This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
On Wednesday, The New York Times published a job advert on LinkedIn for a Nairobi Bureau Chief position, sparking controversy with its depiction of Africa as a continent of conflict and turmoil.
The advert described the region as a 'strategically important territory with many vital story lines, including terrorism, the scramble for resources, the global contest with China and the constant push-and-pull of democracy versus authoritarianism.'
Many social media users were critical of the NYT's job description, with some expressing frustration at the emphasis on 'covering conflict' and 'unexpected stories of hope' in the region.
However, three Kenyan poets, calling themselves sisterhood.lam, chose to respond with a satirical video reciting the job advert in its entirety.
"Our Nairobi bureau chief has a tremendous opportunity to dive into news and enterprise across a wide range of countries, from the deserts of Sudan and the pirate seas of the Horn of Africa, down through the forests of Congo and the shores of Tanzania," part of the ad reads.
"Dear @nytimes, we made this for you. Love, LAM#bureauchiefniwewe," the poets captioned their video.
