African Content Creators Creating A Digital Standard of Storytelling on the Web
William Jackson, M.Ed.
My Quest To Teach
The vision of the continent of Africa is changing, more
and more Africans are taking the roles of storytellers to
change the narratives of what the world is seeing digitally
of the people of Africa. Africans are content creators by
blogging, podcasters, video bloggers, fashion and
technology bloggers.
There are a growing number of political content creators
and educational advocates. Content is making great
influences inthe narrative and vision of African life as it
changes in new roles.
“Your content is the shining star that attracts and connects
people to your message.” @sherfranklin These words have
important meaning because Africans are taking responsibility
for the visions that are seen on digital platforms and social
media sites. No longer does traditional media have the only
say in what the world sees and learns each day and each
week of Africa. Individual Africans can share their unique and
authentic stories about their lives, their successes, their
challenges and the changes that are coming with the
changes in technology access and integration.
The digital stories of Africans are encouraging Africans
that their thoughts, experiences, and convictions to share
their story cannot stop. The opportunity to share life and
cultural experiences must be written and blogged about
to share a true story of African people, African civilization,
African culture and African history.
Content creation continues to open doorways to intellectual
exchanges, building thought leaders, creating communities
of digital cohesion and uniting people of diversity. The upcoming
free African Language Conference on Clubhouse is a
representation of the power and beauty of over 1500 languages
spoken on the continent of Africa and using technology to unite
thousands if not millions of Africans to share their languages and
their stories. Storytelling is not dead, it is digital, it is global and it’s
foundation has come from Africa and continues on.
The conference: “African Languages: Let’s Amplify the Continent’s
Languages” unite people even if they have differences of ideas, religion
or philosophy, blogging can be a connection.
Dates: Thursday, January 27 to Sunday, January 30
Platform: Clubhouse
Organisers: Avishta Seeras –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/avishta-seeras/
Ady Namaran Coulibaly
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adycoulibaly/
Social Media: William Jackson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdjacksonblogger
The connective power of blogging using digital tools allows Africans
to share content not just locally, but globally. There was a time the
only stories that came from Africa where from mainstream
European media that did not share the African story in a positive
light, with the use of Social Media and mobile technology truth,
facts and openness can be shared.
Michelle Atagana, editor of Memeburn, one of South Africa’s leading
tech blogs has stated in terms of getting online, “I would say maybe
in early 2004 and 2006, that was the emergence of blogging,”
“If you want a magic period, I’ll say 2008 to 2009. This shows that
Africa is not far behind in the world, there are challenges in wired and mobile infrastructures, but this is being addressed by collaboration
with mobile tech companies, the military and even non-profit
organizations that are servicing the people not just the corporations.”
The ability to share multimedia content makes more of an
impression than just photos or videos itself. Content creators
are using digital devices that share the passion, purpose,
power and proliferation of what Africans are doing and growing
as influencers.
The ability to share real time content, not just written text, but
photos, video and multimedia elements makes a profound
statement of truth and reality in Africa. American social media
is based on the “social” aspects of communication. The day to
day events that Americans go through, in Africa the range is
different, content ranges from economic, educational,
political and cultural exchanges that influence the dynamics
of African life.
Africans do not need to emulate or imitate Americans because
their stories are totally different and the range of relationships
across Africa are so dynamic that unless you live and breath the
air of Africa people globally will never understand.
Because of the involvement of social media and dynamic
digital devices world opinions will change and the mindsets
and perceptions of African people will change. The more African
people voice their passions and concerns the perceptions of
African people will have to change to allow a more inclusive
and equitable opportunities in commerce, education,
politics and other key areas of growth.
Africa needs to continue to grow itself outside of European
colonization not just the physical, but the mental aspects
of colonization; the mental thinking that Africans need
Europeans, Americans, Asians or other cultures to be
successful. Africans must continue to find their Voices, share
their stories and build a foundation on intellectualism while
building each generation to embrace, strengthen and flex
their intellect, their creativity and develop through blogging
innovative ideas from African young people.
Africa has a beautiful mission to build new and empowered
educational leaders that will continue to move Africa into
the 21st century and beyond. Education is the key to allowing
Africans to apply the multi-talented skills needed to forge a
new path. African higher education must work with youth,
teens and young adults to mentor, encourage and inspire to
prepare them for the future responsibilities.
Marvel comics is making millions from centuries old stories
of gods, enhanced humans, men and women with animal skills
and abilities. It is time for African storytellers to cash in and
share their journeys and stories. The cognitive and emotional
influence to African boys and girls to read an African story that
shows their continent on a global platform and encouraging
reading, literature, cultural pride and the need for the growth in writing/blogging by more African boys and girls.
There are millions of stories waiting to be told in Africa, it is
up to African children, teens, young adults and even adults
to start blogging to tell their stories before others grab them
and tell a different version and reap the harvest. African’s have
been denied for to long to tell their stories, now there is a
platform and tools to amplify their voice to enable unity,
collaboration and cooperation. Africans have a important
story to tell and content creation can be done on
multiple platforms to share the wealth of knowledge.
