WE HAD BEEN BEDEVILED BY AJUDGMENT OF DELIBERATE BIAS AND SHEER PREJUDICE TO SAY THE LEAST WHEN IT CAME TO OUR ANALYSIS OF THE CHINESE REALITY. That was totally unfair as journalists - who failed in our sacred duty to research independently, contextualize the Chinese dynamics; appreciate the evolving cum distinct culture of governance structure the Chinese people have inherited among others for centuries.

 

Journalists from across the African continent would invariably reflect different perspectives variously. That is unique to our human complexity. But it does not really matter where the journalists come from folks. Journalism either taught or tutored in Africa or the West will not change in terms of content, gospel according to the ethics, norms or outlook in spite of who authors a particular thesis.

 

Li Xiguang, a famous Chinese and world-class Journalism and Communication Professor and Dean of the School of Journalism, Tsinghua University was positioned to do a presentation at the African Journalists Seminar. Unlike most of his colleagues throughout the Seminar, he adopted a more interactive kind of discourse. Others before him did, but he was more engrossed into ascertaining the perspectives or as it were opinions of African journalists in relation to China.

 

The impressions were mixed and we do not have any qualms with colleagues who seem to sound or appear 'holier than the Pope'. What does that mean? Some of our colleagues, it seemed, were the newfound pro-democracy activists who wanted to prove to Professor Xi their so-called understanding of Western defined 'democracy'. The seminar was not about lecture on 'Western-styled democracy', but insights into China and the Chinese peoples' unique cultural heritage.

 

A long time colleague visited the United States in 1986 on a Study Tour as UN-Fellow at Howard University in Washington D.C. He must have been absolutely stunned while watching NBC evening news. A reporter, in a live broadcast said "President Ronald Reagan has lied to the American people". That was reported on American soil. Yes! That tells us the culture of media evolution.

 

But can that or should that be the case in Africa? Africans have always been prided by their strong cultural upbringing. We do have respect for authority and will not purposely tell our leaders squarely in such language. If times have changed ? we must blamed it on an eroded culture and some form of lost identity. No one can contest ancient African societies were rules by the claws of dictatorships or forms.

 

Our ancestors practiced various forms of participatory democracy, which ensured sanity, safety and order in those days. Those various systems worked and served diverse purposes. It will be premature to judge that, because it did not come from the West, it did not connote a semblance of 'democracy'.

 

We were proud of Professor Xi, a towering voice and authority on Journalism and Communication from China who variously present papers at International gathering on the Chinese landscape about the media in this Great Asian nation. He proved an experienced professor by all standards. His nerves did not flare up at any point in time given the comments and opinions expressed.

 

We could not blame some of our colleagues who have for ever so long been dogged by consistent foreign campaign, cum biased media propaganda from the West. China is not in the business of any media war or competition if you like. China does not seek to wage any form of ideological warfare. Africa has for ever so long been China's genuine and mutual partner in different spheres of human endeavors.

 

The West has for most part, since this year, left the traditional practice of balanced and constructive Journalism by concentrating only on the somewhat negative side of reporting on China, despite the huge investment and resources being committed to the Beijing Olympic preparations.

 

China is not the only country carrying out huge multi-billion dollars construction projects in the world. But the western press reports about pollution in China as though this is the only place experiencing tremendous construction works. Environmental activists blame the United States, Australia and their European allies as culprits of global emissions.

 

Participants attending the African Journalists Seminar were shown multiple contradicting footage aired on CNN and BBC as well as other Western European dailies- not in a bid to win hearts and minds as the campaign in 'Iraq', but to enable African journalists independently discern 'truth' from 'falsehood'. In one of the footage carried on CNN was originally culled from China Central Television, but CNN chose to employ the 'doctoring technique'- common to clever internet users. What went wrong? In the original footage angry Tibetans were seen in a stone-throwing spree as Chinese security forces approached the scenes of the riots.

 

But in a highly doctored, cum manipulative piece of corrupted media venture, according to Professors Xi, that part of the original footage from China Central Television that showed stoning protestors was cut off on purpose to depict a scene of fleeting protestors as security forces arrived on the scene.

 

China's relationship with Africa is being pigeon-holed as a 'colonization' effort. Strange, isn't it? Who is well-placed to accuse the other of spreading colonization?

 

The entire world knows who patronized, aided and abetted slavery and colonization. Everybody knows who has successfully re-engineered what has now become 'Neo-colonization'. Once upon a time ? history reveals there was a scramble for Africa. Can we imagine this and the attendant consequences?

 

China offers mutual cooperation and collaboration ? not any attempt to win conquest. For more than 100 years, those who libeled China's partnership with Africa as one based on colonization, were the same people in the vanguard to helping to plunder Africa's wealth dismally and in most cases, there remains nothing to write home about. So where is and what is the basis of the thesis that seek to portray China as launching some kind of natural mineral colonization.

 

China's success story lies in its resolute ability to run and competently control its own economy; feed itself; carry out its own scientific explorations; make dramatic advances in science and technology and consciously respond to the computer age in a progressive manner possible. Clearly, the West favors capitalism in all its facets where the market forces would be the driving force. It is within this ambit of competing market variables that China is partnering with African countries.Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Beyond the economic interactions, China offers mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and harmony with the African continent. Bilateral projects being undertaken throughout Africa bespeak in succinct terms China's honest belief in helping Africa grow. We do appreciate such cooperation. China, we believe will embrace change ? no matter what it takes, but all will take place on its terms and conditions or as the situation so dictates.

 

Ekena writes from Beijing, China

 

Source: The Heritage Newspaper  (June 11, 2008)