“Is it true that you walk around with Lions on the street?”

“How did you get here? Did you swim?”

“Do you live in trees with monkeys?”

“You don’t look like you’re from Africa, you’re too beautiful.”

“How did you learn how to speak English so well?”

 

And no, Africa is not a country, Africa is a continent.  It is easy to believe when you see the picture of a skeletal child with flies on his mouth that that is just how all of Africa is and lives but it is false.

 

I feel so embarrassed when even some African-Americans refused to be associated with Africa. They say “I’m not African, I am African-American” and I want to laugh so badly. I wonder what is there to be ashamed of, why would anyone not be proud of their origin. I have even met some Africans who’ve denied they are from Africa, they claim to be from Chicago, Atlanta and so on. Sometimes I wondered if I asked the question wrong and I asked again “No, I mean where are you originally from?” and they look me dead in the eye and say in a very heavy accent “From, Seattle” For such people I lose all respect.

 

I am very proud of my origin, my make-up, my skin tone and I am most proud of my accent. I don’t ever recall having a heavy accent because I didn’t get the chance to learn my dialect. “Is that a British accent?” they ask, “What part of the Virgin Islands are you from?” they ask again. “I am from Cameroon.” I say. “Where is that?” I try hard not to be rude because I’ve heard all kinds of statements follow my answer “West Africa”

“I didn’t know Africa had such beautiful women!” Are you kidding me? Are people that vain and ignorant? I love that I am unique and different and that people can tell after talking to me for a few seconds that I come from somewhere else. In my life time, I want to visit as many countries in the world as I can, to learn, share and experience life in many different people’s shoes. How awesome is that?

 

Africa, just the sound of the word itself, Africa, the way every syllable falls off the tongue! Ah! I am blessed to be part of such a rich and beautiful heritage. I never knew my great, great grandmother, but I heard stories of my lineage and all the powerful women that were a part of it. They were brave, fearless and strong women who knew no bounds when it came to loyalty, hospitality, love, comfort and care. Yes, the picture most posted online and in videos are of a half naked woman carrying her baby on her back and a calabash on her head—she is a beautiful African woman and we are proud of her. But there is also another side of this beautiful land that so many have been shielded from or let me say let themselves to be unaware of.

 

I remember back home in History and Geography classes when we learned about different countries. My ears were wide open and I soaked in every bit of information I could. That was my best part of History class, learning about the different countries and how they came to be. Sociology also amazed me. I used to read four chapters ahead of class because I couldn’t wait till the next class to get a glimpse of a new world. I learned how to write and speak different languages: French and German and I fantasized about visiting those countries and speaking to everyone I came across. In my dreams, I journeyed a million miles to far away places. Maybe it’s just me but then again maybe it was sparked by the lessons I learned in class. Are we teaching kids now how to respect and share different cultures? I hope so.

 

We do have super centers, we have railroads, we have fancy five star restaurants, we have air planes and no, we do not swim across the ocean to come to this beautiful country called America, we fly in those big ‘Birds’ too. We do not live with monkeys in trees and eat worms all day, or wear leaves across our waists. We are a continent rich in culture, skin tones and beauty. We don’t need to be pitied because we come from Africa. We are not the walking dead, we have dreams and hopes and we love and ache. We do not need to be quarantined, we like hugs and pats and kisses—okay that is if you are dating or married to one. We are not artifacts in a museum nor are we specimens underneath a microscope, treat us like you treat your brother or sister, we are 99% genetically identical.

 

Have you ever looked closely at the map of Africa? Such a beautiful precise piece of land shaped like a trophy. It may not be a trophy to everyone, but too many of us, it is our birth place, the land where our placentas are buried, land of sun and rice, of green grass and endless stretches of water, land of gold and milk.

 

Cameroon is only one of the many countries in Africa, not the wealthiest but definitely one of the most peaceful. With a population of about 16 million people, Cameroon has 10 provinces and 240 different tribes. The capital of Cameron is Yaoundé and its economical capital is Douala. Cameroon gained it’s independence from the French-administered trusteeship on January 1^st 1960. Its geographic area is slightly larger than California. For more information please use Google (she smiles). Hope you enjoyed the beautiful pictures from where I grew up—Yaoundé.

 

Anyone who’ll like to visit is welcome. There are so many places on this earth to travel to, why not learn a new language, meet new faces, discover new cultures and explore the wonders that God has provided for us. Make a decision and travel to Africa.

 

And if the journey is too pricey to make and you still want to know what Africa looks like, take a look at me. I am Africa and Africa is in me.

 

*Pictures of Yaoundé appearing in this article courtesy of my friend Adeline Kilam.