The Center works with the UC Berkeley Media Relations Office in Public Affairs to provide information on request to members of the media. We can also help locate appropriate experts for interviews on topics of interests. Our goal is to assist the media in providing the public with accurate, relevant, contextual and appropriate information on African topics.
Issues of Discourse and Representation in African Studies
(Discussions relevant to the portrayal of Africa in the media)
Problematizing Representations of Africa
These articles and talks by African writers and scholars help to frame some of the issues that emerge around representations of Africa.
- Chimamanda Adichie. 2009. The Danger of a Single Story(link is external) | Video on TED.com.
- Teju Cole. 2012. “The White-Savior Industrial Complex.”(link is external) The Atlantic, March 21.
- Uzodinma Iweala. "Stop Trying To 'Save' Africa,"(link is external) in The Washington Post, July 15, 2007.
- Kathryn Mathers. 2012. “Mr. Kristof, I Presume?: Saving Africa in the Footsteps of Nicholas Kristof.”(link is external) Transition 107 (1): 14–31.
- Nyarota, Geoffrey. 2014. “Africa Through the Eyes of African Reporters.”(link is external) Nieman Reports.
- Binyavanga Wainaina. 2005. “How to Write about Africa.”(link is external) Granta Magazine 92 (The View from Africa).
A select bibliography concerning the representation of Africa in western media is available here(PDF file).
Considerations when using the terms "Tribe" and "Tribalism":
- Talking about "Tribe" Moving from Stereotypes to Analysis(PDF file)(link is external), 1997 originally from the Africa Policy Information Center web site, with a 2008 update.
- David Wiley, Using "Tribe" and "Tribalism" Categories to Misunderstand African Studies(link is external), 1981, African Studies, Michigan State University, includes an 2013 update(PDF file).
