The Paradox of Africa’s Media Absence
In an ironic twist, Africa figures prominently in political discourses concerning migration, climate, and security, yet remains conspicuously absent from international media coverage outside periods of crisis. This continent, home to over a billion individuals across 54 nations, is largely portrayed through the lens of adversity: famines, conflicts, coups, terrorism, pandemics, and mass exoduses. The systematic invisibility of Africa in media narratives compels a critical examination of how news is prioritized, influenced by enduring historical biases and the geopolitical interests that control media access.
The prioritization of news in Western journalism is dictated by its ‘proximity’ to the audience—a principle taught rigorously in journalism schools across Europe and North America. Thus, an earthquake in Paris is more likely to headline than a similar event in Burundi, demonstrating the propensity to focus on geopolitically closer events. This approach problematically translates into a globalized context, insinuating that the experiences of an American or European are more newsworthy than those of an African, perpetuating a colonial perspective in news and editorial practices.
Perpetuating the ‘Continent of Crises’ Myth
A persistent bias that clouds media portrayals of Africa is its almost default association with instability. Western narratives have long constructed an image of Africa as a place of emergency, moving from exoticism to fear: coups in the Sahel, terrorism, pandemics, and migration. Positive narratives—of innovation, entrepreneurial success, social victories—are relegated to the margins. This tragic lens becomes self-reinforcing; the more media depict Africa as unstable, the more audiences perceive it that way, prompting editorial desks to cover only these turbulent moments.
Contrary to these depictions, the African Development Bank’s reports highlight significant economic growth in Africa. In 2024, ten African countries rank among the world’s fastest-growing economies, anticipated to rise to eleven by 2025, with nations like Niger, Libya, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Djibouti showing robust economic trajectories fueled by innovation, urbanization, and infrastructure projects. Yet these narratives struggle to find a place within Western media agendas, constrained by limited international budgets and a focus on traditional power centers such as Washington, Moscow, or Tel Aviv.
Restructuring Global News Cartography
Western media operate within a skewed map of news coverage: some regions, including the U.S., China, Europe, and the Middle East, retain daily editorial presence, while central and eastern African regions appear mainly during crises. This imbalance is exacerbated by reliance on major international news agencies like Reuters, AFP, and AP, whose editorial decisions tend to shape entire media ecosystems. If these agencies dismiss events in Senegal as unnewsworthy, few European outlets likely report on them. The resultant ‘tunnel effect’ filters African realities into simplified, often dramatized and externalized narratives.
Marc-Alexis Roquejoffre, a journalist and communication educator, rightly argues that the absence of African correspondents and the recycling of wire stories lead to impoverished, stereotypical, and at times toxic news. In a world overwhelmed by content and misinformation, building journalistic integrity involves not just imparting skills but cultivating an ethical lens, a commitment to truth, and amplifying underrepresented voices. The education and employment of journalists capable of authentically narrating Africa’s stories are crucial to altering its media representation.
Toward a Decolonized Media Perspective on Africa
Scholars and intellectuals advocate for a ‘decolonization of the gaze’ in media regarding Africa. This is not a plea for indulgent coverage, but for accuracy. Africa is not a monolithic realm of despair; it is a continent of vast diversity, akin to any other, where excellence meets adversity, and peace intersects with unrest. Western media is called to grant Africa the same detailed, respectful coverage given to regions like the United States or Europe.
The narrative responsibility also partially rests on African voices invited to the global stage. Too often, these voices remain belligerent, stuck in a cycle of portraying perpetual suffering and soliciting Western aid, overlooking the crucial narratives of emerging local strengths and vibrant economic dynamics. As Roquejoffre notes, this self-abasement wearies audiences and misses Africa’s vibrant essence. African storytellers must emphasize the continent’s strengths and not solely its vulnerabilities.
Breaking Free from the Disaster Paradigm
Africa need not suffer a crisis to feature in international sections of the media. Western newsrooms must reassess global coverage maps, broadening horizons to include Africa in routine reporting. Delivering consistent, respectful coverage of African narratives is a democratic necessity. In news, as in life, omission is a form of violence, and addressing these media disparities can usher in dialogue and mutual understanding, moving beyond a narrative of despair.