Pilgrimages

What is, in the wake of post-colonial discourse, known today about Africa? Who communicates, writes/tells what and how on who’s agenda following decades of intensively practised globalisation?
 

map of Africa indicating 14 travel destinations

The hosting of the World Cup on the African continent brought the opportunity to acknowledge Africa as part of a common system with common rules. Billions of eyes were simultaneously drawn to the continent, united by the global language of the rules of football, mutually recognised from the Americas to Asia, from Europe to Australia to Africa. The countries in Africa themselves stood, for once, together in pride and excitement, leaving identity conflicts aside.
 

Against the backdrop of a multicultural and therefore complex coexistence, the broad international attention during the World Cup and its mutually agreed common rules, the Chinua Achebe Center for African Writers and Artists and Chimurenga Magazine decided to send 14 acclaimed African writers to 14 different cities. During the four weeks of the World Cup, the chosen authors travelled to their various destinations. The World Cup’s presence on the continent served to open doors for communication and familiarity, and as a basis to explore immediacy and subtext of diverse places and people nevertheless of a common belonging.  

The PILGRIMAGES website was created in order to offer a platform for audio and video postings as well as some excellent writing. In contrast to traditional “travel literature”, which emerged during the ages of “discoveries” and colonial times, depicting “the other by the other”, each contribution is based on the appreciation of a common entity.  

The chronicles, posted in multiple media formats, are reintroducing Africa from within. Rich diversity combined with close scrutiny offers a view of African day-to-day life beyond NGOs, WHO reports, World Bank activities and multinational investments. The website is a hub for “Africa”. It opens angles, perspectives, ideas and links to the continent, taking you on an extensive journey, but not a safari. 

map of Africa indicating 14 travel destinations

Text by Rayelle Niemann, 2010
screen-shots from the project`s web-site
+ the ONLINE ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY
 

FEATURED THEME ON CITY SHARING

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