POA Platform Key to Shaping Authentic African Narratives, Say IGAD Media Awards Participants

Addis Ababa, November 29, 2025 (ENA) —The Pulse of Africa (POA) media platform is indispensable for reclaiming the continent’s story from external misrepresentation, journalists from the Horn region asserted today.

The comments were made during a visit by a delegation of nominees and media professionals participating in the 2025 Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Media Awards to the POA headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Officially launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, POA serves as a vital pan-African media platform.

 

 

The visiting journalists stressed the critical need to counter long-standing negative stereotypes often perpetuated by international media by amplifying authentic African voices, perspectives, and achievements.

In an interview with ENA, Jamila Mohamed, a journalist with Citizen TV Kenya, emphasized the importance of crafting African narratives rooted in the continent's genuine realities.

Praising the POA facilities, Jamila Mohamed said, “The studios and equipment are impressive, and it’s essential for Africans to tell their own stories.”

 

 

She recalled how many major global narratives often focus narrowly on disasters, such as famines and conflicts, rather than the diverse and rich experiences of African cultures.

“We have countless stories to tell about our lives, our traditions, and our food,” she added, highlighting the necessity of authenticity in storytelling.

Jamila Mohamed also pointed out the significant challenges faced by media in terms of funding and resources.

“Many journalists want to share important stories but lack the financial support to travel and cover them,” she noted, calling for increased investment in media organizations to empower journalists and improve the quality of reporting.

Ambrose Okwunga, a Ugandan journalist with Unity FM, said that for too long, Western media have narrated African stories in ways that do not reflect the continent's realities.

 

“It’s imperative that African media like POA reclaim this narrative,” Okwunga stressed, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among African media outlets to collectively tell their stories.

On his part, Gabriel Gatluak Wal, a producer at King Media in South Sudan, praised the advanced equipment at POA and expressed a forward-looking vision for African media.

Wal emphasized the need to shift the prevailing negative narratives associated with Africa, urging POA to showcase the continent’s immense potential and diverse experiences accurately.

 

 

“Our narratives should reflect the real Africa,” Wal stressed. “We need to show that we are developing and thriving, rather than just focusing on crises.”

Patience Nyange, Spokesperson for the Executive Secretary of IGAD, emphasized the critical role of African media like POA in reshaping African narratives.

“It’s time to tell African stories from our own perspective, rather than relying on foreign interpretations,” she added.

 

 

She underscored that POA offers a unique opportunity to narrate Africa's story authentically.

Nyange acknowledged the efforts to build capacity within the journalistic community and called for more collaboration across the region.