I am African, well I’m Namibian which is in Africa, so I guess I can call myself African. I was born in Namibia, my parents were born in Namibia, and even my grandparents were born in Namibia. I have traveled to several countries in Africa and have done a lot of research on the ones I have not visited, and I think I have a pretty clear idea of how it is. I have always gotten very irritated with the ignorance of some people and would like to tell at least a small part of the world about the real Africa. Media has been a real disaster when it comes to Africa, as they only show the arid deserts, people starving and animals everywhere. If you have ever been deceived by these misconceptions, blame the media.
Africa is not a country, but a continent. In fact it is the second largest, and second most populated, continent besides Asia. Africa has about 1 billion people and 61 different countries within it. So to end this misconception& – Africa is definitely not a country!
While there are a few deserts in Africa (like the Sahara Desert in the North and the Namib Desert in the Southwest of Africa), large parts of Africa, especially central Africa, are tropical rainforests. On high mountains, like Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, are subarctic conditions. Furthermore, large areas in Africa have savannah plains, which are similar to prairies. So Africa is definitely not just a desert.
Many people believe that all African people live in mud and dung huts. This is complete nonsense. There are buildings and towns and cities in every country in Africa. If you were to google the capital of any country you would be surprised by what you see. That is also not to say that no people in Africa live in huts, as there are a lot of tribes that still choose to live in their traditional villages in huts, but the bulk of each country have become westernized and civilized. Even in Africa you find those landscape spoiling skyscrapers and concrete covered metropolises. [Pictured: Windhoek, capital of Namibia.]
This misconception does hold a small amount of truth to it, but nothing like what most people think. First of all, not all food in Africa is strange. It is not difficult to find a KFC or McDonald’s in many countries in Africa. There are restaurants where you can order a nice and juicy filet steak, seafood, pizza, pasta, burgers and basically whatever else you can think of. One of the most popular family meals in southern Africa is a “braai,” which is just an ordinary classic barbecue. In the more rural villages and tribes the people hunt for their food and so eat mostly game meat and, on occasion, they will eat certain types of worms, like the Mopani worm. It is impossible to find these foods in the towns and cities, so if you were ever to come and visit Africa, I doubt that you would even come across any of these.
I have been asked on so many occasions if I have a pet lion, or if there are antelope outside my house. Well let me ask you – do you have a pet bear??? Of course not, there are just as many wild animals walking through my city at the moment as there are in New York. Wild animals are kept out of towns and cities by the lack of food, habitat and fences. The animals outside the cities and towns are completely wild and even the select few people that have hand-reared a lion will tell you that a wild animal will always be wild. So no, there are no wild animals walking down the street… The only wild animals that are everywhere in my town are the meerkats.
This one I always find very funny. People that I have conversations with online are often shocked that I come from Africa and that I have a computer. In one hilarious exchange I had a guy believe that I was using a steam powered computer! Let me just put it like this: Africa has almost everything the rest of the world has, we just get it a couple of months later than everyone else. And no, we aren’t still stuck on dial-up!
This is one of the most ridiculous ones I have ever heard. I think Africa is the most diverse continent in the world as there are hundreds of different languages spoken across it. Even just in my country, Namibia, there are 20 national languages including German, Afrikaans, English, Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Portuguese, as well as the languages of the Himba, Nama, San, Kavango and Damara. Every country in Africa has at least five lesser languages as well as the common language, and it is true that many of these languages have clicks in them, but they are definitely not all the same language.
Let me just clear this bit of confusion immediately by saying there are plenty. To prove my point I have chosen to use agoda.com to pull the number of hotels they have from all the listed cities in South Africa. The results were as follows : Johannesberg – 62, Cape Town – 84, Durban – 52, Knysna – 56, Port Elizabeth – 39, Umshlanga – 31, Nelspruit – 17 and Hermanus – 31.That is a total of 372 hotels in South Africa, and considering those were just the ones listed on the one website I think it is safe to say that there are plenty of hotels in Africa. And it is very easy to land yourself in the lap of luxury in a Hilton hotel.
On this one I would like to admit that every country has its own taste in toilets. I have traveled to a few countries and a toilet is a thing that is as different as the culture. American toilets have a tendency to be full of water, almost to the top. Italian toilets have a platform at the front of their toilets with a small hole with water at the back. The Thai toilets, in the more rural areas, are just like squatting platforms with no bowl or seat. With that said, I would say that southern Africa’s toilets are reasonably normal. They have a bowl, a seat, and water, a little less water than the American and a little more water than the Italians. There Are some pit latrines and long drops in the desert, but those are mainly just for people that feel the need to camp out in the middle of nowhere, but still don’t just want to squat behind a bush.
For all those who believe that all African people are black, are all American people Native Americans? Hundreds of years ago, European explorers, conquerors and settlers traveled around the globe and developed the land they settled on. This happened all over the world including in North America, South America, Asia and Africa. The first white people that settled in Namibia for example, were Portuguese and did so over 400 years ago. Dutch settlers went to South Africa, French settlers went to Angola, and so the white people in Africa grew in numbers over the last 500 years. There are many white people in many countries in Africa, but that’s not all, there are also a lot of Indian, Chinese and Malaysians in South Africa. South Africa is known as the rainbow nation, and rightly so. African is not a race!
I have, on several occasions, heard people say, when describing their ethnicity, that they are (for example) 1/4 Spanish, 1/4 British, 1/4 Russian, 1/4 Black. That is incorrect as the first three races that they mentioned are all white, so why generalize about your black genetics? The Ovihimba people are as different as night from day compared to the Herero people, and they are all black. In Africa you also have different colors of black for the different tribes and different areas in Africa. As an example, the Angolan people tend to be almost blue black in color, whereas the San people are much lighter in complexion, more of a dark tan color, and the Ovahimba people (above) pride themselves in a reddish undertone. If you are black, or have some black genes in you, I would advise you to find out more about your family history and where your ancestors came from, than to generalize and say that you are just black.
Did they mention they were from Namibia?
People in America don’t know what country in Africa they are from…therefore we are just black! Okay list into the bonus!! You should have done more research!
I’ve heard most of these. Yes, many people think Africa is one country. Or that there is only one language.
I’ve seen questions like “Are there any cities in Africa?” and “Will I be able to buy laxatives in South Africa?” (I think these people were being serious)
ag people…most of the misconcpetions where of what foreigners have observed the most in that country(as someone had mentioned) and was passed on and spiralled out of control
im a proudly South African and an even prouder African,flaws and all!!!
what us Africans should strive for is to make it a better place and try to eliminate the elements that the media showcase(cause international media mostly shows the worst side of Africa)
Dear idiots,
Please stop saying how interesting you think this list is. It’s not. It’s inane and probably the work of a child.
Sincerely,
Africa
Dear (not) Africa,
Christine Vrey is no child. She has given us some wonderful lists in the past and will, with luck, give us many more in the future. If you find this list so simplistic please honor us with an interesting list of your own.
I bet there’s a KFC on every friggin corner. Does the McDonald’s only serve mcnuggets and mcribs?
Gr8 entry!I’m an African,and I have encountered ALL of the misconceptions listed.Goood work!
Worst. List. Ever.
I’m Peruvian, a part of my ancestors came from Europe and Africa. A large part of my family is black. I’m proud of my African part, unfortunately I can only guess which country they came from. The Spaniards took slaves from different countries so that they wont speak the same language.
If I’d tell you about the misconceptions they have about my country, you’ll laugh. Just to think that people say to me I don’t look peruvian, or they ask me about my lama, they don’t even know Peru has a coast!
The same things are thought about Peru and other countries. People are just ignorant. This is one of the best lists I have seen in a while.
Awesome
Worked in Namibia for quite a while as a pilot and all that you’ve put here is true (I mean “civilized” people thought I live in a hut on the edge of the sand dunes – cos’ they’ve never seen Swakopmund).
Thanks was a nice read
very cool
I think only americans are stupid enough to have these kind of misconceptions
I think only an ignorant sloth would believe that America has the monopoly on idiocy.
Most of the commenters here have never even left their countries, and just rely on internet and media to expand their horizons. I have been asked about Kenya, and Bush himself could not distinguish the different countries. Someone once asked if south africa is the capital city of Africa, and kenya a remore outpost and I was flabbergasted to realize that some people are that dumb. Media is all about sensationalism, same as the way they do not show the poverty in america or europe. The truth is that there are poor and hungry people outside Africa. Their countries just would not allow a documentary or feature to air.
Reblogged this on A thousand-miles journey.
http://thetechlusion.com/?p=881
Lol the post is really amazing, the best part of it was the Black Africans and Technological advancements =P this post was really interesting i must say. Check out my blog as well
http://thetechlusion.com/?p=1097
Whoever wrote this list….stop hanging out with stupid people
I live in a suburb in Mpumalanga, South Africa, and I always find it hilarious how people can generalize places they know very little about. For starters, I’m white, have full access to technology and have a very good education. Just like everyone else in the world, I have to go to a game reserve if I want to see wild animals.
However, I really don’t think the majority of people are as ignorant as described on the list. Most of the world thinks that all Americans are fat, but not me, I’ve seen literally several moderately sized Americans on TV.
Don’t backpeddle now Christine! Some people thought this was a very informative list. I am from South Africa and I have been asked every single one of the points mentioned. It was never applied Americans are ignorant. They just took the idea and ran with it! Being super-sensitive as they are.
Fact is. There are people, not ALL people obviously, living with certain misconceptions regarding Africa and Africans.
Pity THEY don’t read listverse.
“Implied”
hahahah i love this list! i’m born in Guinea-Conakry and sins i live here in the Netherlands there are a LOT of peoples asking me if i lived in a hut.. than i asked them if they live in a hut.. when they say no i just say…there you go.. it’s still funny
The writer of the list is just a tad smarter than an ape.
#10 Only americans think Africa is a country. Some of them also think France is a continent
#9 Same thing. Most people associate “Africa” with savannah
#8 Without white influence they would all live in huts and probably would have discovered the wheel in the years to come. As it is, many africans live in huts, far more that in other parts of the world
#7 McDonalds is not african food. We had a nigerian housemate, every time he cooked we all left the house. It looks weird, and it smells worse than rotting corpses
#6 The wilderness is the only good thing about Africa. If you compare it to US, where there are barely any wild animals left, it is a animal galore
#5 Again, compared to the rest of the world, it is a void. How many schools in the whole Africa have classes with computers on every desk? For a billion people how many computers? Not to talk about more “fine” technology
#4 You misspelled “Afrikaan language” which is spoken by about 20 mil ppl.
#3 Again for 1 bil ppl how many hotels? I had to register all hotels, housing, etc. for the tourism board in Kenya. I found amazingly few for a country with such a good tourism. And the most luxurious hotel had 4*
#2 Im sure in big cities you don’t ***** outside, But in Cartoum-like cities and 90% of the continent they probably do
#1 The white africans were left behind, they are not really africans. By DNA genes they are europeaens
(Northern Africa is excluded as the areas designated for european tourists have nothing to do with actual africa. The North looks great and is loved as tourist destinations by Europeans who spend a lot of money. Yet the countries are still *****holes)
Read about those nice african dictators that still rule almost all of the continent. You will see just about how civilised they are
Re #10: You’re equally ignorant if you generalize Americans.
Re # 8: That’s pretty damn stupid. Do you truly believe African culture would’ve stagnated for hundreds of years if not for settlers? I do agree that the majority of Africa lives in abject poverty, but most rural settlements are now “townships” of tin houses.
Re # 7: “African food” is not a suitable description. Can you define European food?
Re # 6: Africa has contributed much to modern culture. Do you know where heart-transplants were invented? The wilderness isn’t all we have to offer.
Re #5: The list item was not about how prevelant technology is, but the notion that it is completely devoid of it.
Re #4: Afrikaans is spelt correctly in the post. “Afrikaan” means relating to Africa (like African). The language itself is always called Afrikaans. Btw, it’s closely related to Dutch, and originated amongst the Dutch settlers at the Cape of Good Hope. Doen ‘n bietjie navorsing volgende keer (translational challenge for any interested).
Re #3: Compared to most (third-world) countries, most countries in Africa have ample hotels.
Re # 2: “probably” is not a good word to base an oppinion on. Even rural settlements tend to build their own sanitation (if primitive)
Re # 1: You make it sound as if whites live in hilltop castles, careful not to mix with the indigenous peoples. Though white, I regard myself as African in every respect. By your logic, only indians (native Americans), should be considered American. Also, most countries are governed by leaders who truly want to improve African life.
Don’t be ignorant because you choose to revel in the supposed decrepitude(inferiority?) of the rest of the world.
Doen ‘n bietjie navorsing volgende keer =Do some research next time
Clever. “Google translate” to the rescue
As a Ugandan exposed to Western culture through literature and film, I have seen all these misconceptions in movies and someties I laugh and other times it’s just ridiculous. But this list is accurate and I have seen people who come for visits and they are pleasantly surprised.
#7 That is weird food. No matter where you are or your race.
Most of the things you state are different to peoples ‘misconceptions’ of Africa were created by the white people in Africa.
#1 on this list makes me think of what Karen Smith said: “If you’re from Africa, how come you’re write?”
I meant to say white. Lol
one thing that relay makes me angry, is that a lot of people from Africa or Asia feel they need to judge the level of how civilized their native societies are by how western thay have become. why use white society as a measuring stick?
for example point 7 relay bugs me. calling any food that the west is not used to “weired”. And the normal food is MacDonald and KFC? It must be a systemic educational thing because i come across this a lot.
i think what people need to understand is that what people may consider to be civilized(western) is in many cases is not. for example i am studying architecture and you would be surprised of how much more practical and efficient a house made of mud is than a house made from “modern” materials. is.
Please remember and pay attention to that the media “feeds” the viewers the “information” that you have been approached about. Most people don’t know any better, and as for the weird food, those restaurants that was shown have weird food. Again, the viewers have been fed that that food is okay to eat on a daily basis.
I hate to be the one to tell you this but “the first 3 races” are not white. Spanish is part of the hispanic or latino race, and if you classifying us by color it would be brown, you know in between black and white.
Very good list….slightly opinionated at some points…but veyr informtive which makes up for it….
I already knew, or guessed most of what you have written here, but I know many people who would benefit greatly from it! Thank you for taking the time to correct some misconceptions! Great work!
WORD!! That is sooo satisfying:). Im Nigerian and have dreamt of screaming out them facts for a long long time. It would help if world wide news broadcasters like erm… CNN, tried to show the better sides of our continent (Nigeria in particular. I guess showing the slums in Lagos was such a terrific hit, they cant seem to get past it!). Good job.
“That is also not to say that no people in Africa live in huts, as there are a lot of tribes that still choose to live in their traditional villages in huts, but the bulk of each country have become westernized and civilized.”
Two things: One, the bulk of all African countries are not westernized. Otherwise they would be classified as first world and not third world. Two, the term civilization is a concept largely associated with the colonizers who said the original settlers were “savage and primitive” therefore using that term to defend African countries shows a distinct form of ignorance. In addition, most people in the rural areas of several African countries do not choose to remain there otherwise there wouldn’t be a crisis known as “rural to urban migration” because the bulk of the money is in urban areas. The majority remain because there is no other alternative.
You, however, need to broaden you’re perspective a tad and include eastern, western and northern Africa. It is a known fact (by people who care) that the south (South Africa, Namibia, Angola, even Zimbabwe) and the North (Egypt, Tunisia) are miles ahead economically in comparison to the rest of Africa– It’s debatable but it might be because the colonialists left these countries a lot later than the others. Therefore some of these misconception are there because in many parts of the rest of Africa they happen.
In most of these countries, white people are a rarity (outside the urban areas) and that’s a fact. In most countries they live in temporary shelters (huts and manyattas) and that’s a fact. And in several of these countries people who live in rural areas (and urban slums) use holes in the ground as toilets and that’s a fact.
Unfortunately in the quest to change the perception of Africa you’re exaggerating. But on the whole this is a fairly decent list.
Great list. I’m African-American, but had many friends from the African continent in college. Nigeria, The Ivory Coast, Ghana (my ancestry), and Namibia, mainly.
It’s funny, because they would say the same things about all the misconceptions about Africa. Here in America, if ever they show Africa, it’s wildlife in the Serengeti, Dictators in Uganda, people in huts and villages, etc… You would think the entire continent was a slum. It’s all due to the media bias here.
I simply hate that you conduse westernization with being civilized, that is ignorant and you are a poor spokesperson for Africa. Africa has never been underdeveloped and did not lose track on globalization and expansion until colonialism stripped it of its ownership of its natural resources. In fact how dare you. Colonialism set the entire continent back by a century and has destroyed any possibility for independent development. You must either be successfully brainwashed or white.
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I can’t thank you enough for this list. Im South African, and people always ask the idiotic questions you listed. Braai season…
I enjoyed this list. Thank you to the writer. Clearly she has heard these same comments upon several occasions otherwise she would not have included them in her list. I am an American who is fairly well-traveled- been to 13 countries in Europe and the Middle East- but not yet to African countries unfortunately. In response to some of the “stupid American” comments, please know that most Americans are not stupid. Remember that what you are told about our country and our people is most likely just as narrow and skewed as what we are told about your countries and your people. Your media tells you what they want to to think about us, and not the whole picture. Thanks. Take care.
Absolutely fantastic list! I have some South african friends and they get these questions. I particularly liked the Black Is Black section…you are definitely right!
For a lot of these, people are just stupid. Africa’s not a country… that really should be obvious.
I’m a nigerian in Far east Russia.when i first came here people where so afraid of me.Some pple say Africa is so poor but i don’t agree with them.I pray they see this some day
I am a Nigerian who travels to Europe and USA a lot. I totally agree with this misconceptions about Africa. Last year I met a lovely couple in m
Manchester who were visibly shocked that I am from Africa. They said they didn’t know Africans are sophisticated.
Another time while on Hajj, I was in a shop trying to buy some things (I can’t speak Arabic so I tried speaking to the shopkeeper in English) when a man exclaimed it is nice to see a person that speaks English. We started a conversation , he said he was American and I told him I am a Nigerian he was amazed I speak English as well as I do. I had to explain to him that ‘my country’s colonial master was Britain’. He further asked me which country I flew to Saudi from. I told him Nigeria and the guy was further confused, he thought we don’t have cars talk less of planes.
My point? This misconceptions exist. Personally I find them hilarious. They show me that even those in the so called advanced world can be totally clueless too. And are human like us.
So Spanish, British and Russian are ‘just white’ but they should dig deeper into their black heritage?
I am Irish, Polish, Spanish and Black, but the family that I am surrounded with most often is Irish and Polish so that is what I associate myself with.
I won’t deny my Spanish and Black heritage, but they aren’t the ones I feel close to.
What are African Americans???? – I live in Africa. I am an African whith a white skin – of German, Dutch, French maybe a bit of Koisan too. I call myself an African – You have no ties with this country – so get over yourselves
Kind of nitpicking, but Spanish, British, and Russian are not races. They are nationalities and Russian can also refer to ethnicity. A person born and raised in Russia may not be an ethnic Russian – like Stalin was not an ethnic Russian, he was Georgian. But this was a great post. I knew most of the general facts of your list but learned some things, too. There are really people who think there are no toilets in all of Africa?!?