MODERN MEDIA, OLD TROPES: MONKEYPOX COVERAGE AND THE REINFORCEMENT OF AFRICAN STEREOTYPES

Abstract

The 2022 outbreak of monkeypox in non-endemic countries prompted widespread global media coverage. However, the portrayal of the epidemic by foreign media agencies—particularly their repeated use of images depicting Black-skinned Africans—reveals deep-rooted biases in international reporting. This paper critically examines how the media in developed countries represented Africa in their monkeypox coverage and explores how such portrayals reinforce long-standing colonial stereotypes. By analyzing the visual and textual narratives used during the outbreak, the study highlights the persistence of framing Africa as a continent defined by disease, poverty, and crisis. These representations do not merely shape public perception; they contribute to the marginalization of Africa in global health and development discourse. Drawing on postcolonial theory and development communication scholarship, the paper argues that such media practices reflect a broader development ideology that sees Africa through a deficit lens. The consequences of these portrayals are far-reaching, influencing international policy, aid decisions, and the overall narrative of Africa’s place in the global community. The study calls for a more ethical and accurate representation of Africa in global media, particularly in the context of health crises.