African Rising calls on indigenous media to take stronger role in defining continent

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Ms Anne Osamba, Lead Campaigns and Advocacy Officer of Africans Rising has called for greater recognition of indigenous African media and the need for African voices to take a stronger role in defining how the continent is represented.

She said the call was also about creating space for African women writers and female content creators whose perspectives could reveal realities that were often overlooked.

This, she said, was especially from women navigating dangerous border crossings and migration routes, to those seeking employment in other African countries, facing exploitation, discrimination and unsafe working conditions.

She added that it also included separation of women from their families and immigration experience in ways that were often different from men, saying their stories needed to be told in their own voices.

Osambe added that the question ultimately was who got to tell Africa’s story and whose voices were still missing from the conversation.

She noted that Africa had never been short of stories from its rich cultures, histories and traditions to its struggles, resilience, innovation and everyday achievements.

She added that the continent had continued to produce stories that deserved to be heard and, importantly, told by Africans themselves.

She said it was however unfortunate that often, Africa’s narrative was shaped through external lenses.

This,  she said, was while indigenous journalists, writers, filmmakers, photographers and digital content creators struggled to gain the platforms and resources needed to tell their own stories(https://newsatlarge.ng)