Veteran Pan-African communications expert Gina Din-Kariuki has urged African countries to take control of their own narrative, emphasizing that intentional storytelling could help the continent realize its vast economic potential. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Din-Kariuki challenged African governments, media, and citizens to work together to rewrite the story of Africa, focusing on governance, development, and resilience rather than just the election cycle.
According to Din-Kariuki, media representations significantly impact Africa’s economic prospects, with negative portrayals often leading to inflated risks and higher borrowing costs. She highlighted the need for African leaders to step up and challenge the stereotypes that have long been associated with the continent. “Africa must intentionally own its narrative. We cannot afford to keep going from election to election without stopping to govern and showcase the immense potential, resilience, and innovation across the continent,” she said.
Din-Kariuki’s call aligns with a new report by Africa No Filter and Africa Practice, which revealed that biased media coverage costs Africa up to $4.2 billion annually in inflated debt servicing. The report, titled The Cost of Media Stereotypes to Africa, examined the financial impact of media bias during elections in four African nations Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt comparing them with Malaysia, Denmark, and Thailand, countries with similar risk profiles.
The findings are striking: negative media coverage of African elections exaggerates risks, deterring foreign direct investment and increasing borrowing costs. For example, 88% of media coverage on Kenya’s elections was negative, compared to just 48% in Malaysia. As a result, African countries face economic losses that could otherwise be used for essential services, such as education, healthcare, and clean water. The report notes that improving media sentiment could reduce borrowing interest rates by 1%, saving billions for African nations.
Din-Kariuki’s call to action stresses that the responsibility for shifting this narrative lies with Africans themselves. “The responsibility to rewrite Africa’s story starts with us Africans telling the truth about Africa,” she said.
The report also underscores the importance of the African Union (AU) in establishing the Africa Credit Rating Agency, a move that would counteract the pessimistic assessments made by international rating agencies. By collaborating across sectors, Din-Kariuki and the report’s findings stress that Africa can build a more accurate and optimistic portrayal of its capabilities, fostering better economic conditions and opportunities across the continent.
