News Black History Month talk from Dipo Faloyin 15.10.2024

This week, as part of the school’s Black History Month celebrations, students attended a captivating lunchtime talk from Dipo Faloyin, author of Africa is Not a Country. His talk challenged the simplistic and harmful stereotypes that have long defined the portrayal of Africa in the Western world.

Dipo began by addressing the root of these stereotypes, starting with the Berlin Conference of 1878, where Western powers divided up Africa with little regard for the complex cultures and histories of its people. He argued that this created the foundation for a narrative of Africa as uncivilised, which justified colonial exploitation and continues to shape perceptions today.

He also highlighted how popular culture, from charity campaigns to Hollywood, continues to limit the way Africa is perceived. One of the most striking examples he provided was the 1984 charity song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ which raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. While well-intentioned, the lyrics described Africa as ‘a world of dread and fear’, reinforcing the image of a continent in constant crisis.

Throughout his talk, Dipo stressed the danger of these narrow portrayals. ‘Safari or poverty,’ as he put it, are the two dominant images of Africa, and both distort the reality of a continent made up of 54 distinct countries, each with its own cultures, histories, and challenges. His book prompts readers to confront these stereotypes and rethink the images etched in their minds.

Following his talk, students had the opportunity to ask Dipo a series of questions. These ranged from the persistence of these stereotypes and how individuals can help to challenge them, to the relevance of British honours like OBEs and MBEs, particularly in relation to Africa’s colonial past. Dipo responded that education is key, explaining that it’s crucial to give people the tools to understand these titles’ history so they can make informed decisions about their significance today.

Dipo ended on an optimistic note, explaining that while stereotypes of Africa are pervasive, they are not irreversible. Through education we can begin to understand the cultural complexity of Africa, begin to confront harmful stereotypes, and reshape how the continent is understood worldwide.