Senegalese-American singer, Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam known in music circles as Akon has expressed displeasure at how Africa’s story is told to the world.
Speaking at the Youth Connekt Summit, he bemoaned the propensity of ‘the west’ to often tell Africa’s story in the negative light.
He added that the United States of America has been able to project the positive things over the negatives.
According to him, there are a lot of things in the US that they don’t let the world see but African press does not hesitate to put out negative things going on in Africa.
He therefore admonished the Africans press to tell their own stories.
He believes re-writing the African story in a positive light will go a long way to change the bad image that has been created for Africa.
“The images they show about Africa are so negative. It’s conditioning what we believe. Africa has a rich story too. More people died in Chicago, more school shootings in America but they won’t show you that,” he said.
“So we have to tell our own stories. Even Jesus is white; and you believe it. But it’s okay because it depends on how you were framed,” he added.
He said film makers and movie directors should also be involved in telling stories which would make the Africa look more attractive.
