AFRICA TO THE WORLD

Throughout my 29 years on earth, I have only resided in three countries; Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania – a genuine East African. As soon as my finances permit me to do so, I aspire towards becoming a global citizen adorned with passport stamps from various parts of the world.

The world of content creation is populated by individuals hailing from diverse nations. The advent of social media enabled globalization, granting us access to a virtual itinerary across the internet and our televisions. As a result, we are able to juxtapose, differentiate and identify with content originating from various corners of the globe.

You come to understand that our similarities outweigh the differences. Whether it’s the meals we enjoy, how we live our lives, or our customs and beliefs… cultural discrepancies are becoming less significant. The extent of your exposure to online resources depends on your willingness to be receptive.

The difficulty lies in finding suitable references or images. Due to the limited African material available, it is possible to discuss certain topics without obtaining appropriate points of reference. The Western world tends to dominate our media consumption and has influenced us into believing that their methods are exemplary models for our own endeavors. Nonetheless, we do not need to conform ourselves under others’ ideologies; instead, we can draft a blueprint
fitting for Africa’s growth by defining it on our own terms.

Source: dailypost.ng

It could be beneficial to express our knowledge through our own language or preferred medium, enabling others to expand upon it and possibly draw inspiration from it. Creating in a way that is true to ourselves would prove advantageous by highlighting aspects of African culture such as the richness found within traditional dances and weddings. Let us ignore any distractions present so we can focus on creating works specifically for Africa from Africa- let them use Google Translate if necessary!

As we fully embrace our unique selves and present ourselves in an authentic manner, the world will likewise accept us. We see evidence of this with Afro beat inspiring Chris Brown to incorporate Pidgin into his music – a clear example of African influence shaping globalization.