
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The hyena case
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Author: Mosala Mufungizi, Nairobi
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Date Written: 1 March 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: African Culture
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Document Origin: New People #113 March April
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
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Key Words: hyena, traditon, culture,
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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.
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D R Congo: The unseen face of Africa
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Author: Mosala Mufungizi, Nairobi
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Date Written: 1 March 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: African Culture
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Document Origin: New People March/April #113
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
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Key Words: DRC, image, culture,
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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.
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3.
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A blind man catches a bird
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Author: Mosala Mufungizi, Nairobi
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Date Written: 1 March 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: African Culture
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Document Origin: New People #113 March/April
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Secondary Category:
-none-
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Source URL:
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Key Words: tradition, story, blind man, justice,
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Summary & Comment:
Here is a traditonal story of African wisdom and justice. “How do people become friends after they have fought?” DN
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Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: Profiles
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South Africa: Janine Lazarus discusses her career
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Author: Interview
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Date Written: 15 May 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Profiles
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Document Origin: RAP 21
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Secondary Category:
Southern Region
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Source URL:
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Key Words: South Africa, media, Janine Lazarus, journalist, interview,
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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
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Online Freedom Newspaper finds freedom elsewhere to serve Gambia
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Author: Pa Nderry M’Bai, Freedom Newspaper,
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Date Written: 23 April 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Profiles
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Document Origin: RAP 21 Newsletter No 12/2008
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
http://www.rap21.org
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Key Words: Gambia, freedom, newspaper, online,
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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
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Tribute to a man of honour, Captain Diagne Mbaye
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Author: François-Xavier Nsanzuwera
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Date Written: 3 April 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Profiles
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Document Origin: Pambazuka News 359
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Secondary Category:
Central Region
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Source URL:
http://www.pambazuka.org
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Key Words: Rwanda, ICTR, Tutsi, genocide, Diagne Mbaye,
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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 . . .
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Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: Contemporary Issues
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What does China think?
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Author: Stephen Marks
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Date Written: 27 March 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Contemporary Issues
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Document Origin: Pambazuka News 357
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
http://www.pambazuka.org
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Key Words: China, Africa, stereotype,
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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 . . .
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Of national lies and racial America
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Author: Tim Wise
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Date Written: 18 March 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Contemporary Issues
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Document Origin: Counterpunch
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
http://www.counterpunch.org
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Key Words: racism, USA, America, denial, Jeremiah Wright,
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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 . . .
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Ethnicity: Releasing Africa’s “suppressed rage”
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Author: Kofi Akosah-Sarpong
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Date Written: 4 March 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Contemporary Issues
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Document Origin: Pambazuka 350
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Secondary Category:
Africa General
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Source URL:
http://www.pambazuka.org
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Key Words: ethnicity, histories, traditional values, nation,
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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
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Subscribe to RSS Feed for Africa's Image: Africa in the Media
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Kenyan media – We too are to blame
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Author: Tajudeen Abdul Raheem, Pan-African Postcard
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Date Written: 13 May 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Africa in the Media
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Document Origin: Pambazuka News 370
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Secondary Category:
Kenya
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Source URL:
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Key Words: Kenya, media, blame, film, journalists,
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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 . . .
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South Africa: Reality TV takes on HIV/AIDS
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Author: PlusNews
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Date Written: 5 May 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Africa in the Media
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Document Origin: IRIN/Plus News
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Secondary Category:
AIDS and Health
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Source URL:
http://www.plusnews.org/
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Key Words: South Africa, reality TV, HIV/AIDS, SABC, ABMP,
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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 . . .
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African journalists discuss World Press Freedom Day
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Author: Special Edition Newsletter: No 13/2008
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Date Written: 1 May 2008
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Primary Category:
Africas Image: Africa in the Media
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Document Origin: RAP 21
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Secondary Category:
-none-
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Source URL:
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Key Words: press freedom, journalists,
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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
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| Background on Africa's Image in the World
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:
- 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;
- African Culture - features articles, resources and links that describe and celebrate African cultural (artistic) contributions;
- Profiles - features African individuals and groups that have made leading or major contributions to the continent and its peoples;
- 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.
- 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.
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