The Sunday News
Our continent’s story — and brand — continues to be maligned abroad by lazy tabloid journalism.
“With global newspaper revenues continuing to decline, Africa is an easy target for eyeball-grabbing headlines. That is why Africans need to take control of the conversation, by telling their own stories and growing their own media,” wrote Oresti Patricios in the Daily Maverick in November 2016.
Maïmouna Jallow, in an online journal added, “When we as Africans tell our own stories, we rewrite the stories in the history books that our children are still taught in schools. We do what Edward Said wrote about decades ago in his seminal work, Orientalism, and move from being objects to becoming subjects of our stories. And when it comes in the form of “reimagined” legends, folktales and myths, we reclaim some of that history.”
The launch of the Africa Factbook in Harare last week was phenomenal in that it helps recollect, recount and refocus the story of Africa from the pre-colonial era to contemporary societies in a truthful manner from the “horse’s mouth.” In July, President Mnangagwa endorsed the production of the Africa Factbook, which captures the liberation struggle story, its trials, tribulations and triumphs.
African Union chair and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also endorsed the book and was represented at the launch by South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mphakama Mbete. President Mnangagwa also launched the Mobile Museum of African Liberation, a precursor to the Museum of African Liberation set to be established in Zimbabwe.
It is endowed with high-tech equipment where the visitors can interact with the history of Africa and the victory against colonialism and imperialism.
The Institute of African Knowledge chief executive Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi said Africa Factbook was telling the story from an African perspective.
“The Africa Factbook is Africa’s first ever publication which has the African story from an African perspective.
“This is Africa’s first ever co-ordinated response to more than 500 years of a disinformation and misinformation campaign against Africa by the global media empires,” he said.
Launching the book, President Mnangagwa said the book gave the continent a chance to tell its own story.
“For too long, the global narrative surrounding Africa has been one of a continent in constant crisis. It is our duty as citizens of this great nation to set the record straight. That is why I was delighted to launch the Africa Factbook earlier today. For the first time, we are able to tell the story of Africa from an African perspective. This document highlights our continent’s shared struggle for liberation as well as our triumphs as a people throughout our long and illustrious history,” he said on his official twitter handle.
The Africa Factbook was compiled by the Institute of African Knowledge and is meant to become a regional educational tool that enhances knowledge and the pride of African people.
The book was put up together in line with the African Union’s Pan African Vision Agenda 2063 and Aspiration Five which seeks to enhance the strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics of Africa.
The Africa Factbook was conceived after the African Union Commission, which was then chaired by Dr Nkosazana Zuma, recommended that Zimbabwe leads the way in coming up with such a book after she had been impressed by the country’s celebrated African Book of Records.
The AU, after sending a delegation to assess the capacity of Zimbabwe to produce the book, declared and adopted the Africa Factbook as a reference educational tool for African nations.
The book is also supported by the Office of the President and Cabinet, Research Council of Zimbabwe, six ministries, the private sector and regional and international organisations.
