By Adaudo Anyiam-Osigwe
A friend of mine commended the article I wrote #BringBackOurGirls: If The Girls Return, What Will Become Of Them? A few days later, she indicated the photo used in the article, which is one of the dominant photos associated with the #BringBackOurGirls has become controversial. No, it has not become controversial. The photo should never have been used in the campaign.
The photographer has spoken out. These photos were taken of girls from Guinea-Bissau, as representation of banal African living not often shown in Western media. Now, these girls, with no connection whatsoever to the kidnapping, have become the face of it. Ironic that the reason the photographer chose to take these photos was to counter the usual representations of a suffering Africa.
You may read an interview with the photographer: The Real Story About the Wrong Photos in #BringBackOurGirls.
On May 8, a disturbing video of a young girl being murdered by Sudanese rebels in 2008 was circulated and bloggers had posted it on their sites and labeled it as a video from Boko Haram. The video created so much panic before its origin was uncovered. We should not be complicit in the misrepresentation of events and facts.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author are his alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of Pride Nigeria.