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Yesterday I was on the BBA blog and a lady raised an issue about Africa being a cosmopolitan state.Not cosmopolitan in the sense that we all read Cosmo but in a sense that Africa is made up of mix of different cultures, ethnicities and hues. That we cannot portray contemporary Africa as exclusively black, but it has shades of white ,pink, green,purple and blue. That in many countries that arediffeerent ethnicities and races co - existing but that is hardly portrayed in the media,why?
But I've come to realise that in our media, both print, music and tv that the cosmopolitan element of Africa is down played a lot. Look at BBA theres only black guys on the show and no Arabic, Indian or even Caucasians represent the other countries not that these people do not exist but we would like to pretend that they don't. Dotty ,I think was the ladies name, raised the issue of how in the show only the Ibo guys havebeen contiously selected to represent nigeria. You'd ask yourself in a melting pot such as Africa why are the same regions and ethnic groups being picked over and over again?
It's not just limited to tv, we see it in print and in music where certain artist are over looked because they do not subscribe to the stereotype idea of what "african music" should be . I was very impressed with the MAMA , Mtvbase's first Music video awards that they have recognised rock groups and alternative music genres in their line up.But why is this not a norm?If noticed how even at the SAMA the rock category is almost treated with such disdain from the general public,because it predominetly white.But if we say we are cosmopolitan society ,isn't differnce and plurality something to be encouraged than to spat on and demeaned?
Why should it be an issue if South Africa was to be represented by an Indian guy or an Afrikaaner on BBA? Why do we perpuate myths of essentialism espicially when it comes to whose African and what looks African.Just questions , anyone with answers or their own questions feel free to drop them?
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