How to Speak About Africa Today
A practical dictionary for more accurate, responsible language about the continent.
Get the context, a better alternative, and examples you can actually use.
Start hereExplore the dictionary
Browse responsible language, clearer alternatives and examples you can use today.
Explore dictionary
Check your writingAsk Tari
Paste a word, sentence or paragraph. Tari suggests clearer language, linked to dictionary entries.
Ask Tari
TodayWord of the day
Today: “Education crisis.” See what it carries and the clearer way to say it.
See today’s word
Start exploring the dictionary
A few examples from the guide. Each shows what to say instead, and why.
- Media & Language#01
Africa is…
It collapses 55 countries into a single story, treating Africa as if it speaks with one voice, has one experience, and shares one fate. It also allows the challenges of one country to be projected onto the entire continent.
BetterRead full entryUse the continent / name the specific country or region
- Economics#03
Aid-dependent
It suggests the continent survives mainly on aid, when in reality African economies are driven by a far wider mix of domestic revenue, trade, investment, entrepreneurship, and remittances.
BetterRead full entryDiversified funding base
- Media & Language#26
Third World country
An outdated Cold War term that ranks countries in a hierarchy of development and treats Africa as a single lower tier. It is misleading because African countries span different income groups and economic trajectories.
BetterRead full entryLow-income / lower-middle-income country
Take the dictionary with you
Download How to Speak About Africa Today as a PDF, with every term, its clearer alternative and the evidence behind it. Built for newsrooms, classrooms and communications teams.
Free to download and share.
How to Speak About Africa Today
A practical dictionary for more accurate, responsible language about the continent.
Africa No Filter