u/Mental-Statement2941

Their way of doing things seems to be most efficient on the planet. 'Social democracy" I think it's called is the best economical and political model so far, it isn't hyper capitalism like the US but it isn't communism or socialism like what the Russian's or Chinese were aiming for.

(There's an argument to be made that we haven't yet seen an example of a country truly trying to achieve Socialism with little to no interference from other states but that's neither here nor there in this discussion).

As a Motswana I keep hearing from Zimbabweans in our country that Zimbabweans are a hard working people and that Batswana are lazy.

Now I'm not offended by it as I concede that Batswana can be lazy but are Zimbabweans here hard working because it's natural and it's in their culture or are they hard working because they're in a foreign land trying to survive?

I've heard stories of Batswana moving to the UK and being called more hard working than the native born Brits.

I want to ask all those that LIVE in Zim and been raised there their entire lives. Does this hard work ethic show in Zim?

Are Zimbabweans a hard working people or is it just that when you're in a foreign country trying to survive, you're pushed to work harder than the natives?

The 1st wave of political movement's were the independence movements. Given that more and more African's are being exposed to the internet with Gen Z, seeing how our leader's up till now have failed and looking at 1st world countries as a reflection of what could have been if our leader's locked in (from a development standpoint).

Do you think we'll see a second wave of political movement's across the continent?

Protests similar to the ones in Kenya and Nepal. Perhaps a string of protests similar to the Arab spring.

We see people in SA pushing against the ANC. Botswana recently voted out the BDP (a party that has ruled for 50 plus years) etc.

Do you think it'll happen soon? I sure hope it does. I want some of these leader's heads to be on spikes.

https://preview.redd.it/9p3fv4674qsh1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d98ff2bbcfd6aa808761899f0f641cb76ff95140

A friend of mine told me to come up with a logo for a new GOI he's making for our SCP worldbuilding projecting (it's something for fun and probably won't be posted on the wiki). His GOI has something to do with infinite time loops and repetition so I used the Ouroboros symbol. After toying with Canva for 5 hours, I came up with this. I've never made a logo before in my entire life so it's probably trash but I wanted to ask you all what you think. We're from Africa so the GOI is based in Africa, with that in mind. I used swahilli. Historia means History and Milele means Eternal.

What do y'all think? (Be honest).

I'm from Botswana and I'm trying to understand the dynamics between Ethiopia and Eritrea because the history seems to be a lot. I get particularly confused as to an outside observer, the people in Ethiopia and Eritrea look similar as you are both "Habesha" so it confuses me a lot that there are tensions between the two countries.

It's like Lesotho warring with Botswana and not only that, but harboring a lot of animosity even though culturally they're practically the same. What's the history there and how does the general public in Eritrea view Ethiopia?

If I come off as ignorant, I do apologize.

Every African sub I go to from r/Southafrica to r/Kenya to r/Malawi to r/Morocco has people talking about the same thing consistently "What's wrong with our governments and why aren't they doing the bare minimum?".

I think I've checked out of regional or continental politics a bit because across our continent it just seems to be the same story or is presented to be that. (I could be wrong ofc). Especially as of late between the potential Ethiopian civil war, the Zimbabwean ruling party (Zanu PF) just stripping away the right to vote, the rise of GBV in South Africa and our new President in Botswana building a school named after him with a huge ass statue of his face in the front of the yard. (He's a narcissist and very egotistical, I hope it doesn't bite us in the ass).

Perhaps Paul Kagame in Rwanda and Traore in Burkina Faso are doing a good job but Rwanda is funding militia's in DRC and Traore seems to really love Russia (I'm not of the sentiment in this case that the enemy of our enemy is our friend, I'd rather us ally with China than Russia if we had to ally with a Non Western power outside the continent).

I've stopped taking our politicians seriously and checked out, does anyone else feel this disillusioned?

I'm from what you consider a third world country in Africa and for most of my life I was focused om survival until I reached university and joined my school's creative club. It was there I started writing and helping the community.

Our creative industry is small and almost non existent but me and a friend from Zimbabwe thought of the idea of going to local High schools and showcasing some of the art the students have in an exhibition held at out university.

It was wonderful, the kids were so happy that people got to appreciate their artistic craft. Some of these kids are talented but won't get anywhere because of infrastructure in the country.

I felt a sense of purpose then, it might be ridiculous but I'd love one day to help uplift artists and creatives in the developing world and have the world see their talent.

It's sad that many kids from my continent give up on their dreams because there is 0 infrastructure for it. I was talking to some friends from Brazil on discord and let me tell you, Brazil has some of the most talented comic book artists I've ever seen.

I just want artists from these countries to know that they matter, even if they never reach the top echelons of their creative careers.

Idk how ill do it but I want to try. I consider these people my brothers and sisters because at every turn they've been kind to me. Ridiculous I know.

Bro, if you really want to fix this country just run for president or something instead of spamming on the reddit group man. Stop wasting time online and do SOMETHING. If you are already doing something, great, love that, I respect that but if you're doing nothing but complaining just do something, start a youth group, get into politics.

DO SOMETHING

I'm at the start of my 20's (I'm 21) and I've already made a few mistakes. I keep seeing online that as a man, as long as you keep going, keep pushing for your dreams and never give up on yourself that when you reach 30 you'll look back and be happy that you tried.

I have what one would call unrealistic dreams especially for someone from my country. I'm from Botswana and I want to be a published fantasy writer and comic book writer. Not like the top 1%, just have a smaller secondary writing career to a day job. Have a small niche audience that enjoys my work, my own mini community. Only one from my country has gotten to that point so I know it's possible, I just carry heavy self doubt because all I've done in my life is fail but I've wanted this since I was 15.

I'm going through a rough time and I'm trying to hold onto hope that for as long as I keep pushing, keep grinding that someday it'll all make sense. People keep telling me your 30's are when as a man it makes sense or at least makes more sense.

Even if my dreams never come true, I might end up in a place I'm happy with because I at least tried.

Right now I just want to genuinely ask, does it truly get better for as long as you put in the work?

He's a holocaust survivor and seems to hate all mankind.

Does that include Jewish non Mutants?

Is he mutant first? Or is he Jewish first?

How does he feel about non mutant Jews?

I'm looking for a new hobby and I tried to look back at what I enjoy doing as a kid. I loved drawing and learning history/religion/politics. Right now I'm an aspiring prose writer alongside a college student so learning to draw really does seem like it'll take a lot out of my day.

I did though love history as a kid and a teen, I found pages filled with notes I'd take in regards to things like communism and other schools of political thought as well as finding my old test Religious studies test paper's in which I'd excel at.

So is studying religion/history/politics considered an actual hobby?

People tell me a hobby is like a skill you learn or a something that makes you more interesting as a person so I don't know if this does fit the criteria as people think this stuff is "boring" apparently.

I have this problem in which whenever I do something it has to be monetized or I feel like I'm wasting time. For context my aim is to have a good 9 to 5 whilst being a fiction writer as a secondary be it smaller career, prose specifically (and If I can comics). I don't want to rely on my love for storytelling to be my main income unless I hit big (which is like a 1% chance) hence I say secondary career.

That's just about it really, that's really all I've always wanted in terms of career. My issue lies though in that I feel guilty whenever I do anything that's not money related. I struggle to enjoy hobbies because I feel guilty for not working all the time. "You could be writing" or "You could be working towards your main career", these are the thoughts I get.

It's made worse for the fact that I'm on a gap year from college so I'm pushing myself to write everyday like it's my job. It was fun at first, then I started writing all the time, no breaks, no cool down time because I started feeling guilty whenever I did anything else.

I can't enjoy hobbies anymore because I get thoughts of "you're wasting time, go write".

The only time my brain shuts up is when I'm doom scrolling but that's not healthy.

How do I break out of this mindset?

Hardest part about writing as said is accepting that your first draft will be dog doodoo and not giving up on it.

The hardest part isn't the craft itself, anyone can learn the craft if they put in the time and effort.

The hardest part is BELIEVING you can learn the craft. Overcoming the crippling self doubt and imposter syndrome.

It's writing that trash 1st draft of your 1st novel and believing in yourself enough to keep going.

Believing that you can get to the point of getting good, heck believing you can get published is a whole different beast entirely.

Artists I have a question.

Would it make your life easier if the writer you were hired by not only provides the scripts but knows how to draw skillfully to the point in which he can provide character designs, set designs, prop designs etc.

Let's say he provides them and says you can change anything within the designs you see fit to suit your art style. Let's say he isn't a control freak in this instance.

Your job is for the most part is the sequential part of drawing. Taking the script and designs and fitting them onto the page with sequential art that can tell a story.

Ofc it'll take the same amount of time but would you appreciate a writer that can do that?

Would a writer like that be more tempting to work with (provided he could write well too).

I'm an aspiring prose writer, I want to have somewhat a career in it but something in me also yearns to draw, as a hobby ofc. I find it just fun to know that I can draw the characters in my head and Heck if I ever become a comic book writer, I can help the artist I hire by contributing to the designs of the world's and characters.

It'd just be nice to have a career as a writer and have drawing as a nice hobby just for me.

Apart of me does feel guilty whenever outside of school, (im in college) im not writing. I feel immense guilt as I really do want to be a career writer and be published. My brain does this weird thing of going "you're drawing...you could be writing" even if I'd written that day. Though my heart yearns to draw for fun, even 30 minutes.

Idk, does anyone else experience this?

Hey everyone. I'm thinking of starting a podcast, I'm from a small country where we don't really have many local podcasts. The one's that exist are put on youtube but since our country isn't monetized on youtube (or most places like the spotify partner program) and our population is only 2 million they shut down so you can imagine there are very few.

I wanted to start one because when I was in University (a year ago) for my school's writing club I was able to reach out and organize QnA's for our members having them meet Sci fi and Fantasy authors like Ken Liu and ML Wang. I was a coordinator and I really enjoyed it so I thought hey, maybe I can do one on one interviews with some local authors and some smaller international ones. Just really diving into their works, and their inspirations, plus as an aspiring writer myself it'd be very inspirational and enjoyable. A fun project really, I don't expect it to go anywhere (but I wouldn't mind if it did).

Where do people post their podcasts? On what platforms?

Do these platforms act like youtube where if you get a certain amount of listeners you get paid?

I've heard people talking about posting their podcasts on Patreon etc.

What advice would you give to me as a beginner podcaster?

Please to anyone doing IGCSE or anyone who has a kid doing IGCSE, take them to do A levels. IGCSE O levels to many scholarships outside of Africa is seen as the equivalent to you finishing your form 3 as your only qualification.

Scholarships and universities abroad won't take you unless you finish off your IGCSE with A levels. Heck they take BGCSE over IGCSE O levels so please if you plan to go abroad and you're doing IGCSE please continue to A Levels.

I wasn't told this, and I'd FD'd here. Been trying to apply for abroad scholarships but they keep telling me that by global standards I haven't even finished high school. It's making things difficult for me and friends of mine as well. Especially since we don't have the money or the A*s to pay or have A levels be paid for us.

From scholarships in Europe, China, Korea, America heck even South Africa, THEY WONT TAKE YOU.

If you're already stuck with doing IGCSE please go for A levels.

I told my mom this and she just shrugged it off, she didn't know either.

DO A LEVELS

I'm a new Youtuber from Botswana, I wanted to try an African history channel focusing on pre colonial African history but from my research on other channels they seem to be struggling for a while.

The biggest seemingly being home team history with 800k subs, yet his views seem to hover around 9k views. I figured it's because of the small audience as really only Africans and those in the diaspora (USA, the Caribbean etc) care.

It's not just African history channels but a channel around Muslim/ Arab history like Al Muqadimah is struggling (he's mentioned in his videos).

There seems to be only one Indian history channel that's doing well being Old Compass but that seems to be the exception.

Is non Euro centric history not as marketable and is it just better to cover general history and slip in the African history once in a while?

I thought it was hard for writers but it's hard for artists too. An artist will post "artist for hire" and I literally see zero engagement and it's a really skilled artist too.

An artist would post little snippets of their comics or art looking for feedback and it's a ghost town still.

Even worse for writers, writers post looking for feedback and it's zero.

An artist says they want to work for free to build their portfolio, no more than 8 or so writers engage ON A GOOD DAY (I am one of them).

A writer says they want to write for free, it's especially a ghost town.

The only posts here that get an engagement is if someone is looking to hire an artist, then you get 20 + comments. Nothing wrong with that ofc especially with money involved but at this point it's hard for artists and writers here if they don't have the "looking for artist paid" flair.

Heck I've answered the call of artists when they post the "looking for a writer unpaid" to build their portfolio. I've met some great guys, but with others, we chat, they seem excited to work with me then they ghost me. It's happened a good 7 times already and really only 2 artists haven't done that to me.

Maybe it's a bit of frustration here because people shit on writers a lot and have genuine criticisms but no one really brings up this issue when it comes to artists. I am thankful to the artists that have responded.

Is this what this sub has become? or maybe people drop dm's and just choose not to comment.

Artists, writers tell me man, is it rough in this sub for you?

I failed and discontinued from BIUST because I wasn't in the right mental space. I was really depressed, having not showered or attended lessons, in bed all day contemplating ending it. I failed, I was doing mining engineering for 3 yrs until I failed. I let go of a great course with good money.

Came back to Mochudi, parent's said I can rest for the year and they'll pay for my school next year. Well my mom since she's the breadwinner and my dad is struggling with employment.

Iran War starts shortly after, things get expensive but we're good. I decide to follow my dreams, because I never wanted to do mining engineering but I needed a good paying job. I always wanted to be a screenwriter for Hollywood, I do my research and that's so far fetched for a Motswana, fine then I'll be an animator and weave my way into writing animated films, oh sorry you can't work for studios from Botswana because legally they have to hire their own. Can't crowdfund jack because all the crowdfunding platforms are unavailable in Botswana. Fine a youtuber, OH sorry it's not monetized in Botswana.

I try being a tutor, but in Mochudi it's monopolized by crackit, so i apply to crackit....they tell me sorry I need a degree.

I wanted to be a fantasy writer, a Motswana has made it, there's a path to becoming a writer being internationally recognized but what's the point. It's a stupid dream.

Iran War continues, things get more expensive, my mom suggests she might not be able to put me through University....we have to cut off eggs, mayonnaise, rice, tinned beef, spaghetti because we can't afford it. Water cuts all the time in our neighbourhood and water utilities always says they'll fix it. It's been 6 fucking months, we have whole 5 day periods with no water, we haven't had consistent water in 6 months. My dad is old, he has back pains, he once had bad back pains and he needed pills, there was no water to take the pills, no liquids in the house to use. Try watching a 65 year old man rive in pain, coming back drunk because he's trying to start a business to pay for my school and it fails badly.

My dog dies too, my friends move out of the country. I'm lonely, I'm tired, I'm sick of this place and I'm now being told the Pula is devaluating in 2 months making things more expensive.

The only thing left is my mom dying and we'll be destitute. I got 46 points in my IGCSE, made it 3 yrs into engineering, I showed so much promise but in the span of 8 months, it's all gone downhill. Maybe I ruined it, maybe it's luck but I don't care anymore.

I'm tired and I ask myself why. I'm 21 and I'm already tired. I have no place to vent to, one day I'll just end it all.

I used to want kids yknow, but atp ive concluded why I'd bring a child to such a shitty world. I'm not even going through the worst of it, I can only imagine people in war torn countries. Life is just suffering unless you're a white rich man in a first world country. I won't curse a child with the horror that is life.