Travel season is upon us and every person that visits a foreign country has a responsibility. Creating new experiences also means letting go of the ones you’re used to and acknowledging the culture and traditions that surround you. It’s a delicate balance of understanding the nuances of the locals and trying to be respectful of the lives you’re only getting a glimpse of.
I’ve recently noticed a troubling trend, one in which bloggers/influencers and photographers visit a foreign country—namely ones in Africa—and will use the landscape of Western society’s view of struggling as a means to glamorize and prop themselves up.
please stop traveling to African countries and doing stuff like this. If you care about poor children so much why do you never see people do this in the hood?? we are not props you can just temporarily use and dispose of for Instagram likes. it’s enough pic.twitter.com/EYav4JG19F
— La Bronze James (@jackieaina) February 7, 2019
Hello from Porto Novo !
Take me to motherland and you will see me shining like gold. ✨
? : Oronce Photography (IG) #ScheenaDonia #Beninvies #PortoNovo #Benin #Africa pic.twitter.com/jZnQUFvOtT— Scheena Donia (@Scheenadonia) February 5, 2019
It’s disturbing and disrespectful to see these images and draw out the connotations behind the images. And it’s not the images alone that are disruptive, but the messages behind them. The first one was taken by the Luxembourg-based photographer Awamu Moja in Cameroon. The white woman in the bridal dress basically uses the villagers as a prop, a background that she can just post online and be done with. It even alludes to her being their self-serving “white savior,” coming to save them from the unfortunate circumstances placed upon them. The second picture was taken by blogger Scheena Donia in Porto Novo, the capital of Benin, and the expressions of the villagers behind her speak volumes.
This is the REAL SHOT. ? pic.twitter.com/2iw11xXV4K
— ESQUIRE (@ESQSOUND) February 6, 2019
It’s a matter of decency, of respect. One could assume that the villagers didn’t even give consent to have photos captured of them. The disconnect comes from this unwillingness to do just that—connect. As a Nigerian-American and having been to Nigeria plenty of times, I know that locals and villagers are always eager to take pictures, always eager to be in a video, smiling or jesting. It’s all about understanding that while you’re only a visitor, their stay is permanent. It’s important to talk to the locals, invest in the livelihood you’re borrowing for a couple of flicks, buy some of the food they’re selling and get to know even a little bit of their lives. Because they have stories that your pictures can’t tell, and they’re worth more than a couple of likes.
Next time you travel to a foreign country, it’s always good to try to be more aware of the people that surround you. Don’t be afraid to open up discussion and learn more about the culture first-hand rather than the image you want to paint. Language barriers can be challenging, but it’s an obstacle that can be worked around with translators and non-verbals. No matter where you choose to your next set of unforgettable memories, we should all strive to explore and not exploit.