Literary magazine Granta published a particularly funny article a year and a half ago, and I’ve been telling people about it ever since. Best to share it here: “How to Write About Africa,” by Binyavanga Wainaina.
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Open source, procurement, and gov tech.
Literary magazine Granta published a particularly funny article a year and a half ago, and I’ve been telling people about it ever since. Best to share it here: “How to Write About Africa,” by Binyavanga Wainaina.
Comments are closed.
Wow. That’s incredible.
Among other things, it really underlined the fact that I don’t know anything about Africa that isn’t a cheap journalistic stereotype.
I have no knowledge of the subject matter whatsoever (other than all the mentioned cliches) and it’s still hilarious. Thanks for the link!
Man. That’s why no one read my Capetown writeup. I needed a faithful manservant! (And really, I could have easily brought one home from the bars in the Waterkant . . .)
Waldo,
Thanks for posting the Granta article on how to write about Africa. Though written in jest, it rings true on so many fronts. Sadly, it reveals more about those who over romanticize (to put it charitably) in their coverage of Africa than I think most of us will/can understand.
Great seeing you last weekend.
-Adisa Chinua Muse