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
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	1.	Africa, globalisation and reparations
		Author: Opinions: Prof. Ali A. Mazrui	Date Written: 27 September 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in World History	Document Origin: The Monitor, Kampala
		Secondary Category: Economic Justice	Source URL: http://www.monitor.co.ug
		Key Words: globalisation, reparations,
		Summary & Comment: In this opinion piece the author asks, "In the 21st century will Pan-Africanism be inspired by the twin ambitions of African Renaissance and Black Reparations?" He asserts that the issues of reparations and Africa’s renaissance meet on two principles: redistribution of power globally and re-activation of skills locally. "Africa was c . . . [expand]
	2.	The political economy of ethnic identities in Kenya - Part 1 of 3
		Author: Onyango Oloo, Nairobi	Date Written: 11 September 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in World History	Document Origin: Pambazuka News 395
		Secondary Category: Kenya	Source URL: http://www.pambazuka.org
		Key Words: Kenya, political economy, ethnic identities, tribalism,
		Summary & Comment: In Part 1 the author pleads for "a sober, scientific de-construction of ethnic identities in Kenya that is based on our collectively lived, historical experience." DN
	3.	Goukouni Weddeye: Témoignage pour l’histoire du Tchad
		Author: Laurent Correau	Date Written: 19 August 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in World History	Document Origin: Pôle Afrique de Radio France Internationale
		Secondary Category: Western Region	Source URL: http://www.rfi.fr
		Key Words: Tchad, histoire, temoignage, Goukouni Weddeye,
		Summary & Comment: Goukouni Weddeye a été chef rebelle puis président du Tchad. Il se raconte pour la première fois. Un entretien exclusif à découvrir dans ce dossier. DN

African Culture
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	1.	African music compact discs issue
		Author: edited by William Minter	Date Written: 5 December 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: African Culture	Document Origin: AfricaFocus Bulletin
		Secondary Category: Africas Image: Africa in the Media	Source URL:
		Key Words: African music, CDs, compact discs,
		Summary & Comment: Here is some African music on CDs that feature the top 10 of the year from Afropop and more. Follow the links below or view all the images by going directly to: http://www.africafocus.org/books/gifts08b.php . DN
	2.	Namibia: Interview - Tourism at full gallop, Hon Leon Jooste
		Author: Moses Magadza interviewer	Date Written: 2 December 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: African Culture	Document Origin: AfricaFiles
		Secondary Category: Africas Image: Africa in World History	Source URL: http://www.africafiles.org
		Key Words: Namibia, tourism, traditional societies, economy, exploitation
		Summary & Comment: Namibia’s tourism industry is burgeoning; creating thousands of jobs and raking in billions of dollars in revenue. What is driving it? What plans are in place to address the unique circumstances of marginalised communities that sustain the industry as tourist attractions? To what extent are indigenous Namibians participating in the industry? What i . . . [expand]
	3.	Uganda: A new cinema-going culture
		Author: Ogova Ondego, Kampala	Date Written: 1 October 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: African Culture	Document Origin: New People #116 Sept Oct 08
		Secondary Category: Eastern Region	Source URL:
		Key Words: Uganda, cinema, VJ, video halls, When Idi Amin expelled Asians who controlled the film entertainment business out of Uganda in 1972, accusing them of economic sabotage, it was thought that the cinema sector had died. Indeed, it was not till after Yoweri K
		Summary & Comment: When Idi Amin expelled Asians who controlled the film entertainment business out of Uganda in 1972, accusing them of economic sabotage, it was thought that the cinema sector had died. Indeed, it was not till after Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had shot his way to State House with his National Resistance Army in 1986 that the sector began to be resuscitate . . . [expand]

Profiles
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	1.	South Africa: Mandela mourns Nthato Motlana
		Author: Nthambeleni Gabara	Date Written: 2 December 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Profiles	Document Origin: Bua News
		Secondary Category: Southern Region	Source URL: http://www.southafrica.info
		Key Words: South Africa, Nthato Motlana, profile, Mandela, activist,
		Summary & Comment: Dr Nthato Motlana was one of those accused with Mandela and 18 others in the 1952 Defiance Campaign Trial. He was a leading member of the Soweto community, vice-chair of the Black Parents’ Association during the Student Uprising in 1976, and chair of the Soweto Committee of Ten that ran Soweto’s affairs after the collapse of the Soweto Urban Bantu . . . [expand]
	2.	Miriam Makeba gave voice to the pain of exile
		Author: Celean Jacobson, Johannesburg	Date Written: 11 November 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Profiles	Document Origin: Associated Press
		Secondary Category: Southern Region	Source URL:
		Key Words: South Africa, Miria Makeba,
		Summary & Comment: For more than 30 years the apartheid regime banned Miriam Makeba from South Africa. In 1963 she called for an international boycott of South Africa at the UN. Ms. Makeba, however, also supported the political campaigns of Togo’s Gnassingbe Eyadema and Felix Houphouet-Boigny from Ivory Coast "even as they were violently suppressing the movement . . . [expand]
	3.	Hugh McCullum 1931 - 2008
		Author: Observer Staff	Date Written: 23 October 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Profiles	Document Origin: United Church Observer files
		Secondary Category: Southern Region	Source URL: http://www.ucobserver.org
		Key Words: Hugh McCullum,
		Summary & Comment: Hugh McCullum was a passionate advocate for marginalized people everywhere and a prolific reporter and writer who insisted that the church engage the world’s systemic injustices. He was among the founders of AfricaFiles and an active participant of the Ezine team. DN

Contemporary Issues
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	1.	Tanzania: Building a wireless network in Sengerema
		Author: Ms. Miep Lenoir	Date Written: 21 December 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Contemporary Issues	Document Origin: International Institute for Communication & Development
		Secondary Category: Eastern Region	Source URL: http://www.iicd.org/articles/
		Key Words: Tanzania, wireless network, community, internet,
		Summary & Comment: Tanzania’s first wireless, community internet network is established in a rural community. Hopefully this will be the first of many such networks. The aim is to "...enable rural communities in Tanzania to easily access important information for improving standards of living towards meeting the MDGs." DH
	2.	Liberian envoy calls on the Church to help Africa weather the world economic crisis
		Author: AACC	Date Written: 8 December 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Contemporary Issues	Document Origin: All Africa Conference of Churches
		Secondary Category: Africa General	Source URL: http://www.aacc-ceta.org
		Key Words: AACC, advocacy, leadership, Church, Africa, economic crisis
		Summary & Comment: There is a need for the Churches to embrace a new style of advocacy in order to help to look for practical, realistic solutions to many social problems in Africa. The success of the All Africa Conference of Churches’ responses has depended on the strong bonds among its diverse denominations as "when all churches see each other, not as separate . . . [expand]
	3.	A gathering storm: 8 new climate change videos from IRIN/UNEP
		Author: IRIN, Nairobi	Date Written: 8 December 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Contemporary Issues	Document Origin: IRIN News, UNEP
		Secondary Category: Ecology	Source URL: http://www.irinnews.org
		Key Words: climate change, video, IRIN, storm,
		Summary & Comment: Here is how to access eight, short videos that explore the human cost of climate change in Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritania, Mozambique, and Senegal. Across Africa, the impact of climate change is already being felt. But the picture is not all bad. Adaptation techniques, new and old, enable vulnerable communities to cope and even emerge stronger and more . . . [expand]

Africa in the Media
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	1.	Sao Tome and Principe: Saturday night fever, with condoms
		Author: PlusNews, Sao Tome	Date Written: 29 December 2009
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in the Media	Document Origin: IRIN/Plus News
		Secondary Category: Health and AIDS	Source URL:
		Key Words: Sao Tome and Principe, condoms, Bleguê Linda Estrela,
		Summary & Comment: La version francaise suit. The Bulauê Linda Estrela cultural group raises awareness about the importance of using condoms to prevent HIV. Their song, Bleguê Bleguê, sung by adults and children is played incessantly on radio stations and in night clubs throughout São Tomé and Príncipe. La chanson « Bleguê Bleguê ... » d’un groupe culturel baptisé Bu . . . [expand]
	2.	Mozambique: Ntxuva - Lives at play - the soap opera
		Author: Plus News, Maputo	Date Written: 29 December 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in the Media	Document Origin: IRIN/Plus News
		Secondary Category: Health and AIDS	Source URL:
		Key Words: Mozambique, Ntxuva, soap opera,
		Summary & Comment: Ntxuva is a popular game played with stones on the ground or on a wooden board with holes. A soap opera by the same name takes great care to ensure that the educational messages about HIV/AIDS, hygiene, nutrition, traditional medicine, drugs, and various public-health issues come across in an entertaining way. After each episode testimony from spec . . . [expand]
	3.	Globe and Mail woman in Johannesburg - Stephanie Nolen - 2003-2008
		Author: Stephanie Nolen, Johannesburg	Date Written: 13 December 2008
		Primary Category: Africas Image: Africa in the Media	Document Origin: Globe and Mail
		Secondary Category: Southern Region	Source URL:
		Key Words: South Africa, Globe and Mail, Stephanie Nolen, Jo
		Summary & Comment: An outstanding overview and reflection of the last 5 years of Globe and Mail Africa correspondent, Stephanie Nolen, from her Johannesburg base. She examines progress and regress in Zimbabwe, Kenya, DR Congo, and many other places she reported on. Her sensitive yet fearless approach to Africa has also changed her, and led her to look for the positiv . . . [expand]

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 fundamental to the shape, content, and purpose of AfricaFiles - along with our emphasis on justice and human rights. Originally conceived by Gary Kenny who for many years worked with the Inter-Church Coalition on Africa the five parts of Africa’s Image -  in the media, in history, African culture, contemporary issues, and profiles - aim to counter the persistent African stereotypes in the mainline press’ stories of poverty, war and disease. Africa Image lets Africans speak for themselves, offers alternative views of the issues and resources of the continent, and highlights the humour, strength, vitality, and perseverance of Africa’s many peoples.