Articles by

Binyavanga Wainaina
• Learning objectives:
To explore how language reinforces
or challenges the colonial mindset.
Starter:
• Research – Who is Wainaina?
 How to write about Africa
https://granta.com/How-to-Write-about-Africa/
After reading this article, explain which term from each pair is most
relevant to this text. Explain your choice

1. Parody/Satire 6. Sweeping/Specific
2. Facetious/Sarcastic 7. Offensive/Humorous
3. Foreign/Familiar 8. Confronting/Elusive
4. Essay/Instruction 9. Condescending/Empowering
5. Western/African
 Discussion
• To what extent does Wainaina use language in ‘How to write about Africa’ to sketch
an image of ‘Africa’ that confronts Western readers with their own biased attitude?
• How is the meaning of Wainaina’s ‘How to write about Africa’ rooted in popular
Western Films about Africa (Out of Africa, Blood Diamond, The last King of
Scotmand and The Constant gardener)?
• To what extent is satire an effective medium for Wainaina’s message in ‘How to write
about Africa’ ?
• In what ways and for what reasons might ‘How to write about Africa’ by Wainaina be
considered offensive by both Western and African readers?
 Reflection
• What TOK links can you make to this lesson?
• What concepts have we explored today?
• What Global Issues have we linked to?
 Homework
Read other articles by Wainaina and add your notes to your portfolio.

https://granta.com/how-to-write-about-africa/

https://bidoun.org/articles/how-to-write-about-africa-ii

https://mg.co.za/article/2008-09-24-to-make-a-king/