In the past few decades the dynamics and the wind of change are getting stronger on the African Continent. Many people are fed-up with the status quo and the youths are yearning for positive change in every aspect of their lives. Everyone wants change however, most of us fail to admit to some of the blame for our current situation, and the Ubuntu Series is here to raise this awareness.
The purpose of the Ubuntu Series is to sensitize Africans of the need and responsibility of each and everyone of us to bring about a positive change in our continent.
The Cameroonian computer scientist and journalist Veye Tatah, is the creative brain behind the Ubuntu series. In 1998 she founded the Africa Positive organization to empower Africans and also to promote a positive coverage of Africa in the media through the Africa Positive magazine. The Africa Institute of Media, Migration and Development (AIMMAD) created by Africa Positive in 2018 aims to work closely with African and German research institutes to promote knowledge transfer by the African Diaspora.
Conscious of the often negative media courage about the African continent, Africa Positive launched the Ubuntu Series, which aims at “sensitizing people of African descent about attitudes and behaviors that disrupt the development of our continent” said Tatah.
Convinced that a change in mindset can empower Africans to find homemade solutions for the challenges they face, Africa Positive started producing animations to reach out to a target group from different backgrounds.
The first episode of the Ubuntu Series titled: "We Turn the Page" has four characters, representing young Africans on the continent who see the West as their escape route. This episode highlights the following :
• Decolonization of our societies and our mindset. Revisiting our colonial history in order to understand the future.
• Potentials in our continent, supporting and valuing our own Initiatives and products “made in Africa” by Africans.
• Dependency on foreign aid and donation that hampers our developmental progress and distorts our markets.
• Ethnicity and tribalism that is an obstacle to development in many African countries.
The second Episode “Would you get into a car with a blind driver?” has four new characters and highlights the following :
• Bad governance from employing inefficient workers leading to poor service delivery.
• Ethnicity and Incompetence
• Bribery and Corruption
The third Episode “Discover the hidden potentials“ and the fourth Episode “Jealousy is an obstacle“ tackle every day issues that are obstacles to our individual and collective development.
The message of the Ubuntu Series is “let us be the change we want to see in others”. The series is educative, and encourages Africans to refocus their energies on their continent. The episodes are both in English and French.
Veye Tatah is of the opinion that we need a mental revolution in Africa in order to be in charge of our own destiny. “Development is the state of the mind” The constant negative image of the African Continent has lead to inferiority complex in the minds of our people. Change and development comes only from within. Africans must be the drivers of their own destiny.
Tatah believes that “the renaissance of Africa lies in the accomplishment of the African identity, by realizing the black consciousness and back-to-our-roots agenda, and by reloading our sense of humanity, fairness, justice, empathy, naturalism and the legendary consideration of the human being”.
According to Tatah, “while the continent is very rich and truly offers a lot of hidden opportunities this is not always obvious to young Africans.” It is hoped that the Ubuntu Series can raise conversation about and among Africans and help in the construction of a true African identity.
The Ubuntu Series is accessible on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNDmFyPG-YPaXRmMGd5RHOw
www.africa-positive.de