NAIROBI: Thousands of Africans are taking to Twitter to vent grief and anger over another famine in Somalia, raising money and comforting each other – a stark illustration of a continent embracing a digital future but lamenting time-worn failings.
When news began to break that what many referred to as “the F-word” was now official in parts of the war-racked Horn of Africa country, Twitter lit up.
By mid-Friday, some Twitter statistics websites said that 20 tweets a minute were about the famine and a growing number were from Africans who previously had not engaged in such widespread pan-continental debates using what is still relatively new technology.
Debates that had raged through weeks of drought gained momentum when the famine was declared last week, and many were angry that things had deteriorated so much.
“The emergency in the Horn of Africa should be attributed to respective governments and al-Shabaab (Somalia’s Islamist rebels), not the lack of rain,” wrote a Twitter account called Conflict Media.
Somalis, Ethiopians and Kenyans attacked their governments for failing to prepare for a predictable drought and for reacting slowly when it became clear about 10 million people were going hungry in the three countries.
“It’s just depressing that it’s a pattern and every time we’re ‘surprised’ the drought is here!” wrote Leyou from Ethiopia.
Though Twitter penetration in Africa is much lower than in other parts of the world, it is growing fast as technology improves and thousands are now accessing the internet on their phones.
Many Africans on Twitter recognised the contrast between themselves – normally middle-class professionals – and the people who had spent days trekking across parched deserts, under attack from hyenas and bandits, looking for food.
Some professing themselves guilty for having so much in contrast to those in the refugee camps, Africa’s tweeters and Africans living in the West used Twitter to organise small fundraising events and to tell Westerners to what charities they should donate.
“Donate the cost of a fast-food meal. Help somebody in need,” wrote Dilaun White.
The Africans on the network often complain about negative portrayals of the continent that they say Westerners sometimes perpetuate.
At times their anger is directed at “corrupt” governments, “interfering” foreign charities and the international media which tweeters say only show up when there are dying children to film.
“Say no to human interest stories,” wrote Twitter user Anddiswa, who said she cried as she watched foreign reporters interview a woman at a refugee camp.
“The only thing she had left was her dignity and they took it for that sensationalist effect,” Anddiswa said, reflecting a view held by many Africans on Twitter.
For them, the foreign media and international funding always arrive too late because prevention does not make such a splash as footage of emaciated children and stories of “haunted” adults.
Africans use Twitter to comfort each other, too. They poured out raw emotion as the story unfolded, many tweeting to each other that they were weeping.
“Oh God, please have mercy on those facing famine!” wrote Salha L Kaitesi.
Somali rapper K’naan – whose anthem of African unity, Wavin’ Flag, was often played at the World Cup last year – perhaps best summed up the span of emotional contradictions many Africans are going through this week.
“I love you but you’re killing me, Somalia,” he wrote on Twitter. “Killing me.” – Reuters