Nicole Murphy: We were wrong about Africa

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and American actress Nicole Murphy. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

American model and Hollywood star Nicole Murphy touched down in Kenya last Saturday, and the experience left her both surprised and impressed.

On her maiden visit to Kenya, Murphy was the guest of fellow creative Lovince Mckenzie, a popular filmmaker and artiste. She was accompanied by her longtime friend Rita Ewing and Frantz Michel. During a press conference, Murphy spoke candidly about the misconceptions surrounding African countries.

The Western gaze often casts Africa as a monolithic entity, a land of perpetual poverty and hardship. Through the lens of media and popular culture, the continent is frequently reduced to a caricature of its reality-a narrative of despair and helplessness, where famine, disease, and conflict are the defining features of African life.

"We were all misled into believing that Africa is just full of jungle and animals, with malnourished kids roaming around. But this is not the case," Murphy said. "The focus on poverty and suffering obscures the continent's rich cultural diversity and vibrant economies, overshadowing the beauty of the continent."

With this in mind, Murphy and her team are planning to document their experience in Kenya to highlight the country's beauty and challenge the stereotypes that permeate film and creative spaces. She is now advocating for a change in perception of the African continent.

"On television, they show a little boy or girl with no clothes, a big belly, and flies all over their face, and that is the image they are portraying to us in the States," Murphy said.

She praised Kenya's scenery, noting its beautiful cities, hotels, beaches, and an economy that most people outside the continent are unaware of.