Tiffany Haddish, an American comedian, has defended her controversial TikTok video of a trip to a Zimbabwean supermarket, claiming it was intended to dispel the myth that “war is every day” in Africa.
Haddish received backlash from some Zimbabweans on social media after posting a video of herself strolling through the aisles of a supermarket chain in the capital, Harare.
“Look at this grocery store. It’s humungous, in Africa,” she says in disbelief as she scans rows of shelves with soft drinks, frozen meat, and fresh fruit. The video has been viewed over 200,000 times on TikTok.
“How ignorant could she be? Did she think that Africans shop for rocks? She needs to travel more and unclog her sadly colonized view of the world.
Yikes,” raged one user on X. Another person commented, “They think we’re chasing lions and zebras.” A third person highlighted the misguided perception many Americans have of Africa, believing its inhabitants live in primitive conditions, residing in mud huts, lacking access to clean water, and being devoid of modern amenities like electricity and internet.
In response to the criticism on X, Haddish explained that she had been taught a false narrative about Africa.
“I am an American, a Black one at that, and told for years that people are starving in Africa, showed pictures of babies with flies on them,” she said.
She recounted being told “crazy stories” about how Africans “kill each other” and that there is “war every day.”
However, Haddish stated that her trip to Zimbabwe has opened her eyes and that she is “finding out the truth” about the continent.
“I thought I would share cause I know people in the USA that believe Africans don’t have anything,” she wrote.
Some people have come to her defense. “We like that you like our grocery store and all the products that shocked you are just basics here as well, we really aren’t in the forest hanging on trees,” said a voice of support for the actress.
Haddish, who is half Eritrean, made her first visit to the country in 2018.
During that visit, she praised long-time ruler Isaias Afwerki, whom critics refer to as a “dictator.”
Haddish’s intentions seem to have been rooted in challenging stereotypes and encouraging a more accurate understanding of Africa.
Her experience underscores the importance of firsthand experience in dispelling long-held misconceptions and fostering a more informed and nuanced view of different cultures and regions.
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