“Africa Bob” (波布非洲) is a popular Chinese commentator and content creator about African issues on WeChat. The following is a summary translation of his post that reflects on the controversy about the exploitation of African (Malawi) children used to produce short form videos by Chinese merchants.
Chinese in Africa once again made the headlines on the BBC. This time, though, it was even more serious than the last time when a video of a Chinese mining boss beating his employee went viral.
Now, the subject of everyone’s attention are those short videos of “African children raising signs” that no doubt many have seen online. The BBC Africa Eye team took on the issue in the form of a 50-minute documentary entitled “Racism for Sale” and accompanying articles that have been reprinted by major African media and caused a huge uproar online.
African public opinion online is once again focused on China’s “racism” against Africa.
I hardly use Douyin (the Chinese equivalent of TikTok) and I rarely do short-form videos. Nonetheles, I’ve seen some of the kinds of videos that show Africans, both adults and children, shouting and sending blessings (in Chinese).
In my circle of friends here in Africa, we all think this is bad and feel the videos exploit Africans — especially paying children to do what is effectively commercial work which is akin to child labor.
In recent years, with the rise of short-form video platforms like Douyin, it’s become increasingly commonplace for Chinese people in Africa to post videos of their experiences on the continent. Just normal, regular innocent videos that document daily life here.
But it’s sad when some Chinese people who don’t know the law and respect local culture come to Africa and exploit children to make money.
So, when you see children holding up those placards, as was shown in the BBC documentary, and they’re getting paid to do so, it’s both exploitative and racist. Frankly, when I watch the BBC program, I was shocked!!! Why do Chinese people do these kinds of things?
If you want to run a business, fine, then hire adults but don’t use children. And don’t make money this way under the guise of “cultural communication” or that you’re doing it as some kind of charity project. We Chinese in Africa must first respect the words “human rights.” You must know that the millions people here in Africa have the same human rights as we do. We are no better or worse than anyone else.
Please stop now! Stop! This shouldn’t happen in Africa or anywhere in the world.
The original post entitled 请立刻停止！停止消费非洲孩子们!!!也停止不当的消费非洲人的短视频制作和传播!!! is available on the Africa Bob 波布非洲 WeChat page.
