The New York Times is looking for a journalist to work as their Nairobi bureau chief. It is a job to die for. There is the prestige of working for one of the world’s most famous newspapers, founded nearly 170 years ago. The money will certainly be good. But on top of all that, you will have the fun of your life.
“Our Nairobi bureau chief has a tremendous opportunity to dive into news and enterprise across a wide range of countries, from the deserts of Sudan and the pirate seas of the Horn of Africa, down through the forests of Congo and the shores of Tanzania,” the notice published online last week reads.
“It is an enormous patch of vibrant, intense and strategically important territory with many vital story lines, including terrorism, the scramble for resources, the global contest with China and the constant push-and-pull of democracy versus authoritarianism.”
That is not all.
“The ideal candidate should enjoy jumping on news, be willing to cover conflict, and also be drawn to investigative stories. There is also the chance to delight our readers with unexpected stories of hope and the changing rhythms of life in a rapidly evolving region.”
But, sorry, this job is not for an African journalist. Between the lines, the notice is screaming, ‘Mzungu journalist wanted’. Or one who is white inside but unfortunately trapped in a black body – like Bob Collymore was, according to one Michael Joseph. How do we know?
The NYT is enticing white journalists with virgin black territory to be penetrated by those who can dare. Or do you think they are trying to attract an African journalist interested in a wide range of countries, from the deserts of Sudan and pirate seas of the Horn of Africa, down through the forests of Congo and the shores of Tanzania?
Vibrant, intense. The image of the black savage.
That is how Africa was seen at the 1884-5 Berlin conference, where the Motherland was carved out among mzungus. Nothing about the people but everything about endless pristine resources to grab. The land was rich and empty, no people.
Founded in 1851, 33 years before that evil Kamkunji of plunderers in Berlin, NYT in 2019 still sees Africa as open territory to be conquered for empire.
And what are the key topics of NYT reporting from the Nairobi bureau? Terrorism, scramble for resources, dictatorship, conflict…That is Africa.
Occasionally, there will be “unexpected stories of hope” to delight mzungus.
As one African Studies scholar put it: “Hard to distinguish this @nytimes ad for a Nairobi bureau chief from a call to join a 19th century expedition with Livingstone & Stanley.”
Lakini when is the New York Times going to end its deep-seated shameless racism against black people?
In January, the paper’s reporter Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura who had been named to the Nairobi bureau sparked a storm of Old Testament proportions after publishing graphic images of Kenyans killed in the DusitD2 terrorist attack. You will remember the Media Council called Kimiko out and fired a fierce protest to New York.
The thunder that is going to blow the NYT to smithereens is doing pressure ups in the Congo. Msitubebe malenge jo! This is our Motherland.
