Overhauling Africa’s global image through sharing its stories

The theme of this year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba media launch was African narratives and the need to showcase Africa’s own stories to the world.

Speakers at the event came from two of SA Tourism’s hidden gems: Jotham’s Place and Discover Durban Tours and Transfers, each of which related their own success stories.

Elaborating on Africa’s Travel Indaba’s official theme, Africa’s Stories, your Success, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer of South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) said: “We no longer look to the world for affirmation or inspiration; the world looks to us. We are real, vibrant and driven to succeed. So, we invite the world to journey with us and tell the new story of Africa.

“In this post-truth world, it is up to each of us to be vigilant about the way Africa is depicted. We can be the watchdogs of misrepresented stories and, best of all, we have the digital tools to keep the narrative truthful,” added Kotze-Nhlapo.

These sentiments were echoed by South African storyteller, Victor Kgomoeswana: “The greatest story for us to tell is our own; the most effective way to tell it is the African way – because the centre of the universe, literally and figuratively, is in Africa