July 29, 2015

Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa: First African Art Exhibition in 15 Years at the St. Louis Art Museum

Salem Solomon

Walking through an exhibition of West African Senufo art, one piece stopped me dead in my tracks. A featureless, three-foot clay figure stood slightly slouched. On its head sat an upside-down triangle resembling a tiny burlap bag. Hornbill feathers jutted upward. A plaque next to the figurine read kafigeledjo: “tell the truth.” The use of... Read more »

June 23, 2015

The Future of E-learning for African Journalists: Presentation Summary from E-Learning Africa 2015

Salem Solomon

Africa Talks has always been about providing thoughtful analysis on issues affecting Africa and its global diaspora. Now, we want to help African journalists tell their own stories with a first-of-its-kind e-learning platform.

April 23, 2014

Examining the roots of biased reporting on Africa: Insensitive ReportingWriting betrays the notionof subjects as subhumanCreating Distance from Subjects 

Salem Solomon

The cover of the venerable weekly magazine, the Economist in May 2000 said it all. Inside the outline of the continent of Africa, the magazine showed a photo of a young soldier with a rocket launcher slung over his shoulder. Above it was the headline, “The hopeless continent.” This example, though extreme, is not unusual... Read more »

April 6, 2014

Western Media and the Coverage of a Complex Continent: Africa

Salem Solomon

There is an increasing anger toward how Africa as a continent is covered in the mainstream media. Often, news reports this vast and complex continent have a monolithic tone where all of the negative news is highlighted and accepted by an audience that is not well informed. Even the positive news is met with the... Read more »

Feb. 8, 2009

“The Souls of Black Folk”: W. E. B. Du Bois’ contribution to literature

Salem Solomon

W. E. B. Du Bois’ contribution to literature represented one of the first indications of the simmering pot of the suppressed rage expressed by a black author. It’s the same rage that would boil over and explode in the following century within the black community in the form of riots, rising crime and revolutionary movements... Read more »