Rabat - A Botswonan writer caused an eruption in the Twitter world yesterday; one that shed a playful light upon the African geopolitics and stereotypes we see today, yet rarely talk about openly.

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Katherine Hall
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Katherine Hall
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Katie Hall is a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison studying journalism and french.

Rabat – A Botswonan writer caused an eruption in the Twitter world yesterday; one that shed a playful light upon the African geopolitics and stereotypes we see today, yet rarely talk about openly.

Siyanda Moutsiwa, a 22-year-old from Gaborone, took what she calls a “classic writing prompt” and asked Twitter users to apply it to the entire continent of Africa.

Moutsiwa asked Africans: If Africa was a bar, what would your country be drinking/doing? What she received in return was much more than she expected.

Morocco makes a variety of appearances in the hashtag trend, accompanied by many other African countries with different personalities that emerge in the spirited bar scene.

The many layers that create the deep and complex geopolitical landscape of Africa were satirized humorously, with commentary on topics ranging from the economy, colonialism and politics, to social issues and culture.

“A lot of trending topics on African Twitter tend to be negative; it’s usually people complaining,” Moutsiwa told CNN. “I thought it would be fun to do something we all participated in that was light-hearted and educational for everyone involved.”

Speaking of Botswana, Moutsiwa said she “didn’t know about the stereotypes people had of my country” in the era before social media. Discussing these stereotypes in a friendly and open environment offers “the opportunity to correct them.”

Moutsiwa says that the hashtag provided “a safe space” to talk about Africa, “without being spoken down to by international media.”

Moutsiwa believes that trends such as #IfAfricaWasABar “allow us to give a reading of the political system all over the continent.”

More specifically, the tweets catch a glimpse of how other countries view Morocco, and highlight the characteristics that make it unique.

So according to Twitter, how does Morocco fit into the African bar scene?

 Morocco is the guy at the bar known for their rambunctious spirits and everlasting energy:

Their love for hash:

Their impressive tea-pouring abilities:

And for their strong forms of hospitality:

Twitter also recognizes Morocco’s stereotypes that have a more serious undertone and meaning:

So if Africa was a bar, what do you think Morocco would be doing?

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