Blogging is fast becoming a way for Africans to portray their countries to the world. It is increasingly assuming the form of a via media for them to express their vented feelings, grievances, injustice and opinions. However, east Africans are not as lucky for the lack of a viable Internet connectivity.
Blogging started as a tool for giving vent to one’s feelings by posting their opinions on the web for anything from justice to injustice, from acclamation to condemnation, from societal to individual problems. And Africans battered by violence, turmoil, civil war, racial discrimination, ethnic conflicts, guerrilla war, government-rebel fight (an extension of cold war power rivalry), lack of democratic credentials, refugee problems, degrading societal values have found in blogging a medium to raise their voice against such depravity.
In a continent, where most of the countries are under dictatorial regimes, civilians are fighting inaccessibility of the real reporting of the events in the wake of state-owned media that only reports on reel stories, few started blogging as a way to let others know what is actually happening in their countries. Africans are making optimum use of blogging in highlighting injustices, corruption and turmoil.
Truly, who can better express the real situation in the country, then the citizens themselves? With no access to the reality in Africa, blogging is the only medium through which we as a global citizen can know poor Africa. However, East Africa is the unlucky region of the world, where global broadband network connection is not accessible, thereby making it difficult for the battered people of the region to voice themselves.
Rising number of blogs and participation of Africans in it also brings into the notice of the world, the mystified rich heritage of the continent, its exotic travel sites, cultural extravaganzas, abundant greenery, mineral wealth and the intellectual competence of the people. Africa is no more in darkness, blog has brought it into light.
Via: The Independent
