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 Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Depictions of Nigeria in the Western Media |
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Re: Depictions of Nigeria in the Western Media
Someone posed a question regarding how we Nigerians are represented abroad and my own response is below. Please share your own views in light of effecting changes as needed.
| Alex Enahoro wrote: | Just wondering what y'all thought of about how we are generally depicted in Western Media;
I notice where I live in the UK, Nigerians on TV only crop up in comic roles- as cheery midwives, or most consistently in the sketch-show 'Little Miss Jocelyn' where their 'native' behaviour is sometimes represented as crude and slightly warped.
I'll all for humour but I think when there are other issues about any 'ethnic minorities' in the West, particularly concerning with their entrance into the country such as is with us those should be considered first. Such as the reasons behind mass emigration, etc. it's not discussed.
I can why comedy can be seen as a form of integration and a common boundary between people- but I think it's gotten to the stage where the joke is on the subject alone... I don't see any documentaries on issues concerning the emigration of many of us, I just see it ocassionally on TV Dramas though it's well depicted it's like it's resigned to the issue of entertainment rather than debate.
How do you see it? Is the media overhyped to or essential to your experiences/or your parents' experiences abroad? |
At least you have Nigerians depicted in Comedy in the UK. In the U.S. the only things they are willing to report about Nigeria and Nigerians is negative hogwash with the exception of when a survey depicted Nigeria as the 'Happiest Nation in the World'. Our bright shining moment in the 30 yrs I've resided here. Even then some foolish Nigerians couldn't embrace that moment and wasted their saliva arguing about the results of the survey. Read more here http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about1428.html
[Some] Nigerians themselves are the worst rumour mongers of negative news as you may notice on most U.S. babbling sites, that it's sometimes almost impossible to sort the wheat from the chaff. Read more http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about816.html It's unfortunate that instead of being Nigeria's ambassadors they spend valuable time complaining and arguing without presenting any viable solutions. http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about129.html
The media always depicted Africa as a whole in negative terms in the past because it served their purpose of keeping African descendants (Blacks) in their countries to ensure their labour and consumer pool; and it wasn't until people of African descendants started to think forthemselves and travel to Africa, before they realized that the negative news they were fed was to keep them enslaved.
Now [some] are beginning to realize that all they were told about Africa and Africans is untrue because they have seen Africans, especially Nigerians who are more eloquent, educated, enlighten, well-travelled and more professional than they could ever have imagined.
Also, some journalists are beginning to reveal that they were instructed to intentionally report or fabricate negative depictions of Africa for so many decades. Read http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about74.html You may read up on some more of these topics here http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/forum92.php
Thanks for the internet Nigerians can now be seen and respected for their various talents by those who seek to find out. http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/forum26.php Our music industry seems to be the fastest growing and this is putting us in the spotlight for those who were previously uninformed that we have some really good and talented musicians beyond the few old school musicians, Fela and Sunny Ade whom they may have heard about.
Also, now Nigerians in significant professional, political positions and those in sports and other highlighted careers are now being recognized for their talents and skills, only not in significant proprtions, or to an extent where the media is willing to shed it's old ways and have an objective reporting stance rather than their continuous bashing. CNN seems to be the leader of the pack despite having a Nigerian who moved from the UK to handle their African section. It's actually laughable that her role seems insignificant in affecting CNN's stance on negative rumour-milling.
I thank people like Farrakhan, though I may not always agree with his views, who are forthright in calling things as they are. He stood up and spoke up in Nigeria's defense when CBS' Mike Wallace labelled Nigeria negatively. http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about2759.html I only wish more Nigerians will stand up for themselves rather than hiding in the shadows and letting the few riff-raffs that give us a bad name be the significant voice for the rest of we 130 million citizens.
The step begins with each of us and with all our education, resources and tenacity we can effect enough change to be depicted in media worldwide as a nation and people to be reckoned with. I have made my choice http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about70.html and will always be Nigeria'sambassador http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about131.html hence NaijaPositive.
Cxsm
5th Sept. 08
© Cxsm 2008 All Rights Reserved
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm |
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