TAEF President calls on journalists on the continent to reframe the African narrative

The President of the African Editors Forum (TAEF), Churchill Otieno, has called on African journalists to reframe the African narrative.

Speaking virtually at the launch of the Pan-African Media Innovation Programme (MIP) in Johannesburg, South Africa September 12, 2025, Otieno noted that while in Africa, diplomacy has always been more than the handshake of leaders, it is embedded in the ways of life of communities.

“The Ubuntu philosophy, now well known amongst our continent’s people, also applies to international relations: our nations stand taller when we stand together. As the Ghanaian proverb says, ‘When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.’”

Otieno indicated that, however, the media has not always reflected this truth. He said too often, coverage of Africa’s diplomacy has been filtered through external lenses, reducing the continent’s engagements to crises, summits, and aid negotiations.

“The Ubuntu philosophy, now well known amongst our continent’s people, also applies to international relations: our nations stand taller when we stand together. As the Ghanaian proverb says, ‘When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.’”

“Our task as editors is to reframe this. Diplomacy in a multipolar world is not simply about Africa negotiating with the rest, but about Africa shaping global priorities from its own values and aspirations,” he said, adding that “We must also acknowledge the daily challenges our journalists face – from limited access to reliable Internet in rural areas to ensuring their safety when reporting from conflict zones, yet they persevere in bringing us the truth.”

Otieno also noted that The African Editors Forum is proud to stand with MTN and the University of Johannesburg in this programme “because we know that the media must be both a mirror and a map. A mirror to show Africa as she is: resilient, creative, and diverse. And a map to guide where Africa seeks to go: toward unity, justice, and

According to Otieno, innovation in media is essential to this dual role.

“The digital revolution has opened new platforms, but also created new vulnerabilities. We see misinformation, manipulation, and the crowding out of African voices. Through this partnership, we are investing in African-led solutions: equipping our journalists with tools, ideas, and solidarity to tell our stories better. For example, the programme will provide access to encrypted communication software, host workshops on fact-checking techniques, and create mentorship networks for emerging journalists,” he said.

Among other things, Otieno said “when editors choose to frame the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) not just as a technocratic treaty but as Kwame Nkrumah’s dream of Pan-African unity finding practical expression, we breathe life into diplomacy.”

He said when journalists report the African Union’s peace missions not only through casualty figures but also through the philosophy of ujamaa — familyhood — they remind audiences that African diplomacy is grounded in solidarity, not conquest.

“When we empower young journalists to use digital tools to document cross-border innovations — from the growth of fintech in Lagos, exemplified by companies like Paystack, to green energy solutions in Nairobi, showcased by projects like the Lake Turkana Wind Power, to the vibrant film industry in Dakar, with successes like the Gorée Island Cinema Project — we strengthen the ties that diplomacy is meant to nurture. We recently heard from Sarah, a young reporter in Kigali, who used open-source mapping tools to track the movement of goods across East African borders, creating an impactful visual narrative that transcended traditional reporting,” he said.

Otieno further noted that for TAEF, this partnership with MTN and the University of Johannesburg is about building an ecosystem of editors, journalists, innovators, and diplomats who work together to ensure Africa’s priorities are not an afterthought, but a starting point in global conversations.

prosperity,” he said.

The MIP is a continental initiative to equip journalists with the skills, tools, and networks required to navigate a rapidly changing information environment.

By Peter Mensah

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