I was tagged by Koluki and good friend Oz to participate in a project created by Theophile Kouamouo - the "Why I Blog About Africa" meme. I have spent at least 3 weeks thinking about this question, and whenever I think I have the answer, I am soon forced to change my mind.
At one point, I questioned whether or not I even 'blog' because while blogging is a sane activity, I believe that what I do at Nigerian Curiosity is much more insane. That is because I "piss in the wind", as Chxta once told me. I expend my energy in the hope of improving Nigeria even though there is no guarantee of success and despite the fact that greater minds have tried and failed. I also questioned whether blogging about Nigeria qualifies as blogging about Africa, despite the proud 'African' declarations on my site via my Afrigator and Afrora buttons. I even wondered whether Nigeria should be considered a planet of its own due to its unique complexities and the fact that unlike most of Africa, Nigeria simply makes no sense most of the time. Unfortunately, after many drafts, I was still not convinced that I had answered Theophile's simple but challenging question.
But then, I somehow woke up this morning at 2 am unable to sleep and decided to tackle the question again. Consequently, at this moment I believe that I blog about Africa (and yes, Nigerian blogging is indeed African blogging) because I am Africa. I am the continent's eyes. I am the continent's mouth. I am the continent's ears and most definitely I am her soul. Without me, my sight, my voice, my thoughts, there is no Africa. And if I am silent, then so is she.
I blog about Africa because I am insane in my passion for progress and the fulfillment of the most basic and the grandest African dreams. I do this for free, with no expectations and even if it might subject me to the whims of those offended by my frankness. I do this because I am free and know that freedom is, ultimately, what Africa seeks.
Africa belongs to me and blogging is the vehicle I happily use to share her with the world - joys, flaws, insanity and all.
Please read the following offerings from some of Africa's best bloggers -
- Theophile Kouamouo (Cote D'Ivoire; started this meme project. Merci, mon frere.)
- White African (Kenya/Sudan/US)
- Sokari Ekine (Nigeria)
- Bankelele (Kenya)
- Oz (Nigeria)
- Koluki (Angola)
- Mweshi (South Africa)
- Afromusing (Kenya)
- 27 months (Cameroon)
- Mike Stopforth (South Africa)
I, in turn, tag Dibussi Tande, Nneoma, Misan, Mwangi, Oluniyi David Ajao and Denford to share with the world why they blog about Africa.
Posts
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21 Curiosities. Add Yours.:
I was praying you wouldn't tag me when I read your headline in my Google Reader! Still, I wonder if I will better this, you put it very well. Now it is my turn to have sleepless nights figuring out why I blog about Africa!
Do you by any chance have sleeping pills?
"I blog about Africa because I am insane in my passion for progress and the fulfillment of the most basic and the grandest African dreams. I do this for free, with no expectations and even if it might subject me to the whims of those offended by my frankness. I do this because I am free and know that freedom is, ultimately, what Africa seeks."
Blogging is about now the only way to keep your sanity in Africa. It's the much you can do.
Happy New Year.
N.I.M.M.O
Why I Blog about Africa?
What a wonderful question.
I will have to rephrase this question. This is to enable me go a little bit further than the demands of the question.
I would simply ask; “Why do I Brag about Africa?”.
Having spent quite a bit of my teenage as well as some adult years growing up in the United Kingdom (19 years) – honing my skills and dreaming of how to leave my foot-prints on the sands of mother Africa, I voluntarily chose to come back to the soil of Africa.
I chose to take the risks by relocating back home with my children. As confusing and confused mother Africa may appear, the blame cannot be entirely ours. Baby Africa had been passed on from one ‘mother care’ to another. Everyone, except the founding fathers had the guts to stand up enough to scream no more. This is why I am blogging about Africa.
My children, up until now, had believed all the negatives CNN, FOX, SKY and BBC had insinuated through cartoons. In jest, Africans live amongst animals, they broadcast. Many children have therefore formulated their strong opinions on why the African accent is anything but shameful.
Many of our children still believe Africans live with Animals. My children were not only shocked to see for themselves, the beauty of Nigeria and Africa, the scales from their eyes which could have led to a distorted view of the continent due to glaucoma have now been cured forever. This is why I blog about Africa. This is why I brag about Africa.
I blog and brag about a continent I am so proud of, in colour, in accent, in humour, in passion, in intellect, in skills, in audacity, in ingenuity and in our meaningful names. This is why I brag and blog about Africa.
If by one word written and read from my blog - JideSalu Diary, a misconceived view about Africa is aborted, then I would have, in my tales about my family, achieved something and then I know it would have been worth it all.
Solomonsydelle, Theophile Kouamouo does this in a minutiae way give you a glimpse as to why I am passionate about bragging about Mother Africa?
This is why I blog about Africa!!!
"I am the continent's eyes. I am the continent's mouth. I am the continent's ears and most definitely I am her soul. Without me, my sight, my voice, my thoughts, there is no Africa. And if I am silent, then so is she."
Beautiful SSD. Just beautiful.
Well said. It's funny you mention getting up at 2am to write your blog posts; I often do the same. Also glad to see you've tagged Dibussi Tande, one of my favorite blogger/journalists.
Thanks for including me in your list of African bloggers as well. It's an honor to be included among those names.
"....because I am Africa. I am the continent's eyes. I am the continent's mouth. I am the continent's ears and most definitely I am her soul. Without me, my sight, my voice, my thoughts, there is no Africa. And if I am silent, then so is she"
Its words like this that make me proud to be African...nice post
Great meme! May God provide us the wisdom and perseverance to keep blogging, bragging about and beating into shape this motherland of ours in 2009. Happy New Year again dear!
Africa: a continent with so many voices, yet so few are heard
I sincerely thank God for African bloggers; they paint a complete picture left unpainted or half-painted by the media of today
Madam SSD, thank you! For your time, your commitment and most of all your voice…or in this case, your words :)
Beautiful post.I love it. The world is ours and voiceless without my voice that's so true. Good luck in you endeavors and have fun. God bless Africa.
Well said ma'am. Blogging is a vehicle that takes us places we would never get to on a normal day. I'm glad Nigerian curiousity exists. I get to read just sooooo much especially about Nigeria and Africa.
Guess I have to agree with Geebee... Until fairly recently i would not have bothered with what happened in Nigeria - largely becuase I had this largely strenuos job that had me on call almost always. Blogs like yours and Chxta's present Nigerian news in a different way -- as a subject for intellectual dicussion -- not as a fact of history to file away.. In that regard, there is a real and vital purpose to blog about Africa...
why we blog/comment about africa is because we all believe and know things can be done different in africa. from south africa to egypt, from the Gambia to Somalia, from western sahara to zimbabwe. we all see some things that we believe can be achieved which would only lead to a better africa. that is why we blog/comment about africa.
I have shared my views here: http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2009/01/16/why-i-blog-about-africa/
GOD-BLESS-MAMA-AFRICA
This was beautiful...
Wow, that was a powerful answer. I honestly felt the passion in my heart when I read it.
Thanks for your curiosities.
AMM
Hi,
This is Mwangi from theDisplacedAfrican.com. Thanks profusely for the tag. I actually blogged about that, you can find it here:
http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/1782/why-do-i-blog-about-africa/
Great stuff
Hi! I just started blogging recently and was pretty excited to find your blog and this large community of like thinking minds i never knew existed.
It looks like this award belongs to you.
Cheerz.
i must say i am ............ i am a new blogger and still turn between blogging about africa-Nigeria or just about Life itself. i think i would blog about both.
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