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The thing is, Africa is also a huge continent. So, if something bad happens in Somalia people in the west assume that all Africa is in big trouble. In the west

The thing is, Africa is also a huge continent. So, if something bad happens in Somalia people in the west assume that all Africa is in big trouble. In the west we have no sense of how big Africa is and work under insufficient information, e.g. I know someone who has a travel company in Uganda and when ebola broke out in West Africa, people canceled their trips and business plunged. There were no ebola cases in Uganda. The US or Europe were effected more by the ebola outbreak than Uganda [1]. The vast majority of people in western countries, don't understand Africa. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_African_Ebola_virus_epidemic#/media/File:Ebola_Outbreak_Map_(ongoing).png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_African_Ebola_virus_epide...

grecy 9y ago
> The thing is, Africa is also a huge continent. The vast majority of people in western countries, don't understand Africa. I agree 100%. Said in another way, the Western Media is doing a terrible job of informing people in Western countries about Africa. Having been here a year, I now go so far as to say the Media are doing a negligent job. It's disgusting and is causing real harm (as you illustrate).
- eurticket 9y ago
  > the Western Media is doing a terrible job of informing people in Western countries...
RobertoG 9y ago
Here there is a sobering view of its size: https://twitter.com/calestous/status/550661933096247297 https://twitter.com/calestous/status/550661933096247297
Accacin 9y ago
So as one of the afformentioned ignorant people, where would you recommend in Africa? You're right, I know almost nothing about Africa but I would like to visit one day. Edit: typo.
- grecy 9y ago
  I have only been to the West Coast so far, which is very difficult for travel. I believe (but have no experience) Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda are all spectacular are easy (er) for travel
kampsy 9y ago
I completely agree that they are misinformed. A huge number of them think Africa is one big country. And that the wars they read or see on the news is happening all across Africa. It really upsets me. Am from Zambia and we have never experienced any war (yes not even civil war) its a beautiful, peaceful country. The only thing westerns know about Zambia is the Victoria Falls, because it was named after Queen Victoria. The rest is not important. And FYI am the Co-founder of www.cognifly.com A search engine for Zambian web searches.

grecy 9y ago

> The thing is, Africa is also a huge continent. The vast majority of people in western countries, don't understand Africa. I agree 100%. Said in another way, the Western Media is doing a terrible job of informing people in Western countries about Africa. Having been here a year, I now go so far as to say the Media are doing a negligent job. It's disgusting and is causing real harm (as you illustrate).

eurticket 9y ago
> the Western Media is doing a terrible job of informing people in Western countries...

RobertoG 9y ago

Here there is a sobering view of its size: https://twitter.com/calestous/status/550661933096247297 https://twitter.com/calestous/status/550661933096247297

Accacin 9y ago

So as one of the afformentioned ignorant people, where would you recommend in Africa? You're right, I know almost nothing about Africa but I would like to visit one day. Edit: typo.

grecy 9y ago
I have only been to the West Coast so far, which is very difficult for travel. I believe (but have no experience) Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda are all spectacular are easy (er) for travel

kampsy 9y ago

I completely agree that they are misinformed. A huge number of them think Africa is one big country. And that the wars they read or see on the news is happening all across Africa. It really upsets me. Am from Zambia and we have never experienced any war (yes not even civil war) its a beautiful, peaceful country. The only thing westerns know about Zambia is the Victoria Falls, because it was named after Queen Victoria. The rest is not important. And FYI am the Co-founder of www.cognifly.com A search engine for Zambian web searches.