In his essay “How to Write About Africa,” Kenyan author Biny…
In his essay “How to Write About Africa,” Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina satirically collects a long list of cliched and distorted depictions of African people in Western art and media. Choose one of the examples below, and answer the questions at the end of this prompt. Example 1: “In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don’t get bogged down with precise descriptions.” * Example 2: “Make sure you show how Africans have music and rhythm deep in their souls, and eat things no other humans eat.” * Example 3: “Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life—but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause.” * Example 4: “Readers will be put off if you don’t mention the light in Africa. And sunsets, the African sunset is a must. It is always big and red. There is always a big sky. Wide empty spaces and game are critical—Africa is the Land of Wide Empty Spaces.” * YOUR WRITTEN QUIZ RESPONSE: Explain why the example that you have chosen is problematic. Answer both of the following questions in complete sentences: What does this example cliched description suggest about people who live in Africa? What do we lose in relying upon this “single story” about the people depicted?
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