Comments on: New African

By: Alexgewkk

Alexgewkk — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 22:25:30 +0000

Hello, my name is Alex, i’m a newbie here. I really do like your resource and really interested in things you discuss here, also would like to enter your community, hope it is possible:-) Cya around, best regards, Alex!

By: Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Kenya: media presentations on Africa

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 09:04:50 +0000

[...] Kikuyumoja’s realm comments on the journal, New African….. “the lasting impression is that they are constantly trying to portray this modern picture of the continent – the focus, it seems, is on showing the rest of the world what’s so new on Africa and how diverse it actually is.” [...]

By: AK

AK — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 08:39:47 +0000

first time here!
I am a regular reader of the New African though the last piece I read was for Jan 06. I think the back-forth approach helps the reader to contextualize and understand through the eyes of Africans themselves. Remember the other world’s first impressions on Africa was concieved through the writings of early explorers. Although a number of these early journalistic writings were mostly negative and often exaggerated (the book ‘King Leopold’s Ghost’ highlights these early biases) and although their accuracy has since been challenged, it has been difficult for the west to shake off this early subjective view and see Africa for what it really is (was).. This kind of revivalist action seen in the New African approach is not only confined to the ‘zines’ but restoration of Africa’s History is also taking place through other actions such as the preservation of the Timbuktu Chronicles that South Africa and Mali is in the process of doing.
I apologize for almost bloging on your blog?

By: irena

irena — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 04:42:23 +0000

By the way, I think the New African is not looking for the ‘others’ to justify African continent’s worth instead , I look at it as a Magazine that is geared towards bringing some positive light to Africans and friends of Africans a more balanced news in an attempt to continue encouraging positive outlook of the continent on what it has to offer. The Magazine and especially the editorial part continually urges Africans to recognize that there is nothing to be ashamed of , that there is still a lot of potential in the continent and for those who already have the vision to continue pushing to keep the spirit alive. I have read some readers responses who were negative about the magazine(mostly from Western world) and one thing about the editors and writers, they have never replied apologetically about what they write or try to potray about the continent. So I don’t think one would say it is a battle of acknowledgement per se.

By: irena

irena — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 04:29:28 +0000

Jke: P.s Hey am not an ex-blogger, I’m an ex-KBW blogger if there is such a term… there is a private ,exclusive, members only Irena’s nyumbani somewhere *wink**wink*:-)

By: Irena

Irena — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 03:06:00 +0000

Jke:Thanks for your appreciation of the New African Magazine and the kind of journalism potrayed on their articles. I enjoy the way their Magazine is balanced highlighting African stories positive and negative and yes the past, present and future all in a intricate web .The most important thing that is the understanding of the fact that our history influence /shape the future and the fact they try to highlight the African histories and capabilities pre- colonial era and the present era which at times is highlighted in other media as one of hopelessness and despair whereas in the midst of it all there other stories that are full of hope , vision and a sense of “We can”. For instance , in the February issue, there was this balance of Liberia New beginning, Nkrumah’s legacy (this was such an interesting read), Kenya ‘s post referendum blues etc .Among those was an article about Malawi’s Urban explosion . Now with this kind of Magazine that really balances it all.