THE AFRICAN CONTEXT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

AFTER STUDYING THIS CHAPTER, THE STUDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO –

 UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN GEOGRAPHY,

HISTORY AND DEMOGRAPHY.

 ARTICULATE THE MYTHS AND REALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH

CONTEMPORARY AFRICA.

 IDENTIFY THE TASKS CONFRONTING LEADERS IN AFRICA IN THE 21 ST

CENTURY
IMPACT OF GEOGRAPHICAL AND DEMOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• MADE UP OF 42 COUNTRIES AND SEVEN ISLAND NATIONS

• BIRTHPLACE OF MANKIND
• GREAT GEOGRPHICAL DIVERSITY – DESERTS, SWAMPS, RAIN FORESTS
• NOMADS – SAN OF THE KALAHARI
• PASTORALISTS
• AGRICULTURALISTS
• URBAN DWELLERS
• 45% OF POPULATION LIVE IN ABSOLUTE POVERTY (< $1)
• 30% LIVE IN MODERATE POVERTY (<$2)
• NINE NOBEL LAUREATES
• ECONOMIC COLONIALISM REPLACING POLITICAL COLONIALISM
• LEADERSHIP – IMPORTANT ROLE – STABLE ENVIRONMENT
MYTHS AND REALITY:AFRICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY

 CORRUPTION
• CORRUPTION IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR AFRICAN LEADERS
• GOVERNANCE IS POOR IN AFRICA BECAUSE AFRICA IS POOR
• SACHS (2002) ARGUES THAT SLOW GROWTH DUE TO ADVERSE
GEOGRAPHY AND DEFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
 CULTURE
• PERCEPTION – AFRICAN POVERTY BECAUSE PEOPLE DISLIKE WORK,
SUPPRESSION OF INDIVIDUALISM AND IRRATIONALITY.
• POVERTY BECAUSE OF THE VALUE SYSTEM
• POVERTY DUE TO LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE
• CULTURE IS SLOW TO CHANGE BUT DOES CHANGE
• CHANGES DUE TO EXTERNAL STIMULI-CLIMATE CHANGES OR CHANGE
IN MAKING A LIVING
MYTHS AND REALITY:AFRICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY

 LACK OF DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM

• DEMOCRATISATION NOT NECESSARILY = FASTER ECONOMIC GROWTH; EG.
CHINA
• EVIDENCE SUGGESTS MARKET ECONOMIES OUTPERFORM CENTRALLY
PLANNED ECONOMIES
• RESEARCH SHOWS MARKETS SHOULD RULE EVERY PART OF THE
ECONOMY – HEALTH, EDUCATION, SOCIAL SECURITY, WATER, ENERGY,
INFRASTRUCTURE.
• AFRICA CANNOT EXPECT TO BE DIFFERENT.
CHALLENGES CONFRONTING AFRICAN LEADERS

 LISTENING TO THOS AROUND YOU, INCLUDING THE POOR

 BUILDING EFFICACY IN YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU.

 BUILDING ON EXISTING CULTURAL, GEOGRAPHICAL AND RESOURCE

STRENGTHS

 LEARNING FROM SCIENCE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE ELSEWHERE.

 PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

 OVERCOMING NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MANY AFRICAN LEADERS.

 RECOGNISING THE REALITY OF GLOBALISATION.

 MAKING A PERSONAL COMMITMENT.

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