Uprooting myths
Africa replete with diverse civilization
LESLEY OWUSU is a
sophomore broadcasting
major and a Daily
Nebraskan columnist.
I am the voice of Africa.
Africa is my homeland.
Africa is where I belong.
I say this because Africa is where
I spent the first six years of my life,
so I will always be attached to Africa.
It’s the home of my family.
Americans seem to have false
perceptions about the great continent
of Africa.
I’m not sure if it is because some
Americans are simply ignorant, or
that they lack knowledge and under
standing of the African culture.
As a student with African
descent, I feel I can represent my
people and act as a voice for
Africans.
It frustrates me when I see the
negative images of African people in
the media being portrayed as “sav
ages.”
Africans regard the connotation
of the word “tribe” and other words
like “primitive” and “native” as
derogatory.
People who are either unedu
cated, or simply naive, still believe
most Africans live in the bush, fight,
kill animals and roam around vil
lages naked.
Believe me, this is not Africa
today. The images you see on TV -
with groups of Africans dancing -
are just a part of the culture. It is the
celebration of a traditional event,
such as an initiation.
The reality of African culture is,
sadly, not always recognized by peo
ple in the West. Only those who can
fully appreciate the physical size and
diversity of Africa can understand
the culture.
Afro-centrists view Africa as the
cradle and birthplace of civiliza
tion. They see Africa as a place of
high culture.
Americans seem to have
this perception that Africans
are uncivilized. I think it’s
because of the way
Westerners think that
Africans live.
Just how organized
and civilized is the
United States with
people in constant
conflict and war?
Civilization is f
the total culture
of a particular
people, group
and nation.
Africans are
civilized in
every sense of |
the word.
I often worry |
about some |
African
Americans.
They regard
themselves as
“African” American,
which is the title „
used to distinguish |
your ethnic clas- ^
sification. But just “
how much do they |
know and under-. |
stand about
Africa?
Some African
Americans I’ve come
into contact with know
little or nothing m
ribout Africa.
•**^f»>*~«*--‘-**--|* r - ■* - -
A tew weeks ago, I overheard an
ignorant African American woman
talking about African people. She
said, “These people look straight-up
African.”
I couldn’t help myself from inter
rupting. I asked her, “What do you
mean by straight-up African?”
She replied, “You know what
Africans look like.”
I said “No, I don’t Do I look
African?”
The girl had no response. I think
she realized she offended me.
What annoyed me most was this
girl’s attitude.
For some reason, she had this
perception that Africans have a
stereotypical look - extremely dark
skin, big eyes, a big nose and big
lips.
Is this the perception that
Americans have of Africans?
Africans are not “strange-looking
people.” They are just ordinary peo
ple like you and me.
African people look different
because Africa is so diverse. Never
be quick to judge any person of
color. We really do not all look the
same.
Every African is different.
Africa is a beautiful and rich con
tinent. Where do Americans think
most gold, copper and tea comes
from?
Americans tend to view Africa as
a single country instead of a conti
nent of 50 different countries with a
wide variety of people. It’s a conti
nent with many smaller countries,
similar to Europe.
Africa is the second largest conti
nent. It’s 11.6 million square miles
stretching 5,000 miles, from South
Africa to Egypt, and nearly 3,000
miles, from Senegal to Somalia. It’s
3.5 times bigger than the United
States.
According to the 1996 Population
Reference Bureau there are an esti
mated 732 million people in Africa.
Africans hold things like tradi
tions, family values, morals and reli
gion in high regard. Old people are
respected as elders. They are leaders
in the community and are inspiring
to others.
Africa is full of diversity.
Unlike Americans, Africans do
not speak just one language. There
are hundreds of different languages
spoken in Africa.
Africa also includes a collective
group of very different groups of
people.
My family is from Ghana, in west
Africa. We belong to the Ashanti
group.
There are at least 15 different lan
guages spoken in Ghana. “Twi” is the
language my family and I speak.
Names are very symbolic in
Ghana. A child’s name is determined
by the day of the week that he or she
is bom. I was bom on Thursday. My
Ghanaian name is “Maame Yaa,”
which means “hope.”
When I was younger, I was fairly
shy and didn’t really understand
much about Ghana. I would often try
to hide the fact that my parents spoke
a different language whenever my
English-speaking friends were
around me. I don’t why.
Now that I’m grown up, I’m
proud of my African heritage
because it has allowed me to increase
my awareness of my culture and
Africa.
i lasi viMicu vjuaiia iwu years
ago. I was overwhelmed by some of
the spectacular things I witnessed.
Things like architecture, arts and
crafts were spectacular.
Ghanaians are very welcoming. I
was treated like a princess by all
those I met. Africans are generally
very hospitable. Any visitor is greet
ed warmly and with great respect.
Money is not everything to
Africans. Human life and happiness
are worth more. However, like any
society, the rich get richer and the
poor remain poor.
Never be quick to judge the
African culture, and don’t believe all
you see and read about Africa. You
really have to see Africa for the expe
rience of a lifetime.
To me, Africa is about adventure,
freedom, richness, individualism,
culture and ancestral history.
One day, I plan to return to Africa
and live in Ghana. But for now, I am
happy enjoying my travels as I
explore this wonderful world that has
so much to offer.
Africa is where I am from.
Africa is my home.
I/-/.'
Melanie Falk/DN
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