Contenidos : Identities

Part 1: Lagos

Part 2: By the Power Vested in Me, I Now Pronounce You a Country

Part 3: The Birth of White Saviour Imagery (or How Not to Be a White Saviour While Still Making a Difference)

Part 4: The Story of Democracy in Seven Dictatorships

Part 5: There Is No Such Thing as an African Accent and Binyavanga Wainaina Is Still Right

Part 6: The Case of the Stolen Artefacts

Part 7: Jollof Wars: A Love Story

Part 8: What’s Next?

Acknowledgements

Notes

Africa Is Not a Country challenges the stereotype of Africa as a single, homogenous continent defined by poverty or conflict. Faloyin emphasizes that Africa is immensely diverse — 54 countries, thousands of languages, and countless cultures.

The book examines modern urban life (like Lagos), colonial legacies that shaped borders and politics, and critiques Western portrayals that reinforce reductive “white saviour” narratives. It explores African politics, identity, culture, and heritage, including the debate over stolen artefacts and cultural representation.

Ultimately, the book celebrates Africa’s vitality, creativity, and agency, encouraging readers to understand the continent on its own terms and recognize the possibilities of its present and future.