Writing in modern Africa.

Long story short, it's not easy.

Lemme explain. As a child I was surrounded by conflicting cultures. My obvious blackness and very nature that made me African and Western everything else: Western clothes, Western movies, Western language (Local languages are not allowed in school). So when I started writing, I instinctively started writing about... you guessed it, white characters. To young me, it just didn't occur to me that my characters always having blonde hair, blue eyes and living in Kansas was... odd? Weird? Just not right I suppose. Besides, I had never been to America so my descriptions and what not were probably wrong.

As I grew older, I began to realise that I did not like writing about black people. A girl with black skin a puffy hair just wasn't as attractive as the blonde. I knew that was messed up so I tried to write about blacks in black countries doing black things, fighting for black causes.

It did not go well.

Then, I realised. I could not write about those things because I had never experienced those things. All around me, there were people trying to straighten their hair on bleach themselves, so why would I have thought that being black was beautiful.

I started writing about the things I was eventually. Black people finding themselves in foreign situations and having to adapt. (Although I still right about white girls... they're fun).

So here's to everyone trying to find their way in writing or otherwise. Whether you're black, Asian or white and are trying to find your way. You'll get there. I promise you.

                                                   Peace.