What do we mean when we say we love Africa

News, learn, share and discuss about Africa & other life issues with over 250, 000 members worldwide & thousands of discussion going on. CLICK HERE TO JOIN FREE and get access to write, reply, use private message & much more free!. CLICK HERE TO SAY HELLO

[Dqueen]

I often hear people 'confessing' that they love Africa, and I wonder what they mean by that. What is to love Africa... (wondering).

[martina]

In my understand just like we tell our man or woman I love you. so the same way they claim to love Africa.

[Dqueen]

"In my understand just like we tell our man or woman I love you. so the same way they claim to love Africa."

hmm, I am trying to imagine how this works, but still it doesn't get into my head. Please explain further, Martina :-)

[Webmaster]

Africa has unique qualities that differentiate it from  other continent such as culture, dressing, foods among other things.
So when some one says I love Africa, one is actually referring to one of Africa's  uniqueness.

[martina]

"In my understand just like we tell our man or woman I love you. so the same way they claim to love Africa."

hmm, I am trying to imagine how this works, but still it doesn't get into my head. Please explain further, Martina :-)

Dqueen, are you insinuating man hasn't told you before he loves you and goes further telling you why he loves you?

[Dqueen]

Africa has unique qualities that different it from  other continent such culture, dressing, foods among other things.
So when some one says I love Africa, one is actually refering to one Africa's uniqueness.

I agree with you Webmaster. I think that's a beautiful answer. What bothers me sometimes though is the tendency to generalize. Africa is so vast and diverse. Therefore how can the continent be said to be 'homogenous' when there are so many differences across countries and nations. I wonder where those generalizations come from...

[Dqueen]

]Dqueen, are you insinuating man hasn't told you before he loves you and goes further telling you why he loves you?

You have a point there Martina, but here is a situation: Man tells you that he loves you (assuming he means it, and again whatever that means), then goes on to tell you that he does so, because you are beautiful or sexy or a good cook and so on. Well, that's easy to imagine, but those qualities or things can't be said about Africa. Why? Because Africa is not a human being. But Maybe I don't know what love is. Looking for 'enlightment' :-)

[martina]

Dqueen, I just use that to illustrate a point, there are qualities Africa has (As a poster mentioned above) that stimulate such statement.

[Webmaster]

Africa has unique qualities that different it from  other continent such culture, dressing, foods among other things.
So when some one says I love Africa, one is actually refering to one Africa's uniqueness.

I agree with you Webmaster. I think that's a beautiful answer. What bothers me sometimes though is the tendency to generalize. Africa is so vast and diverse. Therefore how can the continent be said to be 'homogenous' when there are so many differences across countries and nations. I wonder where those generalizations come from...

Dqueen, you're taking it far, you know all differences across countries and nations because you're from Africa. So many people outside Africa (You can't belief this) don't know that Africa is a continent. They refer it as a country.
Where the generations come from I assume you mean the country in Africa that brings the entire positive compliment, I don't think that is right to write here to avoid war in this thread.

[Dqueen]

Where the generations come from I assume you mean the country in Africa that brings the entire positive compliment, I don't think that is right to write here to avoid war in this thread.

I think the answer may be as you have said; the generalizations originate from populous country, and lack of knowledge pertaining to the varierty across Africa. But Webmaster, should we stifle debate by fearing intellectual wars? I hope you will agree with me, and so will many other community members, that we need to be open about these issues, and discuss them as extensively as possible.

[Webmaster]

I hesitated a bit after reading your last post contemplating direction to focus my point without beckoning argument.

For a example if I write Nigeria because of it's population, man power,  diverse cultures, languages etc some one might argue it can't be Nigeria it's being known as fraudsters etc. That is why any post I perceive that will lead to who is who I try to avoid participating.

Well, I think you start by telling us countries or country you think that is driving all these positive attributes about our continent Africa.
 

[Dqueen]

hmm, identifying saints and devils is a difficult task. However, it would be great to hear what other community members have to say on the subject of 'loving Africa', etc.

[martina]

In my opinion I don't think Africa's positive and uniqueness shall be attributed to one country in Africa (as is likely to lead to) but combination of our different strengths. As there is no country that doesn't have it's strength and weakness. One thing that stands Africa out is skin color (Black). In America today they dominated entertainment industry.  Michael Jackson, Tiger wood, Mike Tyson, snoop   etc trace their origin you know they are from this part of the world. As a result you rare see who won't like to associate with these names. so when some says he or she loves Africa the person must have been coming from one or more positive angle of Africa.
This is my submission in this subject.

[Dqueen]

One thing that stands Africa out is skin color (Black). In America today they dominated entertainment industry.  Michael Jackson, Tiger wood, Mike Tyson, snoop   etc trace their origin you know they are from this part of the world.

thanks Martina for this helpful explanation. you have cited great names, but again if you look at how they all ended, or where they are right now, you will realisae that they are all associated with lots of scandals. also, I do not think that our skin colour is a 'unique' positive feature. to support this view, we only need to remember all the names there are which refer to our skin colour. so to assume that the colour 'Black' is an outstanding thing would be an exaggeration.

[martina]

I assume you read my post well, I stressed that is a combination of things but pointed color as one of such uniqueness of Africa. Off course I understand that all Africa's countries aren't blacks, but whenever black skin is being mentioned Africa's continent comes to mind.