Africa. It’s the continent of life. With
fertile grounds and an abundance of wildlife, it is obvious that is has much
potential. And 250 000 years ago, it birthed a new species that would
change the face of the planet. A species known as homo sapiens. Distinct and
clever, this species was the first that showed a remarkable capacity for not
only adapting to its environment, but also for shaping it to its needs. Humans
were born from Africa, and over the next hundreds of thousands of years, we
would spread across the globe.
The first great civilization was born in
Africa. The great and bountiful Egyptian empire rose on the banks of the Nile
in north-east Africa, fed by the river and aided by mankind’s latest innovation
– irrigation. For over 3000 years, it was the beacon of civilization. From
great works of art such as the Great Spinx, to monuments to its rulers like the
pyramids of Giza, Africa’s first great civilization shaped those that followed.
The Great Library of Alexandria became the greatest worldwide repository of
knowledge, and scholars from far and wide came to be enlightened by the
accumulated wisdom scribed on the parchment in its halls.
It’s conquest by the Romans marked the
start of a new age, and civilizations in Europe and Asia grew from its ashes.
But while civilization shifted outwards, Africa remained with its bountiful
resources. Unfortunately, it would not remain untouched forever. About 200
years ago, the reaches of human civilization started to reach back into Africa.
European superpowers looked southwards, and desired Africa’s great riches. The
Scramble for Africa was on. Africa was to be colonized.
Colonialism changed Africa in several ways
and affected its development in such a way that it took us a while to rid us of
its shackles. Colonialism first established borders not based on existing
tribal and proto-state areas that existed, but based on what the colonial
militaries could defend from one another. Tribes etc. were thus split into
different countries, with different rulers. The Middle East to this day also
suffers from this. More than that, since the colonial forces vastly outclassed
the native ones, it taught the people that military might is what brings
victory. Colonial governments were often appointed officials with wide
executive powers, not elected, and this government suppressed and extinguished
existing culture (while importing theirs via missionaries), showing that a
strong executive government is the most effective form since it beat them. And
the economies of the colonies were geared towards resource extraction, not
local development, since that gave the most profit to the mother countries.
But Africa was not taking this lying down.
Africans rose up, fighting for their independence. And when we Africans were
fighting for independence, we emulated the colonial powers. Militant rebel
groups formed with strong executive powers given to their leaders, financed by
the clandestine sale of resources. And then, with the mother countries weakened
in the aftermath of World War II, Africa finally regained independence.
The rebel leaders became political figures,
but still wanted to wield absolute executive power. The administrative
governmental services that existed were set up for an extraction economy, and
the nascent economy thus as well. The rebel forces became the national
military. But they were trained in offense, not peacekeeping.
So even though most of these new countries
started with lofty constitutions and ideals, this mix proved unfortunate. They
had new leaders, but several of the tribes in the country were not theirs.
Policies are implemented that favour the leader’s tribe on his executive
decision, and the other tribes complained, and remained unhappy with their
representation in these new governments. People took to the streets, and as
taught by colonial powers, the military is called in to quell the uprising. A
period of civil war was ushered in.
And during the cold war, one side was
usually supported by the US, and the other by the Soviets, depending on their
political leanings. This influx of external resources lengthened this period
considerably. So up till the end of the 1980's, Africa's economic development
languished as it was the neocolonial battleground of the Cold War.
But when the Cold War ended, both sides
stopped fuelling the fire. And in most countries, either one side was wiped
out, or with both sides out of resources, they made peace. The countries that
made peace learned how to become democracies, mostly, with all the trial and
error that implies. Those that didn't, dictatorships.
In the dictatorships, the countries
remained as colonies, but now for the ruler. But in the democracies, the
people's needs had to be met, for they are the voters. And there the
inadequacies of an extraction economy became apparent. The people wanted
hospitals, roads, houses, but the skills were never developed - education was
limited to what was required. So education was invested in, while skills were
imported to provide the rest, at a cost. And since we're selling resources raw,
most of the economic benefits from it accrue to the buyers, since they can
refine it. But Africa’s slowly gaining the skills we need - and it shows! The
people in dictatorships become restless when they see how life is improving
everywhere but for them, and slowly dictatorships get overthrown.
This change started 25 years ago. Which
means Africa's economic development is slowly gaining ground. In 1980, average
literacy was between 30% and 40%. It's now between 60% and 70%. Dictatorships fall
ever more regularly, though the older generation leaders do sometime find it
hard to let go of power. As our economies develop, we're tackling poverty.
And we have our first wave of new leaders
taking over in peaceful transitions of power. In Namibia, we're on our third
democratically elected president, President Geingob, and his Harambee
Prosperity Plan is seeking to redress the legacy of colonialism. President
Kagame of Rwanda is busy developing the country to the point of
self-sufficiency, and the recently elected President John Magufuli of Tanzania
is tackling inefficiencies in that country's government.
Africa is slowly emerging from its slumber,
and is building towards a new African renaissance. It's coming, and it might be
sooner than you think.
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