adminSuch are the processes through which the history of Africa was corrupted. The early writers assumed Africa was a hopeless continent, a dark land that needed the mercy of Europeans to see the light.
And with such kind of skewed, biased and negative portrayal of Africa, the continued distorted narratives about the continent that constantly find their way into mainly western media can best be described as a historical injustice that needs to be revised.
Young Africans have firmly stood up, questioning the no doubt pessimistic image that has been embedded in the minds of the world about Africa.
One such powerful initiative has been spearheaded by the formation of the African Mobility Organisation (AMO). With its flagship publication, the Book of African Records, the organisation has, and will be going a long way in recording Africa’s successes, revising and revisiting the damaged face of the continent.
The organisation is soon to launch the Book of African Records at a colourful ceremony that is to be graced by members of the diplomatic community, the public and private sector, and the media. Created by Erol Muzawazi, a vibrant young man who attained a place in the “Junior Chamber International Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the year 2011,” the Book of African Records (BAR) will annually gather, publish, promote and celebrate the feats and high achievements of the African people since time immemorial.
Muzawazi earned the prestigious Junior Chamber International title after he became the first black African to cross the African continent by land, crossing 21 countries within a period of six months! The trip was an eye-opener to him, an adventure that capacitated his understanding that indeed Africa is endowed with a lot of potential, hope and has a bright future that remains hidden under the bad depictions by the media.
Muzawazi, who is the executive director of AMO and now the editor-in-chief of the Book of African Records, said the initiative’s mission is to celebrate the greatest deeds by African people while also serving as a positive change agent against modern media’s negative portrayal of Africa.
“BAR will serve the purpose of bringing before the world’s eyes achievements of the highest order by Africans in the field of science, humanities, sport, statecraft and religion, among other disciplines,” said Muzawazi.
So far, the BAR has attracted ambitious researchers who are working on various disciplines to bring about the achievements of Africans through digging deep into history as well as highlighting the positives of the present Africa while at the same time examining the future of the continent and its potential.
Award-winning journalist Problem Masau said the initiative to allow participation of the young generation was the best way to reshape the image of the continent.
“My area of focus will be science and technology. As you know our forefathers were guilty of not recording their achievements and this is one way to address the anomaly. We don’t want the future generation to look upon us as such, so as a researcher I am a committed person and we are going to give Africa its records,” he said.
There are also other fields like arts, music, media and entertainment that altogether help tell the beauty of the African continent but have never been successfully recorded. The BAR will be ensuring that these are captured in a way that factually tells where Africa has been, where it is and where it is going.
“Just like in any other aspect of Africa’s socio-political life, only the negatives have been captured in history books and the media. But in reality Africa is the heart of all the rhythms. These and more will be compiled under one solid document under the BAR,” said Miss Rumbidzai Mashayahanya, the field’s researcher.
The initiative will not only seek to address the biased portrayal of Africa but it is also an avenue for the creation of jobs for the young people.
Miss Mazvita Debra Kubwalo, the project coordinator within the organisation said BAR would specifically create more than 34 jobs for young people in 2012.
“The BAR will strive to become the premier authority and custodian of all African facts. Through the positive image portrayed, the project will help create a sense of African pride and integration of Africa. The research and other activities that come along in fulfilling this golden objective will go a long way in creating employment for our young people,” she said.
While BAR has imaged the major initiative within AMO, the organisation is also engaging young people who want to be involved in its sister programme, the community organiser programme (COP), which aims at empowering young people through developing their own communities.
In this programme, the interested youths are called upon to present their project idea, if the idea is accepted; the person can become a community organiser. The COP team will assist the individuals in terms of developing the project, providing both technical and financial assistance.
A lot is expected from the project in which the African records, the achievements, the successes, and contributions to the global arena is going to be put on paper for the benefit of the whole world.
Another researcher within the organisation Mr Allan Mahaka said the BAR would go a long way in educating Zimbabweans and the whole world at large about the facts of Africa that have never been collated and documented under one publication.
“The problem is that we have for so many years relied on foreigners to tell our own history let alone people who have never set their foot in the continent but go a long way in speaking about Africa only in bad light,” said Mr Mahaka.
Indeed, time for the correction of African history has come, and the BAR will be the richest library for Africa’s capabilities ever to be found here in Africa and beyond. With young people taking the duty themselves, AMO will inspire the young generation to take the responsibility, to be history makers, and in the process create employment.
*Jephiter Tsamwi can be contacted on [email protected] or 0777930995.
Online Reporter