蜜桃交友

Pope English Africa Service.

In a message to celebrate the 2021 World Communications Day, on 16 May, Father Professor Walter Ihejirika said African Catholic media practitioners and netizens need to take ownership of the African narrative.

The creative spirit of African youth

鈥淲e have to tell the whole story of our continent and not just the single stories which are preferred by outsiders. The Pope invites us to 鈥榟it the streets鈥� of our urban and rural communities to discover stories of hope which are like bright candles shining in the darkness. We need to let people know the faith and resilience of our people, especially the youth, whose creative spirit is often smothered by our 鈥榩rodigal leaders鈥�. This is the reason why SIGNIS-Africa is committed to forming a pool of young people who will become our Citizen Journalists of Hope,鈥� said Professor Ihejirika.

Come and See: An invitation for interaction

No one can tell the African story better than one who sees and lives the experience, the SIGNIS Africa President said. He echoed this year鈥檚 theme as one that elicits interaction and encounter: 鈥淐ome and See鈥� (Jn 1:46): Communicating by Encountering People Where and as They Are.

鈥淲e draw inspiration from the message of Pope Francis for this year鈥檚 celebration,鈥� he said. Further observing that communicative interactions are only helpful when they are based on the truth. That search for the truth can be hampered by laziness, overconfidence in one鈥檚 level of knowledge, prejudice, stereotyping and hatred of the other. Every human being is a communicator," he said. 

Using social media, we can tell our true story

鈥淲e have an obligation to tell the African story. It is our responsibility to invite others to 'Come and See' Africa. In the past, a number of social, economic, political and technological factors have created scenarios where our stories have been told more often from the outside. Today, with the democratisation of the media and the rapid growth of social media, we have every possibility to tell our stories to the outside world,鈥� emphasised Father Ihejirika.

African Catholic media鈥檚 recommitment

鈥淎s we mark the 2021 World Communications Day, we thank the Good Lord for the gift of human communication. We renew our commitment to being truthful storytellers. We promise to use our talents to open the eyes and minds of our readers, viewers and listeners to the truth about their fellow human beings and their environment. And most importantly, we will work to lead them to see the ultimate truth 鈥� the love of God made manifest in Christ Jesus,鈥� said Professor Ihejirika.

SIGNIS

Father Walter C. Ihejirika is a Professor of Development Communication and Media Studies at Nigeria鈥檚 University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He is also the current SIGNIS-Africa President.

SIGNIS is the world Catholic association for communication professionals. It brings together SIGNIS member associations from 140 countries specialised in radio, television, cinema, video, media education, the Internet, and new technologies.