Africa features on a dismal level in the United States media coverage of this continent with over 700 million people. It is still, even when featured, stories of disease, starvation, misdeeds of wicked warlords and hopelessness.
Efforts by Africans and other Africanists to change the image, project the good things of Africa is difficult to get across – especially in the United States. This does not mean that people have ceased hoping.
At the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC last week-end, African journalists, specialists and diplomats met to formally witness the launch ceremony of Spotlight on Africa, a bilingual (French-English) radio program on WUST 1120AM. Spotlight on Africa, which has been running for the past two months, aims at discussing Africa in political, developmental and cultural terms.
It is, according to its Ivorian Executive Producer and Host, Ms. Linord R. Moudou, “a journey in the African culture and society”. And this means to Moudou and her team of six reporters, producers and technicians, “a dedication to the idea that people deserve to experience a different approach when it comes to learning about Africa.”
Mr. Isaac Aggrey, the Acting Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy while admitting the difficulties of newspaper or radio production programs on Africa in the United States, praised Moudou for even dreaming of the program.
Mr. Aggrey said information is driving economic development and policy directions with no country showing that better than the United States. He therefore advised Spotlight on Africa to blaze a new beginning of putting Africa on the Agenda.
In a show of solidarity, other radio presenters particularly those with the Voice of America offered remarks and encouragement. Among them was the celebrated journalist, Shaka Ssali whose program, ‘Straight Talk Africa’ which is broadcast live to Africa has a respectable reception.
It was Ssali who brought the symbolism of the Ghana Embassy hosting the event with the decolonization of Africa which started with Kwame Nkrumah’s attainment of independence in March 6, 1957 for Ghana and the end of the continental process in 1994 in South Africa, which saw the end of apartheid.
If we should be grateful to the forefathers for the political independence, it is this generation’s duty, he said, to ensure that there is food, security, good health and education on the continent. Among the ways to do this, the South African journalist with many years experience of reporting on Africa for the international media, said, should be initiatives, including authentic forums to carry programs through.
The forums are also the media but media that are not in Africa’s control, Ssali opined, cannot sometimes convey Africa’s concerns better.
“A medium is a point of view. The BBC is a point of view from Britain. The VOA is a point of view from America. Africa should have a point of view and we welcome Spotlight on Africa,” Ssali was hopeful.
The guest speaker, Dr. Chris Fomunyoh, Senior Associate for Africa for International Affairs, National Democratic Institute has given testimony of Africa and traveled extensively monitoring elections and advising on policy issues in Africa.
The quantity and quality of Africa coverage in the United States, Dr. Fomunyoh said, were of no impact in influencing anything. He himself has appeared on several international television screens talking, as recently as a month ago about his native Nigeria and the Great Lakes Regions for few minutes.
Dr. Fomunyoh’s lamentations draws on neglect on good stories from Africa. “People are working hard in Kano, Northern Nigeria, the Great Lakes Region to prevent conflicts and settle disputes. But we do not hear of these.”
As he praised Linord Moudou and the tremendous efforts she put in, not forgetting that coming from a French colony to study and work in the United States, could be a source of intimidation. “Courage has defined her ambition. “he said.
More often, Africans are interested in working for other people. Even in the United States where people come to nurture dreams, many Africans prefer to work for others.
It was in this spirit that he wished spotlight on Africa well. “You can”, he concluded, “become a voice of a new generation of Africans who want to re-define Africa, a giant step for a younger generation of Africans as you seek to educate and inform.”
