What Comes To Your Mind When You Hear The Word Africa

[polycarp]

I really will want to know your honest impressions about Africa. What first comes to your mind about my continent (Africa)? Is it poverty, undevelopment, war, African safari, African culture, corruption, natural beauty, a vast wilderness filled with black people who cannot solve their own problems or what? I really want to hear opinions please.

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by polycarp

I really will want to know your honest impressions about Africa. What first comes to your mind about my continent (Africa)? Is it poverty, undevelopment, war, African safari, African culture, corruption, natural beauty, a vast wilderness filled with black people who cannot solve their own problems or what? I really want to hear opinions please.

All of the above. I would substitute "people who cannot solve their problems" in your penultimate sentence, though, as the people of Africa are neither exclusively "black", nor are their problems of their own making.

[Bothwell]

A Basket case.

North riven by civil wars with some of the most fundamental muslim groups.

West - Countries rich in natural resources riven by tribal war and corruption

Central See above

East - Devastated by natural disaster with assistance from a 30 year civil war in Eritrea, Sudan etc

South- Nutter called Mugabe in power in Zimbabwe, South africa struggling to fulfill the promises of a post apartheid era.

A hugely rich continent that is spiralling out of control.

Everything you mentioned comes to mind when i hear Africa. I would like to travel there someday just see it for myself. i think it might be interesting.

[polycarp]

Hello everyone, very interesting responses and none of your words are untrue. Bothwell, you seem to have a good knowledge of my continent. Have you been here or just damn current with news?

[lady cop]

i think Africa has great natural beauty and resources, but i am concerned about emerging viruses that seem to originate in Africa.

[polycarp]

Thanks for your input lady cop, but must say that you should not just absorb all that you hear about Africa in the news. For example, I've heard about the rare ebola and other viruses that are claimed to have originated from Africa, but have never seen anybody suffering from it. It is only the HIV (whose origin is still a subject of debate) that i can say is an serious issue here and it only poses a threat for those who are promiscuous. The western media is fond of exegerating negative issues about Africa sometimes. As a matter of fact, when I watch news about Africa on CNN and BBC, its like they are talking about a different Africa from the one I live in. Belive me, Africa is one of the safest places to live in with regards to natural or man man health hazards like earthquakes, Tsunamis, vulcanic eruption, acid rain, pollution of the environment etc.

[gmc]

Colonial football that didn't stand a chance against technologically superior peoples. pattern repeated throughout the world with race adding a new dimension, South Africa post apartheid fascinating outcome that black and white could live together in peace. Due to whom black or white?

to quote bothwell

A Basket case.
North riven by civil wars with some of the most fundamental muslim groups.
West - Countries rich in natural resources riven by tribal war and corruption
Central See above
East - Devastated by natural disaster with assistance from a 30 year civil war in Eritrea, Sudan etc
South- Nutter called Mugabe in power in Zimbabwe, South africa struggling to fulfill the promises of a post apartheid era.
A hugely rich continent that is spiralling out of control.

agree with most bit more optimistic about the eventual outcome you would think europe and the americas never had wars, with the way we all tut tut, but now we more or less have stopped trying to kill each other, built empires instead. Lot to be said for being amongst the most warlike people on earth.

[Lon]

When I first hear the word "Africa", the first thing that pops into my head is animals. Lions, gazelle, water buffalo etc. Secondly, Mugabe, and how I wish he would vanish. Thirdly, Gary Player (the golfer). I spent some time in the late 50's in North Africa, Tripoli, Rabat, Casablanca & Sidi Slamane. Africa is one big continent with lots of different problems and lots of potential rewards.

[BabyRider]

I know very little about the political situation in Africa. What I think of is going on safari, but not your pre-packaged, brought-to-you-by-your-travel-agent, cushy safari. I'd give just about anything to see Africa's wildlife up close and personal. I read a book a few years ago "The cry of the Kalahari", written by a couple who went there to study lions and hyenas, and ended up staying for something like 7 years, getting funding for their research and becoming familiar with several prides of lions. THAT'S how I'd like to see Africa.