Wainaina sharply notes that Western writers often treat African animals with more complexity, names, and "family values" than the African people, who are often dehumanized or treated as "one-note" backgrounds. Buzzwords and Clichés:
Always use the word 'Africa' or 'Darkness' or 'Safari' in your title. Subtitles may include the words 'Zanzibar', 'Masai', 'Zulu', Boston University
This is why a dedicated is more than a download—it’s a tool for decolonizing storytelling. Whether you are a journalist, travel blogger, academic researcher, NGO communicator, or fiction writer, this guide will walk you through the principles, pitfalls, and best practices for representing the continent’s 54 countries, 2,000+ languages, and 1.4 billion people with nuance and respect. how to write about africa pdf
The most common error is treating Africa as a monolith. A story set in Lagos, Nigeria, has a completely different texture, sound, and pace than one set in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, or Windhoek, Namibia.
The global influence of Afrobeats, African fashion, and cinema. Structural Tips for Your PDF Guide Wainaina sharply notes that Western writers often treat
Ask yourself—would this story be acceptable if set in France, Brazil, or Japan? If not, revise.
Western audiences are often conditioned to expect images of war, famine, and disease. While these are realities in specific regions, they are not the only reality. Writing that focuses solely on suffering dehumanizes the subjects, turning them into objects of pity rather than complex human beings. Whether you are a journalist, travel blogger, academic
If you haven't read the PDF yet, here is the essence of Wainaina’s argument, distilled into the "rules" he ironically proposes:
If you are an educator, editor, or writer, you may want to compile your own PDF guide for your team or students. Here’s a suggested structure: