Here are some of the Misconceptions About Africa
Misconceptions About Africa – Most people see Africa as a vast land where different animals roam around freely but this is not just what the continent has and can offer.
Misconception #1 – It is a country
Africa is a continent with 54 countries in it. It also boasts 11.7 million square miles of land mass and is 14 times bigger than Greenland, based on the video from Mental Floss.
Misconception #2 – Africans speak African
There are over 2,000 languages spoken across Africa. As of 2022, there are over 8,000 dialects and the most spoken is listed as Swahili. It is estimated that over 16 million natives speak this.
Misconception #3 – It is always hot in Africa
The continent is known for the Sahara desert and it is common for people to perceive that it is hot there. However, the deserts in Africa have drastic temperature variations. During the day, the temperature could be 110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit or 43 to 46 degrees Celcius but during the night, it could go down to 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 to 27 degrees Celcius.
Misconception #4 – Wild animals roam among the people
This was prompted by the 2014 World Cup and the US won against Ghana. Delta Airlines tweeted a seemingly innocent photo celebrating the win with a silhouette of the Statue of Liberty and a silhouette of a giraffe to represent Ghana.
Misconception #5 – All native Africans have dark skin
A study stated that the “KhoeSan hunter-gatherers in Botswana have relatively light skin, while Nilo-Saharan-speaking populations from East Africa have some of the darkest pigmented skin on Earth.”
Misconception #6 – African food is simple and sparse
One of Africans’ staples is zetar, an herb and spice mix that can be used for a variety of recipes from veggies to chicken.
Misconception #7 – Africa doesn’t have the technology
Africa has been instrumental in modern medical advancements. Actually, the first successful heart transplant was done in Cape Town, South Africa.
Misconception #8 – Africa has no major folklore/fantasy
African folklores were mostly passed down through oral stories and it is harder to track them all.