Hey Africans! Did You Know That You Have the Power to Shape What is Said of You?
Kenya is Proof It is Doable
Hello rafiki 😊
Welcome to the Not an Afterthought Newsletter. We lead the conversation on how to accelerate Africa’s socio-economic development with a particular emphasis on the role technology will play in fueling economic growth that will make Africa not an afterthought!
Last week I bumped into this intriguing TikTok.
The creator notes that the reason Kenya is more famous than most African countries is not because of wildlife, tourism, or athletics. It is because you (Kenyans and non-Kenyans) are now talking about Kenya and not any other country.
The creator goes on to note that Kenyans shape what is said of them—they write their own stories, and the rest of the world reports those stories.
Nowhere is this more evident than when Kenyans forced CNN to apologize for calling Kenya a ‘hotbed of terror.’
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It does not sound like a big deal, but if you dig a bit deeper, you realize it was not so much about the apology but the fact that Kenyans did not want their country labeled a certain way.
They understood the power contained in how people perceive and label you!
Take the United States, for Instance
Why is the US considered a hero for invading Iraq, but Russia is viewed as a villain for invading Ukraine?
Yes, these are two different scenarios, and one can argue the justifications from the US were more valid, but underneath it all, it is simple.
The US has spent years convincing the world that they are the good guys. That all they do is pure and for the good of everyone. It is not necessarily true, but because of that perception, the world is less inclined to question anything they do.
Even if the US does something questionable, chances are high that people worldwide will give them the benefit of the doubt.
That is the power of perception!
Maybe it is time for African countries to borrow a leaf from the US.
Why?
When your own stories form the bulk of the narrative about you, it becomes easier to shape your destiny.
Back to Kenya, if they had allowed the ‘hotbed of terror’ comment to stand, it would have affected the business environment. Investors would have used the statement to write Kenya off.
Second, owning one’s story is essential in fighting the inferiority complex that most Africans have carried around since colonization.
That’s because the perception that Africa, Africans and African institutions such as the African Union set will eventually become a reality.
Kenyans understood this early on, and they went out of their way to define and enforce how they wanted the world to see them.
That has, in turn, influenced how they see themselves. Haven’t you noticed how loud they are about being the best African country, or as they like to say it, the capital of Africa?
The same happened with the US and the UK with the English language.
Any average American will tell you that Americans are inherently good. It is a debatable assertion, but it persists because it is the standard the United States set.
The English, on the other hand, so believed in the superiority of their language they set out to make everyone perceive it as such. As a result, English is now the world’s lingua franca.
Final Word
It really is simple, the stories you tell about yourself have the power to influence your reality.
Time has never been better for Africa to double down on telling its own stories. Kenya has already proven that it is doable.
Opportunity Corner: Opportunity For Africans
Applications for the African Union Internship program are open. It is an opportunity to get professional exposure within the African Union. It is open to all citizens of African Union member states.
Follow Link to apply
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