I read Why Nations Fail. While the idea of institutions; extractive and inclusive, if gotten right was framed as one of the ways countries can prosper, the authors don’t do justice in contextualizing how some of the problems Africa are of colonial inheritance.
They fail, in my view, to also account clearly for the rise of China as a global power.
Not to say they’re not deserving of the Nobel Prize, but to note that, what we consume as Africans, as stories about Africa and prescriptions for Africa, must be taken with a pinch of salt.
And, as Chimamanda Ngozid would say, there’s a danger in a single story
Sure some of the African problems are still of colonial inheritance. While they clearly brought out extractive institutions, I think China is the latest and at the time of their publication, China’s actions were still too invisible. But going forward, new studies should not only account for China but also Russia. Both differ in their approaches but same in extractiveness. The West Africa still struggles to untie itself from colonial systems. The South still copes with it. The repercussions are still reverberating partly also because of our founding fathers who failed to install the right political structures
They really set us up on the wrong path; the wrongs of which it will take us decades to correct and lay the foundation. Thank you for contributing to this 🙏
Superlative post Edwin. European Colonialism did nothing positive for Africa or Africans. They made little attempt to truly educate the people under their control. Oh, they enforced their religion and religious beliefs on their captured people, at the same time they treated Africans as though you were somehow lesser creatures than they. This despite the fact that all humans on Planet Earth are exactly the same animal, having the same origin (primarily Africa - although there is some possibility of origin in Asia too). In short there's not a dimes worth of difference between you and me, except age and gender.
The major problem you face today in Africa i educating each and every child to the best of that child's ability and interest. In America that means computer program crafted to each child's needs. I'm not sure if that is possible in Africa now. Every child needs to feel successful, capable, and ready to support themselves regardless of gender or tribal affiliation. The rest of the world, but especially Europe and the United States owe you for the harm and damage we did in the past,
We could redeem some of that debt by building a viable usable transportation system throughout Africa, connecting all Africans with each other. Then building hospitals, schools, and helping to form a civil service to help all, from business startups to the truly needy.
Then people like you, need to train other people like you, to be leaders who favor "other people" over themselves. In time these leaders will take over from your currently self centered corrupt leaders.
This is an enormous job and unfortunately may take several years, which the rapidly heating climate will be a hindrance. I wish you the bright future you deserve Edwin. Keep believing in yourself, and find others to assist you. Because you seek only good, you will win.
Sorry for the late reply; I think I had been kept busy elsewhere. I read your comment and as usual you don't disapoint. We all come as one; we're humans; we share the same ecosystems. It was only when things like politics, religion, and ethnicity were introduced that we lost the true lens of who we are. I have read somewhere that humans do consider themselves as more powerful than the cosmic system. But the truth is we're a tiny dot in the eyes of the universe. We're like a pop up on a computer.
It's these things-politics, religion,and other black-white issues that made Africa who it is. While Europeans might have had a hand in extractive institutions, it was made even worse by our own African founding fathers who instead of being true Founders they chose to be corrupt.
However, there is hope; children nowadays are getting education at the right age; some 're learning computers like those in US.
And for people like me, we will keep shining light on what's best for us. We'll reveal what's back sliding us and what we need in the current age so we can surge past the dividers.
I read Why Nations Fail. While the idea of institutions; extractive and inclusive, if gotten right was framed as one of the ways countries can prosper, the authors don’t do justice in contextualizing how some of the problems Africa are of colonial inheritance.
They fail, in my view, to also account clearly for the rise of China as a global power.
Not to say they’re not deserving of the Nobel Prize, but to note that, what we consume as Africans, as stories about Africa and prescriptions for Africa, must be taken with a pinch of salt.
And, as Chimamanda Ngozid would say, there’s a danger in a single story
Sure some of the African problems are still of colonial inheritance. While they clearly brought out extractive institutions, I think China is the latest and at the time of their publication, China’s actions were still too invisible. But going forward, new studies should not only account for China but also Russia. Both differ in their approaches but same in extractiveness. The West Africa still struggles to untie itself from colonial systems. The South still copes with it. The repercussions are still reverberating partly also because of our founding fathers who failed to install the right political structures
Well said mate. Africa has a long way to go and our founding fathers messed up a lot.
They really set us up on the wrong path; the wrongs of which it will take us decades to correct and lay the foundation. Thank you for contributing to this 🙏
Superlative post Edwin. European Colonialism did nothing positive for Africa or Africans. They made little attempt to truly educate the people under their control. Oh, they enforced their religion and religious beliefs on their captured people, at the same time they treated Africans as though you were somehow lesser creatures than they. This despite the fact that all humans on Planet Earth are exactly the same animal, having the same origin (primarily Africa - although there is some possibility of origin in Asia too). In short there's not a dimes worth of difference between you and me, except age and gender.
The major problem you face today in Africa i educating each and every child to the best of that child's ability and interest. In America that means computer program crafted to each child's needs. I'm not sure if that is possible in Africa now. Every child needs to feel successful, capable, and ready to support themselves regardless of gender or tribal affiliation. The rest of the world, but especially Europe and the United States owe you for the harm and damage we did in the past,
We could redeem some of that debt by building a viable usable transportation system throughout Africa, connecting all Africans with each other. Then building hospitals, schools, and helping to form a civil service to help all, from business startups to the truly needy.
Then people like you, need to train other people like you, to be leaders who favor "other people" over themselves. In time these leaders will take over from your currently self centered corrupt leaders.
This is an enormous job and unfortunately may take several years, which the rapidly heating climate will be a hindrance. I wish you the bright future you deserve Edwin. Keep believing in yourself, and find others to assist you. Because you seek only good, you will win.
Sorry for the late reply; I think I had been kept busy elsewhere. I read your comment and as usual you don't disapoint. We all come as one; we're humans; we share the same ecosystems. It was only when things like politics, religion, and ethnicity were introduced that we lost the true lens of who we are. I have read somewhere that humans do consider themselves as more powerful than the cosmic system. But the truth is we're a tiny dot in the eyes of the universe. We're like a pop up on a computer.
It's these things-politics, religion,and other black-white issues that made Africa who it is. While Europeans might have had a hand in extractive institutions, it was made even worse by our own African founding fathers who instead of being true Founders they chose to be corrupt.
However, there is hope; children nowadays are getting education at the right age; some 're learning computers like those in US.
And for people like me, we will keep shining light on what's best for us. We'll reveal what's back sliding us and what we need in the current age so we can surge past the dividers.
Great response, Edwin, thank you