body-container-line-1
Sun, 03 Jul 2011 Feature Article

Creating The Blackness Of Africa

Creating The Blackness Of Africa

(A documentary in the making)

“The continent of Africa was the cradle of human life. Each stage in the development of humankind can be traced in the African record. The ancient civilization of Egypt flourished there. In the classi-cal world of Greece and Rome, Africa was regarded as a source of wisdom. Many great yet viable kingdoms and states once thrived on the African continent. Much of South and Central Africa's his-tory took place in comparative isolation from the rest of the world, while sub-Saharan Africa traded with the North Mediterranean and North East Africa traded with the Middle East and with India. European attitudes towards Africa changed with the Christianization of Europe so that by the Mid-dle Ages, Africa became associated with darkness and heathen religious practices,” History Of Af-rica – New World Encyclopaedia.

This 30 minutes video is a reaction to the view of many that Africans are black people, as though the purported blackness of Africa and Africans were convincing enough to stand as the identity of the African people. This is been carefully executed by examining how some western scholars and politicians have managed to use the black colour in corrupting, not only the history of Africa but also the identity of the same (African) people. Having consulted with different scholars, both Afri-cans and the Europeans alike, this documentary is aimed at demonstrating that what is generally un-derstood as black colour is grossly insufficient to describe the visible (phenotypic) characteristics of an African, let alone defining who he really is as a person.

To further clarify the argument, we decided to trace the blackness of Africa to where it does make some sense – within the geopolitical sphere and therefore the true resonance of the term: “political B-blackness of Africa”. This was to show that such loose expressions as “Black Race”, “White Race” really do not exist. Especially that what has become accepted as either Black or White race cannot be proved to be black or white within the scientific, cultural or genetic parameters. It's of course needless extending the argument to include such categories as, “Red Race”, supposedly in America and “Yellow Race” in Asian?

In fact, it should be important to note that among some westerners (only few years ago), the Chi-nese people were called the Small Yellows, but now that China has become a major world economic power and by extension a political power, the Chinese people have simply become Chinese. The question is: “if Chinese were truly a yellow people some years ago, what is the convincing ex-planation that they are no longer yellow today?”

The truth been told; the Chinese, just like the Africans were never qualified as people of colours; they never were. They have long evolved as the people that they are, and they have established their own human identity, beyond the superficialities of colours. That they were later shrouded in the flawed philosophy of colours, as their identity was simply and solely to relegate them and at the same time help justify their human exploitation.

In this documentary therefore, we are trying to separate the illusion from reality – differentiate be-tween DARKNESS and AFRICA and the DARK CONTINENT from the AFRICAN CONTINENT because they are not interchangeable.

WATCH OUT FOR THE FULL DEBATE!!!

Dreamafrica Videos & Literary Works,
in collaboration with Africanews.it

Contacts
[email protected]
www.africanews.it
www.dreamafrica.ning.com

Ewanfoh Obehi
Ewanfoh Obehi, © 2011

Obehi Ewanfoh is the author of The Storytelling Series for businesses. He helps Businesses to Leverage the Power of Storytelling, he is the founder of AClases Media and the host of Obehi Podcast. More Obehi Ewanfoh hails from the town of Uromi in Edo State, Nigeria, where he was born and raised. With a passion for words and a flair for captivating narratives, he embarked on a remarkable journey that has taken him from the heart of Nigeria to the city of Verona in northern Italy.

Obehi's thirst for knowledge and his dedication to the art of storytelling led him to the London School of Journalism, where he honed his skills in feature writing. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective on the world, he set out to share his stories with the world.

Currently residing in the city of Verona, Obehi has become a prolific contributor to various media houses, newspapers, and online publications, earning him a reputation as a versatile and insightful writer.
In addition to his written work, Obehi is also the creative mind behind a captivating storytelling series designed specifically for businesses. His ability to craft compelling narratives has proven invaluable to companies, seeking to connect with their audience on a deeper level.

Moreover, Obehi is the charismatic host of the "Obehi Podcast," a platform where he delves into a wide range of topics, sharing his unique insights and engaging guests in thought-provoking conversations.
With his roots in Nigeria and his current home in Italy, Obehi bridges cultures and perspectives, enriching the world with his storytelling prowess. His journey is a testament to the power of words and the impact of a passionate storyteller on a global stage.
Column: Ewanfoh Obehi

Disclaimer: "The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect ModernGhana official position. ModernGhana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here." Follow our WhatsApp channel for meaningful stories picked for your day.

body-container-line