Stereotypes and generalizations about people of the African continent and their culture have evolved in the Western world since the years of colonial settlement.
Origin and media representation
The idea of Africa's negative stereotypes comes from historical and media interactions.
Asia
China
China views itself as a benevolent helper of Africans.
In Chinese internet culture, unlucky or incompetent video game players
are called 'Africans', a reference to the expression 'black face' to
mean unluckiness.
India
Black skin in India is perceived negatively.
Japan
Japan views Africa as a continent in need of help.
Korea
Koreans view Africa as an undeveloped continent.
Europe
Many of the stereotypes of Africans originate from colonialism and media representation.
The French had a missionary ambition to civilize the continent.
Germany
The Germans viewed themselves as the master race in comparison with Africans.
Italy
Some
Italians view Africans as illegal immigrants and beggars, which they in
their experience often are, when they come to Italy.
Poland
Polish understanding of Africa is informed by media.
Portugal
Portuguese viewed ruling Africa as an act of charity.
United Kingdom
Charles Darwin helped promote the idea that Africans were no more complex than nonhuman apes.
North America
United States
In the United States, Africa is viewed as disease-ridden and backward.
Oceania
Australia
Australians view Africans as part of criminal gangs.
New Zealand
New Zealanders view Africans as uncultured.
Common stereotypes
One country
Africa is often mistaken for a single country instead of a continent with 54 independent countries, each of which has its own languages, cultures, traditions, and histories. This misrepresentation leads people to think that all Africans are the same and are without a unique history and culture.
One language
Similarly,
the Western world often believes that Africans speak a language named
"African" (usually imagined to be similar in sound to Swahili) and that
African is an official language. No one African language exists; over
2,000 distinct languages are spoken throughout the African continent. The most common language used on the African continent is Swahili.
Harsh biome
The common perception is that much or all of Africa is inhospitable jungle or desert. Many tracts of jungle and desert occur in Africa, with many rivers and lakes.
Backwardness
Poverty
Africa is often believed to be the epicenter of primitive culture and of poverty. Some countries in Africa are impoverished, but many countries in Africa have thriving and prosperous economies, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and many others.
Technology
Throughout
the developed world, Africans are often perceived to have "no access to
modern technology"; however, this is inaccurate. A report in 2013 showed that 80 percent of Africans could access a mobile phone. Internet usage across Africa grew by 20% in 2018, with penetration rates across North Africa of 59%, West Africa of 39%, and Southern Africa of 51%.
Urbanization
Many people falsely believe that Africans live in "mud house[s] in the middle of nowhere." Urban areas in Africa account for 43% of the continent's population, though this is below the global average of 55 percent.
Another mistaken belief about Africa is that wild animals
are commonplace and are perceived the way domestic animals are in
Western countries. While many large wild animals are in Africa, and
they are well known at safaris (especially the lion, leopard,
rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo), many citizens of African countries
typically do not see them outside of zoos.
