Africa’s a Country, Right? 20 Myths You Probably Believe

How do you spot an African? That’s easy because we all look the same, speak the same, keep lions as pets and will probably give you ebola. Inspired by #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou (see box below).

[vc_button size=”size_large” title=”1″ color=”default”] Africa Is Poor

Welcome to Luanda, Angola, the most expensive city in the world for expats. Rent is 28.53% higher than New York and 17.99% higher than rent-crazed San Francisco.

[vc_button title=”2″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Africa Is Either Dry And Dusty Or Hot And Rainy

Not surprisingly the 54 countries which make up the African continent differ wildly in climate. In 1979 it even snowed in the Sahara desert for half an hour! The Maluti mountains in Lesotho, the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia and the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda all have icy peaks and snow is a normal part of life in the South Africa winter.

[vc_button title=”3″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] We All Look The Same

Africans are more genetically diverse than the inhabitants of the rest of the world combined. The only thing we all have in common is that we’re proud to be African.

[vc_button title=”4″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Africans Aren’t Innovative

Togolese inventor Kodjo Afate Gnikou has invented a 3D printer which costs only $100 to make and uses second hand electronics which can be sourced easily. The 3D-printer alleviates the negative effects of E-Waste and is a game-changer for the electronics industry.

Afate says his “dream is to give young people hope and to show that Africa, too, has its place on the global market when it comes to technology. We are able to create things.”

And check out Nigerian student builds solar car from scrap.

[vc_button title=”5″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Ebola = Africa

Not to diminish the suffering caused by Ebola but only a handful of countries were affected. Our continent is so enormous that Lisbon, Madrid, London, and Paris are all closer to the Ebola outbreak than Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi and Arusha.

[vc_button title=”6″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] It’s A Good Idea To Keep A Lion As A Pet

The whole of Africa isn’t one big safari park, in fact you might have to drive quite a way before you encounter a lion. Lest you forget lions are endangered wild animals that belong in their natural habitat far from cities. Keep the windows closed!

[vc_button title=”7″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] We’re Trend Followers Not Trend Setters

Burberry doesn’t seem to think so.

[vc_button title=”8″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] We Africans Don’t Care Much For Our Environment

Following the example set by Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic environmentalist Wangari Maathai, green warriors Greenpop have planted 55377 trees to date in 389 different locations.

[vc_button title=”9″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Africa Is Technologically Backwards

Among the largest in the world, this is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere and you can find it in little old Sutherland, South Africa.

[vc_button title=”10″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] We All Speak One Language. Hakuna Matata.

There are between 1,250 to 2,100 languages spoken in Africa (some estimates say 3000). And most Africans can speak at least two to three languages at least.

[vc_button title=”11″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Healthcare Is Non-Existent

Following on from a tradition of medical firsts including the world’s first heart transplant, surgeons at Stellenbosch University completed the world’s first penile transplant in March this year.

[vc_button title=”12″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] African Art Is Old School Wooden Carvings

Cyrus Kabiru is the Kenyan-born trail-blazing modern artist who uses discarded materials to fashion his afro-futurist masterpieces, the C-Stunners for which he is world famous.

[vc_button title=”13″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] We Have No Ancient History

Think again. Try the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, the Pyramids of Giza,the surreal architectural marvels of Timbuktu and the Camelot of Africa, Gondar in Ethiopia.

[vc_button title=”14″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Women In Africa Aren’t Thinkers Or Leaders

Meet the Nigerian multi award-winning novelist, thought-leader and feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Beyoncé is a huge fan.

She says: “If I were not African, I wonder whether it would be clear to me that Africa is a place where the people do not need limp gifts of fish but sturdy fishing rods and fair access to the pond. I wonder whether I would realize that while African nations have a failure of leadership, they also have dynamic people with agency and voices.”

[vc_button title=”15″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Tuscany?

Say hello to the Cape Winelands.

[vc_button title=”16″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Must be the Caribbean? The Maldives?

Nope. This soft sand, infinitesimally blue sea and palm trees can be found at Matemwe Retreat in Tanzania.

[vc_button title=”17″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] If You Want To Get Anywhere It’ll Take You 3 Days In A Bus With 10 Chickens And A Goat

It takes all of 15 minutes to get to Oliver Tambo’s International Airport from downtown Johannesburg on the rapid speed Gautrain.

[vc_button title=”18″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] Same Old Story In Africa

This magical place is Lake Retba in Senegal. The colouring is caused by algae and is particularly pink in the dry season. Swim in a real life sea of pink milkshake and forget all your assumptions about the African continent.

[vc_button title=”19″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] It’s All Doom And Gloom In Nigeria

Yes we know Boko Haram is a problem but Nigeria has a booming economy (the strongest in Africa), smart entrepreneurs, and is set to become the biggest technology hub on the continent (with emerging telecoms, information technology, music, online sales, airlines, and film production) and don’t forget people who know how to party!

[vc_button title=”20″ size=”size_large” color=”default”] In Fact No One Has A Good Time In Africa Ever

These guys are having a pretty good time. They’re part of the Ethiopia Skate campaign started by Abenezer Temesgen and Sean Stromsoe. Abenezer aims to build the first skate park in his country and has spread his love of skating around Ethiopia through their grass roots organisation.

There you have it- the Africa the media never shows you, great thinkers, doers, artists, innovators and leaders.

This article first appeared on www.TravelStart.co.za and is Republished here with kind permission of Rebecca Houston, Travel Start.