Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent
Ratings11
Average rating4.1
A Literary Hub Most Anticipated Book of 2022 An exuberant, opinionated, stereotype-busting portrait of contemporary Africa in all its splendid diversity, by one of its leading new writers. So often, Africa has been depicted simplistically as a uniform land of famines and safaris, poverty and strife, stripped of all nuance. In this bold and insightful book, Dipo Faloyin offers a much-needed corrective, weaving a vibrant tapestry of stories that bring to life Africa’s rich diversity, communities, and histories. Starting with an immersive description of the lively and complex urban life of Lagos, Faloyin unearths surprising truths about many African countries’ colonial heritage and tells the story of the continent’s struggles with democracy through seven dictatorships. With biting wit, he takes on the phenomenon of the white savior complex and brings to light the damage caused by charity campaigns of the past decades, revisiting such cultural touchstones as the KONY 2012 film. Entering into the rivalries that energize the continent, Faloyin engages in the heated debate over which West African country makes the best jollof rice and describes the strange, incongruent beauty of the African Cup of Nations. With an eye toward the future promise of the continent, he explores the youth-led cultural and political movements that are defining and reimagining Africa on their own terms. The stories Faloyin shares are by turns joyful and enraging; proud and optimistic for the future even while they unequivocally confront the obstacles systematically set in place by former colonial powers. Brimming with humor and wit, filled with political insights, and, above all, infused with a deep love for the region, Africa Is Not a Country celebrates the energy and particularity of the continent’s different cultures and communities, treating Africa with the respect it deserves.
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A rare recent publication, but as usual in these cases, I was gifted a voucher!
While this book is compelling reading, I felt it lacked a central theme. The sections of the book came at random, and I found some confusingly contradictory. The book is subtitled ‘breaking stereotypes of modern Africa' and yet it managed to confirm a few stereotypes in amongst repeating that they didn't apply to all, just some of Africa... it didn't convince me on some of these. While I am being negative (sorry, but this is a common peeve with me) was there no possible way to fit in a few maps? I would have settled even for two - one post colonial showing some indication of what was going on with various kingdoms etc vs the colonial carve-up that much of one of the chapters is spent discussing. For me this was unforgiveable (not having maps) and a star or maybe a half was the cost.
To the sections -
1 - Lagos - a look around Lagos and the Nigerian outlook - the author's home town.
2- By the Power Vested in Me, I Now Pronounce You a Country - the carve up of Africa by the nations of Europe, including the ludicrous drawing of straight lines for borders that run through geographical features and tribal groups land alike. This was perhaps the most compelling of chapters for me. It gave back ground of why countries wanted to land-grab (in many cases to take the slaves from ‘their' slice), and how the different countries looked to administer the lands.
3 - The Birth of the White Savior - the chapters here examine why aid doesn't benefit those it should (a position I have long agreed with), chronicles of LiveAid, BandAid etc, as well as more recent efforts with something called Kony2012 ( I was obviously oblivious). Again, a compelling chapter, reinforcing what others have suggested happens with aid agency money (Paul Theroux is the author who springs to mind).
4 - The Story of Democracy in Seven Dictatorships- Somalia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe (and Zambia), Rwanda, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Libya. For me this is a chapter I found excellently written, but I fail to understand how this is dispelling stereotypes. These are stories of strongmen and dictators ruling over countries by changing rules, corruptly siphoning off money into personal wealth and providing family or cronies with high ranks and positions. This did the opposite of dispelling.
5 - There Is No Such Thing as an African Accent - this section dives into generic African tropes in films and books; some mocking of Madonna, who considered that Malawi was not grateful enough when she adopted children and that they didn't turn on the VIP treatment for her. It goes on to discuss the film Black Panther and its positive role modelling for black people.
6 - The Case of the Stolen Artefacts - The vast museums full of looted African artifacts and the ongoing arguments for returning these to where they were appropriated, or retaining them in European (and American) museums. An interesting section, and a long process ahead!
7 - Jollof Wars - A whole section on a (admittedly culturally important) rice dish. I struggled to maintain any interesting this one.
8 - What's Next? - A section with a mixture of stories about where Africa is headed. It included groups making or attempting social and political change; and then a dull section on Nollywood film.
Overall, there were parts I really enjoyed reading, some that were ok and a few dud chapters I struggled to stay interested in. Lacking an overall theme, and lack of maps altogether were marks against. There was enough in here for me to enjoy reading it.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
