Africans Take to Social Media to Combat Negative Cultural Stereotypes

Open a paper, turn to the International section, and look under ‘Africa.’ Chances are, you’re highly likely to find images of war, starvation, hunger, or disease. That’s why a group of young Africans on Twitter, organized under the hashtag #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou, got together and started sharing powerful and positive images of their continent. From large stadiums to contemporary architecture to high fashion, the campaign has already earned tens of thousands of tweets, and is adding more by the second.

Diana Salah, who helped to organize the campaign, told Fusion: “I got involved because growing up, I was made to feel ashamed of my homeland, with negative images that paint Africa as a desolate continent.” She then added: “It’s so important to showcase the diversity and beauty of Africa and with the mainstream media not up for the task, social media was the perfect outlet.” Of course, war and poverty remain prescient issues for many on a continent of over 1 billion people. But that doesn’t mean that Africa isn’t home to so many other stories and images that desperately need to be shared.

Take a look at the pictures below, or enjoy some of the thousands of beautiful images here.

#TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou Proud and beautiful people: Libya, Cameroon, Mali, Kenya. pic.twitter.com/NbTwxo5PDz

— Venus (@MacheteVenus) June 25, 2015\n

My cousin is currently in Kenya and this is her rooftop view. This is beautiful. #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou pic.twitter.com/WvLjINPa0J

— Sabrina Imanke (@Sabrinnaaa) June 25, 2015\n

#TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou Transformation of government hospitals in kenya . pic.twitter.com/aOZQOMv3fw

— Michael Macharia (@MikeMachariaSST) June 25, 2015\n

Africa has the best the world can ever offer. Look at Nairobi, Kenya #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou pic.twitter.com/EkINQYSgGt

— Lewis Karanja (@ltkaranja) June 24, 2015\n

african street style #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou pic.twitter.com/UlfRkFdkCh

— blige romanova (@THECAROLDANVERS) June 24, 2015\n

#TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou Rwanda : The land of a Thousand hills pic.twitter.com/jIWN8DNFxr

— Ellis B. (@Ellisbht) June 24, 2015\n