Why do people think of Africa as one big single place? when someone travels to one country only in Africa?

Question

for holidays, he will say i am going to Africa (instead of naming the country he is going to). Or if there is a show on a certain region or country, they will refer to it as "Africa". Or people will ask you when you are in a foreign country "How is it in Africa?"... for godsake, the continent has 53 countries, several languages and different people, cultures, practices.. when i travel, i say i am going to France, UK or Canada , i do not say i am going to Europe, America... why can't people make the distinction and understand that Africa is not one single place, but a huge continent?

Answer 1

That is a very good point. And it amuses me how many people do not realise that Egypt is in Africa.

I guess for most people, the term "Africa" refers to sub-saharan Africa,

Answer 2

because as you rightly put it, there are people who assume and think that africa is a country, when it is a continent. another thing also is they imply as well that only blacks and whites live in africa, when it is not a black and white continent, but a multi ethnic, multi-faith and multicultural continent. i mean there are even south african chinese and indians, eg muslims, hindus, sikhs etc. africa though is not a country-africa is indeed a continent alongside europe, asia, europe, americas. places like nigeria, tanzania, south afirca, cameroon, kenya, zimababwe are countries. i knew that africa was a continent, ever since i was 5 years old, anyway. as for an answer to your question, some just don't ask questions: they prefer to make assumptions, rather than find out the facts by reading books, which is why there are people who claim that africa is a country. ignorance? perhaps so. lack of knowledge? definitely

Answer 3

Well when I travel to Europe I do say Im going to Europe, because generally visit more than one country whe I am there.

As far as Africa. The few people that I know who have traveled there did say Africa as well, but I always ask what part.

Answer 4

It's a bad habit Americans have of looking at Africa as an undifferentiated lump. I had to explain this very idea - that Africa had over 50 countries - to a professional, competent coworker recently.

Our habit comes from a self-reinforcing web of media, personal bias and ignorance, and inadequate education.

When I TA'd African history at UCLA, I asked my students to draw a map of Africa at the beginning of the course, and one student who had been born in Egypt drew the Nile as connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean. Generally, people - at least in the US - can ignore Africa, and they do.

I even hear it in the news - mispronounced country names if they're used at all, or the continent compared to another country 1/100th the size. Duh.

Answer 5

Crime is the biggest Crime in South Africa.Crime brings in a fear syndrome and investment in South Africa is at its lowest. When the ANC Government has the guts to say enough is enough and tackle crime the way they tackled apartheid.Head on. But when corruption is a way of life from the top , crime will keep South Africa chained the same way apartheid kept the people shackled .

Answer 6

just the same as most of the world dont understaand the uk is four countries we are not All english as they think we are 4 countries unfortunitly linked together in a way that none of them like

Answer 7

Even the small country's in Africa are bigger than most European country's.

Answer 8

Because they're ignorant

Answer 9

AFRICA IS ONE HUGE CONTINENT OF DRAMA, THEREFORE EVERYTHING THERE IS JUST ONE BIG BLUR.

Answer 10

sadly, because they don't care.