Regards,

We, Africans, are said to be respectful, hospitable and forgiving (I’m not quiet sure though!) We can even live with contradictions. For instance, we able to smile even when we know things are not going in the right direction and we can promise someone even when we know we are not going to fulfil it – in short we are non-commital.

We also prefer short-cuts to working hard. We enjoy drinking beer to the extent of denying our sons and daughters proper education. We give up and lose hope quite easily.

Instead of working hard, we spend most of our time blaming others for our misfortunes. We are often suspicious of foreigners and think good things are done by us and the bad ones by others.

We like enjoying life – drinking beer and having sex even with a hundred and more partners. Infidelity seems to be a common vice in many sexual relationships. On the other hand, we are full of revenge, hatred and jealousy. Most of the atrocities happening in Africa are perpetuated by those three vices.

What is happening in Darfur and other African countries pains me a lot. How can ‘a respectful, hospitable and forgiving African’ now find pleasure in raping a girl or woman, killing his or her kin, etc. Is that not barbarism? Such evils cover entirely what is positive in Africa and we are fully responsible!

Tzaadi:-
Yes, the media pains a very bleak picture of Africa.
I’m really happy u found blogs run by africans who present a positive pic of africa:)
Many gr8 authors/leaders etc… attended the TED global such as George Ayyitey , Chris Abani etc..

I know that change will take some time but hopefully, we will comtribute to changing Africa even if we did a small part. I always tell my dad ” ur generation of africans ruined africa , we have to fix what u did n rebuild”.
Everything is connected in Africa. we should have good leadership, good allocation of natural resources, better education opportunities( access to education for some …)
yes, I believe that aid has a very negative impact on Africa (dependancy is exactly what we dont need).
I would like to start a news channel like the bbc or the ccn for africans in africa to voice out our thoughts to the world. The BBC can report on africa, from africa but we need something where the 53 african countries are represented all the time.

Your article seems to do so.

Change there will take quite some time. The crisis in leadership (perhaps the absence of leadership), the lack of a substantial middle class, continued, debilitating poverty for the masses and poor infrastructures must be overcome to make real differences. But,as anywhere else in the world, there must be change in the ethical treatment of African to African. Africa does not need more aid. It has the resources to change itself. It starts with the heart and extends into respect, ethics, law, economics and education. Africans must choose to build nations where each citizen has the choice to partake fully…where resources and riches are not just reserved a specific group. As these things occur, much more “good news” will be reported from Africa and the world will benefit as it has in the past.