PRAGMATICS OF MEDIA PORTRAYAL OF 'GREENER PASTURES' SEEKERS IN AFRICA

Abstract

This article investigates the pragmatic functions of the term "greener pastures" in African media discourse on migration. While widely used, this pastoral metaphor carries significant presuppositional and implicational weight that shapes public perception and policy debates. Drawing on a multi-layered theoretical framework integrating pragmatic theory, critical discourse analysis (CDA), and media framing theory, this study examines how the "greener pastures" narrative operates as a dominant frame in migration coverage. Through a qualitative analysis of media texts from diverse African contexts, the article argues that this discourse naturalizes global inequality, individualizes structural problems, and depoliticizes migration by emphasizing economic determinism. The study finds that while some media outlets use the term to critique domestic conditions, its overarching effect is to reinforce center-periphery worldviews and obscure the complex realities of African mobility. The article concludes by analyzing emerging counter-narratives that seek to reframe migration as a driver of development and human flourishing, contributing to a more nuanced and empowering public discourse.