REGISTRATION
INFORMATION
World University Rankings - Top 600

DUT Journalism Department Commemorates Africa Day

DUT Journalism Department Commemorates Africa Day

The Durban University of Technology’s Journalism Department commemorated Africa Day with a robust seminar on Reporting Africa.

The seminar, held at the Arthur Smith Hall, City Campus, also augmented the Department’s BTech academic offering. Speakers at the event were Crystal Orderson; Specialist Correspondent and former West Africa Correspondent at the SABC, Dr Simphiwe Sesanti; Media Academic , Columnist and Author on Africa Culture and Politics as well as Louise Vale; Executive Director of the Association of Independent Publishers.

DUT Vice Chancellor Professor Ahmed Bawa, Faculty of Arts and Design Deputy Dean Professor Graham Stewart and students attended the lecture which started at 9am and ended around 2pm.

Orderson, who started her journalism career in 1995 as a gang (violence) reporter in the Cape Flats saluted DUT for celebrating the day, saying that the University is a few local institutions which celebrate it. She said while there is positive reporting on Africa, the continent is still portrayed as a dark, far-flung area instead of the diverse continent that it is.

“A friend of mine once said that if you want your story to make it, you must portray Africa as one country, the character must be a starving woman; include a baby with flies around it and an NGO which comes to save the continent. The quote at the end needs to be “Mandela, the father of our nation”. Only then will you will have your story,” she said.

Orderson said Africa reporting is expensive, adding that big news agencies still shape coverage on the continent. “They set the agenda, and as a result, we are dictated to as Africans. Enter the SABC in 2007 where it launched several bureaus in Africa including in Kenya and Zimbabwe. It wasn’t easy but people were warm towards me because most reporters (who reported on issues facing them) were European. People were willing to share their stories with me because they were tired of being portrayed in a certain way,” she said.
Speaking on problems facing South Africa including the debate on nationalisation, she said South Africa has a tendency of thinking that it is an island on its own, adding that the country does not look at its fellow countries for advice.

Dr Sesanti mainly spoke about the need for Africans to be proud of their culture and heritage, a sense he said was eroded by colonialism. He also acknowledged the role that women and their strength have played in Africa’s history. “When Shaka ka-Nandi was left to fend for himself after his father Senzangakhona abandoned him, it was Nandi his mother who protected and molded him into the man that he was. At a time when Shaka trusted Mbopha (his right hand man who ultimately assassinated him), it was Nandi who warned him (Shaka) against him (Mbopha). Shaka didn’t listen to that advice. Mkabayi kaJama (the Zulu queen who persuaded Mbopha to assassinate Shaka) also played a role in molding Shaka. She strategised the way for Shaka to ascend to the throne. They say (African) women play the secondary role and we say ‘NO’. We are Africa and you African women should stand up and say we have a strong precedent of women. You journalists, especially women, Africa won’t advance unless it has strong women. There’s a saying that a man’s penis scatters and a woman’s womb gathers. Women are at all times the gatherers. As journalists, you must write to educate,” said Dr Sesanti.

Asked why “maternalistic” Africa now holds its women in such low regard when history says that it values them, Dr Sesanti said men have lost their self esteem and that they are trying to assert their strength through the many injustices they carry out against women. He said it is up to the young generation to teach their sons how women aught to be treated.

Vale said journalists sometimes develop a superior understanding about themselves, adding that it is vital that they use their power well.

–Sinegugu Ndlovu
Caption: Crystal Orderson; Specialist Correspondent and former West Africa Correspondent at the SABC delivers her address at the Africa Day seminar at DUT City Campus.

No comments