BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron
recently described Nigeria as "fantastically corrupt". Many Africans
were outraged. But herein lies the complexity; the dualism of the
realities of Africa.
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria had an intriguing response, observing that he would not demand an apology, but instead would simply request a "return of assets" to Africa, implying that Britain had raided Africa in the past and continues to obfuscate investments in British-controlled tax havens. In a subsequent BBC interview, Buhari conceded that the scale of corruption in Nigeria was "enormous".
Corruption remains a classical connotation of Africa, with HIV/ AIDS, malaria and poverty.
Even SA, long regarded as the gateway to Africa, suffers from reputational damage due to the high crime rate (including high-profile murders), the finance minister fiasco, parliamentary shenanigans and chicanery by President Jacob Zuma over payment for upgrades at his Nkandla home.
However, to describe Africa only in terms of conventional, historical platitudes is what Nigerian author Chimananda Adichie may refer to as a "single story".
These platitudes may be true, but it is a small part of the truth.
The truth also includes a range of trends that, if anticipated early and without prejudice, may present a world of opportunity.
Of course, Africa is also often seen as aid-dependent. While this is true for many countries, it is simultaneously true that remittances income from the diaspora (around $62bn per annum) is greater even than total foreign aid to Africa (just more than $50bn).
In some African countries, the income from citizens in the diaspora is greater than income from the export of major natural resources and agricultural production. This means African citizens abroad remain connected to the motherland and are a potentially significant market segment to multinationals.
Africa suffers from desperate levels of poverty. It is true that sub-Saharan Africa remains the poorest geographic region in the world. But the number of people living below the poverty line has dropped by more than 20% in the past 20 years.
At the same time, literacy levels in most sub-Saharan countries now exceed 70%. It is further true that three African countries are among the world’s top 30 largest economies. A view towards the future of Africa suggests that by 2020, more than half of all Africans will have access to smartphones with broadband and by the same year, the African Union wants "all guns to be silent".
By 2040, Africa will have the largest workforce in the world.
By 2050, four out of 10 of the world’s young people will be in Africa, and more than half of the population will be urbanised.
What this tells us is that Africa will offer an enormous, young, literate, urbanised workforce to the world. Companies that have the humility to relate to this new-generation workforce will be able to choose from a huge pool of talent. It also suggests that Africa will present to the planet an aspirant middle class, one that makes decisions about consumer goods and financial services in informed, connected ways.
Thus Africa presents a classic dualism. A paradox of risk and opportunity; of weak infrastructure coupled with bounding innovation.
There is no doubt that corruption does exist but, to paraphrase Prime Minister Cameron, Africa is perhaps more accurately described as fantastic and corrupt.
Africa is deeply dichotomous, and this dualism is not likely to disappear in the short term. This makes her challenging to grasp. But Africa will grow irrespective of limited perceptions that prevent so many from seeing the opportunities. In celebrating Africa Day on May 25, those who wish to engage with the continent are, therefore, well-advised to take an appreciative view of the place, its people and its future.
• Mostert is director of the Institute for Futures Research
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria had an intriguing response, observing that he would not demand an apology, but instead would simply request a "return of assets" to Africa, implying that Britain had raided Africa in the past and continues to obfuscate investments in British-controlled tax havens. In a subsequent BBC interview, Buhari conceded that the scale of corruption in Nigeria was "enormous".
Corruption remains a classical connotation of Africa, with HIV/ AIDS, malaria and poverty.
Even SA, long regarded as the gateway to Africa, suffers from reputational damage due to the high crime rate (including high-profile murders), the finance minister fiasco, parliamentary shenanigans and chicanery by President Jacob Zuma over payment for upgrades at his Nkandla home.
However, to describe Africa only in terms of conventional, historical platitudes is what Nigerian author Chimananda Adichie may refer to as a "single story".
These platitudes may be true, but it is a small part of the truth.
The truth also includes a range of trends that, if anticipated early and without prejudice, may present a world of opportunity.
Of course, Africa is also often seen as aid-dependent. While this is true for many countries, it is simultaneously true that remittances income from the diaspora (around $62bn per annum) is greater even than total foreign aid to Africa (just more than $50bn).
In some African countries, the income from citizens in the diaspora is greater than income from the export of major natural resources and agricultural production. This means African citizens abroad remain connected to the motherland and are a potentially significant market segment to multinationals.
Africa suffers from desperate levels of poverty. It is true that sub-Saharan Africa remains the poorest geographic region in the world. But the number of people living below the poverty line has dropped by more than 20% in the past 20 years.
At the same time, literacy levels in most sub-Saharan countries now exceed 70%. It is further true that three African countries are among the world’s top 30 largest economies. A view towards the future of Africa suggests that by 2020, more than half of all Africans will have access to smartphones with broadband and by the same year, the African Union wants "all guns to be silent".
By 2040, Africa will have the largest workforce in the world.
By 2050, four out of 10 of the world’s young people will be in Africa, and more than half of the population will be urbanised.
What this tells us is that Africa will offer an enormous, young, literate, urbanised workforce to the world. Companies that have the humility to relate to this new-generation workforce will be able to choose from a huge pool of talent. It also suggests that Africa will present to the planet an aspirant middle class, one that makes decisions about consumer goods and financial services in informed, connected ways.
Thus Africa presents a classic dualism. A paradox of risk and opportunity; of weak infrastructure coupled with bounding innovation.
There is no doubt that corruption does exist but, to paraphrase Prime Minister Cameron, Africa is perhaps more accurately described as fantastic and corrupt.
Africa is deeply dichotomous, and this dualism is not likely to disappear in the short term. This makes her challenging to grasp. But Africa will grow irrespective of limited perceptions that prevent so many from seeing the opportunities. In celebrating Africa Day on May 25, those who wish to engage with the continent are, therefore, well-advised to take an appreciative view of the place, its people and its future.
• Mostert is director of the Institute for Futures Research
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