Russia through African eyes: the National Centre RUSSIA launches "Russia – Africa: New Media Meanings" blog tour

---

The National Centre RUSSIA has hosted the official launch of the "Russia – Africa: New Media Meanings" blog tour, a large-scale media project for leading African journalists and bloggers. The opening event marked the start of a programme through which participants from across the African continent will discover modern-day Russia, its cultural identity and technological achievements through discussions, expert meetings, and visits to major cultural and public venues.

The "Russia – Africa: New Media Meanings" project is jointly organised by the African Initiative news agency and Rossotrudnichestvo as part of the "New Generation" programme. Fifty journalists and bloggers from Algeria, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia and Madagascar are taking part. Collectively, the participants reach an audience of more than 30 million followers.

Yekaterina Torubarova, Head of the Public Diplomacy Department at Rossotrudnichestvo, stressed that the blog tour is important not only for the African guests but also for Russians themselves. According to her, the project helps break down stereotypes on both sides and encourages people to gain a genuine understanding of one another.

"I sincerely hope that you will stay in touch with us and with each other, and tell your friends, colleagues, brothers and sisters that it is possible to visit Russia, even if they are not journalists. And, of course, we are equally eager to learn from you what Africa is really like. We want to dispel the stereotypes that Russians may have about your countries, just as Africans may have misconceptions about Russia, so that we can gain an objective and authentic understanding of one another," Yekaterina Torubarova told the international guests.

The blog tour consists of two main strands. The first introduces participants to Russia's history, art, traditions and culture, while the second focuses on the country's achievements in technology, media and the creative industries. Artyom Kureyev, Editor-in-Chief of the African Initiative news agency, emphasised that the project's main objective is not to impose ready-made narratives but to present Russia as it is, allowing African journalists to share their own first-hand impressions with audiences back home.

"Africans should learn about Russia from Africans. That is why we are not imposing any particular point of view on our guests. We simply want them to see everything with their own eyes and then share what they have experienced with their fellow citizens. During the programme, our guests will attend lectures, masterclasses and other events, visit some of Russia's best-known and most interesting locations, including the National Centre RUSSIA, Patriot Park, leading media organisations and museums, and meet young Russian journalists and bloggers. We hope that the articles, reports and stories they create about Russia will be both engaging and positive," said Artyom Kureyev.

The visitors from Africa have already been actively sharing their first impressions of the programme. Malian television presenter Diengu Sek described her trip to Russia as a genuine revelation and said she was surprised to discover echoes of her own culture in the most unexpected places.

"I am absolutely delighted by this trip and already want to stay here because I have been amazed by the beauty of Russia. I have already taken a sightseeing tour of Moscow, and the monument to Peter the Great near Kropotkinskaya particularly impressed me. It reminded me of Christopher Columbus. That connection resonates with my own culture and the history of my country," said Diengu Sek.

As part of the opening programme, the African media representatives were introduced to the National Centre RUSSIA. They toured the permanent "Journey Across Russia" exposition, sampled traditional Russian cuisine in the Gastronomic Rows, and have already produced dozens of photographs and videos to share an authentic, vibrant and multifaceted picture of Russia with their audiences as quickly as possible.