The Transformation of the African Booty Scratcher
- Gyimaah
- Mar 6, 2021
- 3 min read
Akwaaba! Welcome! Happy Independence Day to Ghana my motherland!! 🇬🇭🇬🇭 64 years of independence from our British colonizers and quite honestly, we still have a long way to go.
Anyway, today we celebrate transformation in the African community- yesss!!
Lately, being African is viewed as cool. It hasn’t necessarily always been the case. Africans were viewed as dirty, uneducated, disease-ridden & poverty-stricken people. It surprises me that in this day and age, people still think Africans have never seen a telephone or car before.
Let’s be clear - there are extremely poor Africans living in Africa. Some don’t have access to electricity, clean water and health care. Don’t some Americans have the same struggle? My point is, there is poverty everywhere and there are individuals in the lower class everywhere. Why does Africa have to be painted in such poor light?
We know why- it’s only because it’s Africa.... 🙄
We love to blame the media for our one sided view of Africa. I have an issue with this. I agree that the media does indeed showcase Africa horribly; but, you have a phone, a computer or some electronic so you can do your own research. My conclusion is that those who are ignorant about the “other parts“ of Africa are simply lazy!
Here lately, thanks to social media trends, some parts of the African culture are appreciated. The #fufuchallenge on tik tok, hilarious #myafricanmum reactions to piercings & tattoos, Afrobeat dance moves, our intricate clothing pieces, #africanweddings and so much more. I’m glad to see that my culture has brought smiles to many. For me, it doesn’t end there.
I just hope that from now on, we use that same energy to do our research and stop asking Africans ignorant questions about Africa. Don’t get me wrong, sparking conversation is great and it is one of my favourite things to do. However, be culturally sensitive when you’re having these conversations. Delivery is everything!!
Now that it’s way cooler to be African than it was years ago, it sometimes makes me feel as though people view our culture as an object they can appreciate whenever they want to and degrade when they feel like it.
Several “booty scratchers” have now made a change world wide. Dr Micheal Obeng, the Los Angeles based plastic surgeon with Ghanaian roots who discovered the solution to dissolve gorilla glue and performed surgery on the scalp of #gorillagluelady is a man worth celebrating.
Additionally, can we acknowledge Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian-American economist who assumed the position of Director General of the World Trade Organization on March 01, 2021? Also, there is Peace Adzo Medie, an award winning Ghanaian author who serves on the editorial board of Politics & Gender journal as well as a co-editor of The African Affairs journal. Should we get into the several Africans who grace our screens in Hollywood? May be not. I think you all get the point now.
I guess it is safe to say that the “African booty scratcher” has been transformed into a strong African individual and change maker in the world.
Watch out world! Many more to come 😊
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO GHANA MY MOTHERLAND ONCE AGAIN!!
Today, I decided to celebrate Africa as a whole and not only Ghana🇬🇭
Until next time,
Be you, do you, stay you!
Adwoa
Photo links in order of appearance :
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/15/968077810/ngozi-okonjo-iweala-makes-history-as-wtos-first-african-and
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