Philda Nani Kereng, Botswana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, confirmed that her country will take part in the Weapons of Mass Manipulation presentation and Annual Diplomacy Day launch on November 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Abuja’s Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, which will examine Africa’s role in shaping global narratives through diplomatic influence and state media.
The push for African-led narratives
The book, authored by Dr. Mkpe Abang, founder and CEO of Media Diplomacy Studies (MDS), examines how state media can project national identity and counter distorted portrayals of African countries. Kereng emphasized the need for African nations to take greater control of their international narratives, particularly in an era where external representations often oversimplify or misrepresent their realities.
She highlighted the gap between Africa’s global influence and its ability to shape perceptions. The event will explore how African governments can leverage media to project their interests effectively, rather than relying on external framings that may distort their progress.
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Africa’s media challenge goes beyond technology
The issue extends beyond technical upgrades. African states face systemic challenges in ensuring their media institutions can compete with global narratives. Dr. Abang’s work argues that without deliberate public policies, sustained institutional investment, and technological capacity-building, African media risks remaining reactive rather than influential.
Kereng also confirmed Botswana’s commitment to the event, including plans to share the book’s findings with President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko. The High Commission will fully participate in both the book presentation and the launch of Annual Diplomacy Day, which will serve as a platform for discussions on media-diplomacy intersections. The day’s agenda includes debates on how communication and technology shape international influence.