Africa is under siege, not by war alone, but by something more subtle, more dangerous: a coordinated and well-funded media assault that seeks to undermine the continent’s identity, unity, and future. While atrocities unfold across parts of the continent, foreign mainstream media continues to push toxic narratives that bury Africa beneath layers of distortion and misinformation. The Africa they portray is not the Africa we know.
For decades, foreign media houses have promoted a singular agenda: to disenfranchise Africa, frame its leaders as failures, and portray its people as helpless. Now, in the era of digital media, this agenda has only intensified. With sophisticated tools, unlimited funding, and global reach, a new kind of propaganda war is being waged, one designed to keep Africa fractured, divided, and dependent.
Below is a good example of what they think about Africa, a place of war, confusion and instability.
Narratives of war, famine, failure, and chaos dominate international coverage. Achievements are downplayed. Progress is ignored. Hope is erased. These stories are not just misleading, they are dangerous. They shape global perception, influence policy, and keep investment and confidence out of Africa.
Thankfully, social media is opening the eyes of many. Platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram are revealing the true beauty of Africa, the landscapes, the cultures, the resilience of its people. Yet, while social media offers a powerful tool for truth-telling, it’s also being used to distract and divide.
Much of African youth culture online is being steered toward entertainment and triviality. Funny videos, dance trends, and skits dominate timelines. While humour and creativity have their place, they are not a substitute for political awareness or collective action. Too often, this light-hearted content plays directly into the hands of those who prefer an Africa that laughs but does not think, dances but does not act.
Below is a good example of what they think about Africa, the story is in the titles of their articles. Africa is a place of hunger, famine and hopelessness
There is an active effort to prevent African unity. The more divided we are, by tribe, region, religion, or political affiliation, the easier it is for external powers to maintain control. Pan-African voices like Thomas Sankara, Patrice Lumumba, PLO Lumumba, Julius Malema, and Duma Boko have long warned of this threat. They understand that a united Africa is a powerful Africa, one that cannot be easily manipulated or exploited.
But too many African leaders are being bought cheaply, six pieces of silver to undermine the very dream of decolonisation. Continental initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are under attack from within. Terror groups are funded to destabilise regions. Ethnic tensions are inflamed. Leaders who speak of unity are demonised.
Below is a good example of what they think about Africa, the story is in the titles of their articles. Africa is a place of bad leadership and slaves to work in Europe
Meanwhile, foreign-controlled algorithms ensure that Africans are constantly fed a stream of content that reinforces inferiority, conflict, poverty, corruption. They want us to hate ourselves, mistrust our leaders, and believe that everything good must come from the outside.
Africa is not a jungle. It is not a crisis. It is not broken. Africa is rich in culture, heritage, and potential. But we must fight to protect that truth. If we do not write our own stories, others will write them for us, and we may not like how we are remembered.
This is not just a media war. It is a battle for Africa’s soul. We need to invest in and support African-owned media platforms, outlets like Elevation News, which are working tirelessly to challenge propaganda and tell the real stories of the continent. We need to amplify voices that speak truth, promote unity, and uplift African dignity. And we need to build an ecosystem where African content creators are empowered to educate, inspire, and defend the continent, not just entertain it.
Below is a good example of what they think about Africa, the story is in the titles of their articles!
Africa is not weak, but it is being weakened. Not by lack of resources, but by lack of solidarity. We cannot afford to remain silent while others rewrite our future.
Let us sow the seeds of unity. Let us reject the lies and affirm what we know to be true: that Africa is a continent of greatness, and it has the right to shape its destiny on its own terms.
