Nelson Mandela is 100. The 7 Most Inspiring Quotes from the Leader

Today marks the centenary celebration of one of Africa’s most phenomenal leaders- Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the first black president of South Africa after a fierce 20 years of anti-apartheid campaign. He was and still is an African hero. Notable of him, was his famous outspoken nature on issues concerning equality, justice, freedom and multi-racial democracy. 

Today, to mark his centenary celebrations, The Wealthy African brings you the 7 most inspiring quotes from Nelson Mandela.

7. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela

   

     6. "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." Nelson Mandela 

   

      5. "Sometimes, it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom." Nelson Mandela

4. "A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of." Nelson Mandela

3. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." Nelson Mandela 

2. "We need to exert ourselves that much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful: those in command of immense market power and those who dare to fashion the world in their own image." Nelson Mandela

 1. "Action without vision is only passing time, vision without action is merely day dreaming, but vision with action can change the world." Nelson Mandela 

We hope you were inspired.

What is WRONG with Africa...

     I'm going to blurt it out plainly... the media. The media is what is wrong with Africa. TV stations, radio stations, certain websites all publicize inaccurate statements about Africa calling them 'facts' all with the hypocritical aim of soliciting help for Africa. Most importantly the internet. Lets take an example; google. If any non-African wants to know about African children the first thing that comes to mind is google. So lets google African children and lets go to images
Here's what we get

A screenshot of the first page of google images.

     To compare, lets do a google search on American children

A screenshot of the first page of google images

      And then European children.

Here you go

Screenshot of the first page of google images.

     Are you not impressed with the American and European children? Taking a critical look at the images, one has a fair idea of the state of the various continents: Africa has poorly dressed children, some of them very lean, some of them asking for help, others with guns and scrolling down you would see worse pictures. A few of them are smiling and playing around happily(which we wouldn't see if I made this search 10 years ago).  America and Europe have neatly dressed, happy children with national colours etc and scrolling down you would not see a single negative picture. Not only google; on pinterest, on twitter, flikr, practically everywhere.

     The point is, this is the picture painted of Africa. This is true to some extent but there are unarguably similar conditions in America and Europe yet no single picture in google image search results depicts that. Why is that? → the media.
We are what we tell others we are. Most of the pictures circulating on the internet about Africa were taken by non-African visitors who since they could not make an attractive headline with positive pictures use the negative pictures to attract well wishers to their sites.

     I believe the way forward is to take control of our internet. We must take control of the images of Africans floating around the web. We must present the real pictures. We have started but we can do better. Let us tell the real story of Africa. Let us be the media. Let us portray the real picture of Africa to the world.

 

African Children

Thank you. :)

Africa

My first blog! 
All over the world there is a great misconception about Africa. Travel outside the continent and you'd see that the Africa advertised out there is not the Africa you and I know. You'll see pictures of children in tattered clothes with houseflies flying around the corners of their lips and that kind of thing. 

This image exemplifies it. I got this straight from google images.

LOL... It seems as if it is this single picture circulating around all other continents and has created this image of the average African in the minds of outsiders. And this is the main issue my blog seeks to address.. Yes, without doubt, this picture was taken in Africa and this particular one above was from a Kenyan slum but this picture was taken a long time ago and Africa as a continent has come a long way away from this and thus deserves appropriate recognition. This blog is all about positivity for Africa. Yes, Africa struggled with slave trade. Yes, Africa struggled with colonialism, Africa struggled with wars and conflicts, with poverty, with racism BUT not anymore! The new African, the one I am, the one you are, the one I call The Wealthy African is here. Together we would be discussing Africa, debunking stereotypes, and clearing the blurry image of Africa. If you are non-African, sit back and relax. Together we would learn more of the wealthiest continent on the planet and discover amazing opportunities hidden in the land that first brought man. Together we would portray the real African picture to the world.  Only positivity!  Please drop some comments so that we can interact.

Africa, Africa ey!