Today, in Nairobi, Kenya, prominent African Leaders, scholars, media business moguls, publishers and other stake holders within the media are meeting to discuss what the future holds for African media.

Organised by the African Media Initiative (AMI), and Kenya’s Nation Media Group, the conference is a milestone in the development of the African media. Over the last 10 years, the important progress the media has made closely mirrors concerted efforts at taking our continent to greater heights within different areas.

At the conference, participants will share, learn lessons and outline insights geared towards setting pathways to enable our own media gain more relevance within the African society. Africa’s future will only be chartered by Africans.

The same applies to its media. Much as challenges still exist within African media, stakeholders should come up with home grown solutions to tackle the challenges.

The reshaping of Africa’s image in the world is one way of redefining ourselves as a people. The image projected by international media, is of Africa being a continent held hostage by conflicts, wars and poverty. This needs to be redressed.

Africa’s future looks bright-notwithstanding its challenges. This bright future needs to be established in its proper context, using our own media. Africa’s Media has a role to play in this reorientation, that is meant to deliver on the much talked about African rennaissence. Other stakeholders such as business persons and investment groups have a role to play by boosting capacities of local media.

With a vibrant home grown media, Africa’s bright side will have a more established place in the world.

Ends