Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter
- African Proverb
What if one key to reclaiming our narrative as Africans is by the stories we tell? For decades, Africans have been known as a people with very rich and unique oral tradition. Stories of cunning characters, brave warriors, wicked taskmasters and wise elders have been passed on through storytelling for generations. These stories were ways of not only educating on historical events but also instilling moral values while preserving history. Truthfully, it served it’s purpose for a while, but now, the landscape has changed completely.
In present times, the one who has mastered storytelling is the one that has a major power; attention. The currency of attention has made the ability to control narratives more than a superpower. With reference to the proverb, the lion no longer needs a pen and paper, he needs an electronic device. The question now shifts from whether Africans have the means to tell our own stories (we do!) to whether we realize how much our refusal to use social media with intention can cost us.
Nowadays, a teenager in Latvia knows about night life in Lagos without ever stepping foot there. Someone in Germany can discover Ghanaian food through TikTok. Social media is no longer a casual place solely for entertainment; it is a window through which the world sees us and consequently, it is where the world decides what to think about us. Before any trip is booked, any application is made or any thing is built, a battle occurs on the screen; the battle to convince the viewer of a certain narrative. The result of this battle is what fashions the expectations of the viewer. That is exactly the power of social media presence.
AFRICA AS SEEN ONLINE
The first resort when you hear about a place for the first time is to search for it. You look for pictures, videos and general reviews. Ultimately, you want to hear what others think about that place. That is exactly how the average person is these days! Think about non-Africans who have never set foot in Africa; their primary source of information is social media. This is where we find a gap that can either be a problem or opportunity.
For decades, majority of the African narrative has been shaped by images of poverty, disease, conflict and general instability. Though these realities are not the entirety of our image as Africans, we cannot confront these narratives by pretending they are complete lies. What we must embrace is that Africa is not a single story: it is a continent with a plethora of industry talents and innovators as well as young people building futures for themselves and their communities. In spite of the diverse stories our continent holds, we do not see a reflection of that on the feeds of those outside Africa. We have many stories, we have just refused to intentionally be visible. Africans have not yet come to understand the kind of opportunities we sit on when we decide to treat social media as just an avenue of entertainment.
YOUR PLATFORM IS YOUR STAGE
‘But I am just one person. No one will care what I have to say’. This is a thought that has crippled many stories from African storytellers before they are even told. A good social media presence is not necessarily about becoming an influencer or a professional content creator; it is about visibility.
As a student, your LinkedIn profile can tell the world how education and student life is for you. It also makes you visible to opportunities you might otherwise miss. The TikTok page of your small business can inspire another person on the opposite side of the world to start a business as well. The African researcher can make his/her work accessible to people who may never come across African-written academic papers. The culture enthusiast can introduce rich and diverse culture to people that still think Africans live on trees.
You do not need tens of thousands of followers to tell a story that can create meaningful change. People have gained jobs, money, fame and many other opportunities solely by being visible on social media.
You just need to tell a clear story consistently enough to be remembered.
SO, WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
1. Decide what you want to start creating about
This is not meant to be a prison that you are bound to forever but rather a small stepping stone to help begin your social media journey. Ask yourself: If someone discovered my page today, what would I want them to know?
It could be anything at all: your profession, your research, your business, your daily life, your creativity or any cause you care about. Even if it is not something you are knowledgeable about, the area of interest is enough to give people a reason to trust and remember you.
2. Choose your platform intentionally
Whether you believe it or not, every social media platform operates differently. As such, each platform requires a different type of engagement in order to reach the intended audience. For example, LinkedIn is a very professional platform so funny lifestyle and casual posts are not very likely to thrive there.
TikTok loves short-form entertaining or educational content; people are simply swiping so a ‘boring’ post will not thrive. Do some general research on the various social media platforms and choose the ones that align with what you want to achieve.
3. Rewrite your digital footprint
Try searching up your name and see what comes up. Will anything point to you? Is there anything that will prevent any potential opportunities from coming through? Your digital footprint cannot be perfect but it should be intentional. Delete old posts that no longer align with your image. Use a clear and identifiable photograph as your profile. Write a compelling bio that will keep people interested enough to go through your page. Make your intended message obvious; don’t post just anything you feel like. View your platform as a landing page; people must know exactly where they are and why they should stay.
4. Just start
You do not need any fancy equipment to begin telling your stories. You do not need to be an expert storyteller to begin. Just talk about what you want, document what you are building, tell people about what is happening around you or showcase whatever it is that you are so passionate about. Feel free to make mistakes while sharing your unique experiences. Failure is just a stepping stone to success. Your posts can be the reason why an investor might be interested in your country, or why a client finds you or even a random person encounters rich African culture.
BETTER CONSUMERS, BETTER PRODUCERS
Even though a large part of reclaiming the African narrative is about creating more content, it is also about being intentional about the content we amplify. Social media tends to fuel negativity because that
is what causes people to engage more. In order to build a better digital presence for Africa, we cannot just add to the noise. We must promote credible stories, provide context, celebrate African achievements without pretending the problems are non-existent and challenge the stereotypes. We have the chance to tell our own stories and rewrite the narrative with all the tools we have available. All we need now is people who are ready to use their platforms with intention.
Now the lion has learned to write, should the hunter still control the narrative?
Written by fellow Nhyira Dontoh
