Stop Pitying Africans: Why Pity Keeps Our People Poor

Breaking the Cycle To Clear The Way for African Prosperity

When a Westerner hears the word “Africa,” what comes to mind?

Starving kids with bloated bellies and flies in their eyes. Violent black men with guns raised, in the midst of civil wars. Crying and pleading villagers who have been brutalized by genocide campaigns.

Why are so many African nations in such a state, while countries like America are prospering? 

Here’s just a small sample of what some people think, according to the thousands of comments I’ve received on Instagram: 

For years, NGOs in Africa have used “poverty porn” imagery to drum up pity and, more importantly (for them), money. 

Let’s face it—that marketing has been successful. Contributions have flowed like water, enriching these organizations along the way. 

But do you know what wasn’t successful?

Their so-called mission to improve African lives. 

Instead of building us up, they created a lasting image of Africa that trades on pity, not power. 

Imagine telling someone where you come from, and their first thought is of a malnourished toddler circled by vultures. 

It’s not only insulting. It’s demeaning, dehumanizing, and revolting. 

Poverty porn does nothing to promote African dignity. And the organizations that rely on this kind of imagery have done very little to actually improve the lives of Africans. Instead, they've perpetuated the stereotype that our people are helpless fools who can’t even feed themselves. 

I’m a cosmopolitan African concerned with the image of Black Africans in the West. And I’m fed up with these offensive, reductive, and exploitative images. We are so much more than nonprofits and their marketing have made us out to be. 

Let’s reclaim the narrative and dazzle the world with Africa’s talent, resilience, and potential.

NGOs have done more harm than good with the way they’ve depicted Africa. In fact, their marketing has been so damaging that they’ve even convinced themselves that all Africa is good for is charity.

Don’t believe me? Just look at how they allocate funds. They’ll spend a few dollars here and there to support microfinance projects. They might give a small loan for school books or provide a pittance so women can pool together and improve their cassava farming. Is that better than nothing? You bet.

But is this really helping Africa thrive?

Give me a break! Of course not. 

African prosperity isn’t about giving a few village women hens so they can sell eggs. It isn’t about digging a few wells so that Westerners can sleep better at night. It’s about putting Africa on an equal footing with other global powers and showcasing our peoples’ potential to create wealth.

Look, I’m a realist, and I can admit that microfinance is better than nothing. It’s even a great first step.

But it’s a mistake to think that microfinance is a path to prosperity.

It’s a way to survive and to meet necessities—not a way to build opportunity. It’s a way to alleviate poverty, not solve it. Do you really think our greatest aspiration as Africans is just to be a little less poor? Really?!?

Given a choice, most recipients of microfinancing would prefer a good job. They would prefer to run or to work for a Small and Midsize Enterprise (SME) with five to ten other people.  

They would rather have a chance to grow their skills and their money rather than barely managing to cover their grandson’s school bills or the cost of a single water tap. 

We’ve given NGOs their chance. For decades, they’ve dominated discussions about Africa with their scandalous images, condescending charity, and microfinance baby steps. They’ve been at it forever, and their efforts have gone nowhere. 

No more. 

The myth of “poor Africa” has always been just that—a myth. We have always needed opportunities, not pity. Now, we must say “no more” and command the dignity we deserve.

It’s time for Africans to take back the narrative and show the world who we are—not a continent of starving people but a land rich with resources, talent, and forward-thinking entrepreneurs. 

Let’s change the way the world sees us and get serious about building prosperity. 

Let’s encourage investments that will create jobs and push for legislation that will free our entrepreneurs to create, instead of tying us down with red tape.

Let’s make the world sit up and take notice of us, not because of how much we rely on their aid but because of how effectively our entrepreneurs can triple, quadruple, or 10x their investments.

Let’s create jobs that will fill the pockets and bank accounts of people across the continent and those who are smart enough to do business with us.

Let’s make Africa the thriving, prosperous place that we all know it’s destined to be.

Will you join me? Don’t take too long to decide, the train is en marche and catching speed.