Africa Archives - Page 6 of 7

Published on December 21, 2016November 8, 2017

3 mins read

Happy Birthday Thomas Sankara: “The Upright Man”

Thomas Sankara, President of the country formerly knows as Upper Volta would have been 67 years old today. After he seized power in a popularly supported coup at the young age of 33, the Pan-Africanist theorist renamed the country Burkina Faso, meaning “The land of upright people.”

Onec in office, he immediately began eliminating corruption and the dominance of the former French colonial power. “Imperialism is a system of exploitation that occurs not only in the brutal form of those who come with guns to conquer territory.

Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms, a loan, food aid, blackmail. We are fighting this system that allows a handful of men on earth to rule all of humanity.”

Sankara cut the salaries of overpaid government officials and banned them from using the luxury vehicles they had become accustomed to. He rode a bike before he was urged to upgrade to a Renault 5, one of the cheapest cars available in Burkina Faso at the time.

Central to Sankara’s economic strategy to break the country from the domination of the West was increasing the use of locally produced food.“He who feeds you, controls you.”

As a result, Burkino Faso became self sufficient within four years. In order to strengthen the local economy, he insisted that government workers wear a traditional attire made by Burkinabe craftsmen. “We must learn to live the African way. It’s the only way to live in freedom and with dignity.”

His government was also pro women’s rights. He banned female circumcision, condemned polygamy, and appointed women to high governmental and military positions. He even had an all woman security team.

“We do not talk of women’s emancipation as an act of charity or out of a surge of human compassion. It is a basic necessity for the revolution to triumph.”

His administration gradually lost popular support, and internal conflict within his government grew. On October 15, 1987 Sankara was killed in a coup organized by his former colleague and friend, Blaise Compaoré .

Sankara and the traitor, Blaise Compaoré who would become predident after the assasination.

“While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas.” – Thomas Sankara

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on December 19, 2016April 5, 2020

3 mins read

Top 12 Thought Provoking Steve Biko Quotes

Steve Biko, the South African anti-apartheid activist was the founding member of the South African Student Organization (SASO) which later evolved into the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM).

Biko stressed the need for Black South Africans to liberate themselves psychologically and to become self-reliant in order to fundamentally change South Africa.

1n 1977, he met an untimely death at the hands of the South African police at the young age of 30. Let’s celebrate his life and wisdom by reflecting on few of his most memorable and profound quotes.

Steve Biko Quotes

“It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die”

“Black is Beautiful.”

“Black Consciousness is an attitude of the mind and a way of life, the most positive call to emanate from the black world for a long time.”

“I’m going to be me as I am, and you can beat me or jail me or even kill me, but I’m not going to be what you want me to be.”

“The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”

“A people without a positive history is like a vehicle without an engine.”

“So as a prelude whites must be made to realise that they are only human, not superior. Same with Blacks. They must be made to realise that they are also human, not inferior. “

“Being black is not a matter of pigmentation – being black is a reflection of a mental attitude. ”

“A Black man should be more independent and depend on himself for his freedom and not to take it for granted that someone would lead him to it. The blacks are tired of standing at the touchlines to witness a game that they should be playing. They want to do things for themselves and all by themselves.”

“If you want to say something radical, you should dress conservative.”

“Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being. “

“In a bid for change, we have to take off our coats, be prepared to lose our comfort and security, our jobs and positions of prestige, and our families… A struggle without casualties is no struggle.”

“WOMEN must be at the forefront of nation-building to bring the South African citizenry together and, therefore, develop a whole new ethos of human co-existence.”

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on December 8, 2016April 5, 2020

9 mins read

Casey Bridgeford of OnCast Media on why more Black Americans should consider doing Business in Africa

I first found out about Casey Bridgeford and his company, OnCast Media while watching a CNBC Africa video on YouTube. It was refreshing to see someone who at the time I thought was not African, talking about business in Africa. (I later found out that his father is actually from Nigeria.)

Since I’m all about having conversations about business in Africa and beyond, I reached out to Casey. This is what he had to say.

SB: What inspired you to create the OnCast app?

CB: I took my first trip ever to Nigeria in 2012. While I was there, I had an opportunity to speak to some entrepreneurs. After telling them my story and my journey, we ended the discussion with a Q&A portion.

During the Q&A, they began to rapid fire, drill questions and every single question they asked was, “Can you help me find financing? Can you help me expand my business? Can you help you begin to sell my products in the U.S.?” I didn’t have the answers to any of their questions.

I didn’t even know the first place to look to get the answers. It left a sour taste in my mouth because I felt like I wasn’t being of any benefit to them.

13403191_571834102989668_6029619430864683537_o — Casey and a group of Entrepreneurs from South Africa

I made up in my mind that one, I will be back, and two, when I do come back, I will not come back empty-handed. My next trip to Nigeria was in July of this year. This time, I had the answers to every question they asked.

The inspiration behind OnCast really lies behind the fact that there are a million things that we should learn in business school and our local accelerator or incubator, but we don’t. We end up spending a lot of time doing research.

12771590_1089231284451674_5954882562011668168_o — OnCast Media at Harvard Africa Business Conference Startup Showcase

We want to take all of that information, put it in one place where it’s easy for an entrepreneur to answer these questions and get about their day of running their business.

SB: Do you think Black America is missing out on opportunities to learn more about the “real” Africa? Why so?

CB: I definitely think so. I think travel is a big part, and I think its because we would would rather go to Europe, Asia, or to the Caribbean. We never think, “I want to go vacation in Africa.” We never think, “I want to go see the people. I want to learn about what contemporary Africa is.”

Casey presenting at Wharton Business School

The media also plays a part with their constant coverage of wars and their advertising of safaris and opportunities to go see the animals.

I’m passionate about wanting as many African-Americans as possible to feel what it feels like to be on the ground in the middle of Black Africa. I say that specifically because there is no feeling like the feeling of weightlessness that you have when you’re not being judged by the color of your skin.

Most Black people, even those who have traveled the world, still don’t know what that feels like. They’ve never gone to the place where everybody looks like them, and the people that look like them run every single thing in the country.

SB: What are your thoughts on the whole, “Africans don’t like Black Americans,” or “Black Americans don’t like Africans.”

CB: It’s an absolute lie. My experience has been the opposite. In my travels just over the summer to South Africa and Nigeria this year, I’ve had several South Africans and several Nigerians ask me directly, “If you’re treated so badly in America, why are you still there? Why don’t you come home?”

It was powerful, hearing that come directly from someone’s mouth. First asking us as Black Americans, but then asking me as an individual, “Why are you still there? Come home.”

I think it’s a huge issue that we have here in America. We feel that we have to be reconciled with White America, but we don’t feel like we have to be reconciled with our African brothers and sisters.

SB: In terms of the businesses in Africa, what are the challenges that you’re seeing that most of the startups or businesses are having across-the-board?

CB: There’s two sides of it. There’s the entrepreneur side and then there is the investor side. Entrepreneurs are always going to tell you one of the biggest issues they’re having is funding. Secondly, how to find good mentors, and thirdly, how to just find information that they need to get their business going.

For investors, they would probably put access to reliable information number one. Then they would probably say access to mentors would be number two, and investment or finances would be number three.

SB: What are some of the most innovative and interesting businesses that you’ve come across so far?

CB: There’s a company that has both African-American and African people on the team. They’re launching their beta in Kenya and it’s called Magic Bus. Their technology allows someone in rural Kenya to be able to understand when the bus is coming, purchase their ticket, and know when it’s delayed and exactly where the bus is all through a cell phone without using any internet connection.

12961673_1582262218750947_3402100732016689090_n — Magic Bus

We see that as being one of those game changer technologies that really helps revolutionize and increase the efficiency of mass transit for people who are in rural areas as well as in city areas as transportation is one of the biggest issues.

SB: So what does success look like for OnCast Media?

CB: We want to become a meaningful resource for entrepreneurs to quickly find information to help them grow their businesses. In doing that, we want to help create 300,000 jobs on the continent through our mobile application. Thirdly, we want to amass the biggest real-time database of entrepreneurial information and statistics anywhere available.

SB: What advice do you have for somebody who’s in the US reading this interview and has just realized that there are business opportunities in Africa as an investor and as an entrepreneur?

CB: Go! Go! Go! I’ve been telling my friends, “If you want to go, I’m going. Let’s get together and I will show you what the business scene looks like, I’ll show you what the social scene looks like, I’ll show you where the opportunities are, and you’ll be connected directly.”

Find out more about OnCast media via their website.

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on October 22, 2016November 25, 2023

2 mins read

Black Owned Ethical Fashion Brands from the Continent

In response to growing demand from socially conscious consumers, ethical fashion brands are popping up around the world, and established brands are developing eco-friendly lines.

The Black owned ethical fashion brands below are just some of several that are empowering economically disadvantaged artisans in communities across several African countries.

Black Owned Ethical Fashion Brands

The Haute Baso vision is to promote Rwanda’s ability to produce high-end and functional products that are able to compete on local and international levels.

Anita Quansah creates unique and stylish one-off pieces of clothing with matching neckpieces using vintage and recycled materials which beautifully meld into a look of classic sophistication.

KIKI Clothing is the brainchild of Titi Ademola, a fashion designer who is devoted to creating ready-to-wear collections that are meticulously made in Ghana.

Sonia Mugabo is a Rwandan fashion brand that was born out of founder, Sonia Mugabo’s strong interest in design; and the desire to tap into the existing local artisan talent to make high-quality men’s and womenswear.

Studio 189 is a fashion brand based in Ghana created by Abrima Erwiah and Rosario Dawson. It provides a platform to promote African brands through worldwide distribution and manufacturing of their artisan-produced collection.

U.Mi-1 (pronounced you.me.one) is a contemporary brand that appeals to people who judge luxury from the finishing inside to the detailing on the outside.

Duaba Serwa is a Ghanaian womenswear brand founded by Nelly Hagan-Aboagye. Initially starting as a jewelry designer, Duaba Serwa then developed its trademark of applying jewelry to clothes.

Mimi Plange is a modern women’s wear brand launched in 2010 by American-Ghanaian designer, Mimi Plange. Lost African civilizations inspire the Mimi Plange clothing and give the collection depth of meaning.

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Published on September 12, 2016April 3, 2024

2 mins read

African Fashion Brands to Keep An Eye On

This month, Fashion Week events will be taking place in New York, Paris, London and Milan. Now more than ever, you can expect the presence of dope African Fashion brands or designs influenced by African culture.

Here are just a few established and up and coming fashion brands on the Continent that you should get into:

African Fashion Brands

Galago (South Africa) sources beautiful leathers and vibrant fabrics and allows you to combine them to make your own bespoke sandal.

ENZI (Ethiopia) is a footwear brand committed to the highest levels of quality in production, design and materials while maintaining a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

MaXhosa Knitwear (South Africa) celebrates the rich heritage of the Xhosa culture through providing traditional clothing for Xhosa initiation rituals.

Lukhanyo Mdingi (South Africa)aims to show a sense of cross cultural influences of traditional designs; reflecting on a contemporary outlook of African aesthetics and heritage.

Lanre da Silva Ajayi Couture (Nigeria) creates clothing for the woman who is naturally classy but doesn’t shy away from her sensual side.

Loza Maléombho (Côte d’Ivoire) is a fusion between traditional cultures/ sub-cultures and contemporary fashion.

Taibo Bacar (Mozambique) is a burst of wholesome energy for all women who identify themselves with eclectic style where the silhouette plays a central role.

Christie Brown (Ghana) is a women’s apparel and accessories line with pieces ranging from bespoke gowns, and practical yet statement pieces to innovative accessories all inspired by African culture and art.

Thula Sindi (South Africa) is a clothing brand that cuts across the vast discrepancy that exists between unrealistic high-end designer haute couture, and everyday retail chain/bargain bin clothing.

Published on June 25, 2016November 8, 2017

5 mins read

23 African Startups to Keep an Eye On

African startups are are taking the continent by storm. This new generation of entrepreneurs is not satisfied with sitting back and hoping someone will give them a job or create the goods or services they want and need. They are doing it themselves and the world is taking notice. Last year, African tech startups received over $185M in funding from sources within and outside the continent.

Here are some of the startups to keep an eye on:

African Startups

54artistry is a Nigeria-based company that empowers thousands of creative Africans by leveraging technology to connect creatives to paying clients (vice-versa).

Eat.gm gives you an authentic local Gambia Experience by connecting you to local Gambian families that will cook for you and host you for home-cooked food.

Paystack helps Nigerian businesses accept payments via credit card, debit card, money transfer and mobile money on their websites or mobile apps.

NerveFlo , a Nigerian startup, allows digital content creators to rapidly distribute their work to the ever-growing African market. Here you can find anything from short films to music to comics, lectures and e-books.

RoundBob is an online travel agency created in Uganda to provide varied travel content built across key demanded areas such as sports, health, leisure and education.

Abacus is a Kenyan startup that builds web and mobile software to help investors across the globe access African financial markets.

Hotels.ng is the largest online hotel booking agency in Nigeria, with over 7000 hotels registered on their platform.

ogaVenue.com.ng solves the problem of venue booking: by aggregating variety of event venues, making it easy to search, check availability and book venues for weddings, meetings and other events online. Screen Shot 2016-06-27 at 10.33.07 PM

Farms.ng helps Nigerian farmers get a good price for their produce and, at the same time, to allow buyers get fresh produce from the farmers.

Codulab is a talent matching platform from Nigeria that connects projects to talent and expertise. Their aim is to facilitate a smooth working process, while ensuring great creative output.

RecycloBekia is an electronic waste recycling company based in Egypt and serving the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

MeQasa is one of Ghana’s leading online real estate classifieds businesses. It provides a free service that helps property seekers, brokers and landlords conduct business efficiently online.

MedRX app was created in Ghana. It connects users to health personnel from various fields of practice including hospital, pharmacy, laboratory and academia.

CaringHand is a Ghanaian company that provides health and non health homecare services for the elderly and patients with immediate needs.

Coliba is a waste recycle company that began in Côte d’Ivoire. It was built with the purpose of solving African waste and sanitation challenges as well as providing employment and an alternative source of income for waste collectors.

Talking Bookz is a publisher and an online retailer of audiobooks that allows its customers to download books in digital format for use on their laptops and portable devices with focus on unique African content and other international bestsellers.

Video Moja is an online platform where you can watch your favorite Nollywood movies for free and also stay updated on the new and latest releases.

DIYlaw.ng makes the registration processes and legal services more efficient and available to entrepreneurs seeking to do business in Nigeria.

Kiro’o Games, also known as Kiro’o Studios, is a Cameroonian video game, animation, development and publishing company.

Slatecube is a Nigerian startup that helps job seekers develop industry-relevant skills, gain work experience, and land well paying jobs through world-class up-skilling courses and virtual internships.

Flippy campus out of Ghana, puts your entire campus experience in your pocket. The app allows users to connect with friends on campus as well as friends in other schools.

Gamsole is a Nigerian mobile game production company. Their goal is to “make games that are fun to play; plain and simple.”

Kadi Energy of Ghana is the producer of the Kadi Mobile Charger, a portable, solar-powered charger designed to deliver reliable and affordable access to energy.

– Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on March 3, 2016June 3, 2020

1 min read

Black Owned Businesses in Paris You Should Know

We’re back at it with another guide to shopping Black in the Diaspora. This time, we’re highlighting Black owned businesses in Paris. Let’s show some love to our brothers and sisters in the “City of Light”.

Black Owned Businesses in Paris

Café Dapper by Chef Loïc Dablé is located a stone’s throw from Champs Elysées. The restaurant Café Dapper Loïc Dablé is set in Dapper Museum, a place dedicated to Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and its diasporas.

FASHION

Natasha Baco

Sakina M’sa

Adama Paris

BaZara’pagne

Nefer

HOME DECOR

Myriam Maxo tells a story through fabrics with abstract patterns and wax that provide a touch of fantasy with contemporary design.

black owned businesses in paris

TRAVEL

Visiter L’Afrique or “Visiting Africa” is an interactive digital platform dedicated to tourism and culture on the African continent.

BOOKSTORE

Présence Africaine is a pan-African quarterly cultural, political, and literary magazine, founded by Seneglese-born Alioune Diop in 1947.

ART

Alexis Peskine is a Parisian resident who is renowned for his work on race and identity issues in France.

black owned businesses in paris

–Tony O. Lawson

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Published on January 10, 2016January 9, 2023

5 mins read

Black Owned Ethical Fashion Brands from Across the Globe

A growing number of consumers worldwide are becoming more conscious of which businesses they spend their money with.

Whether it’s with a Black owned business, an eco-friendly business, or a business that creates jobs in developing countries, consumers want to create positive change by supporting brands that know how to “act right”.

This practice is commonly referred to as conscious consumerism, social consumerism, or ethical consumerism.

Ninety percent of U.S. consumers say they would switch brands to one associated with a cause, given comparable price and quality.

Forty-two percent of North American consumers reported they would pay extra for products and services from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact.

One third of U.K. consumers claim to be very concerned about issues regarding the origin of products.

One organization that is committed to the creation of jobs, ethical products, and profits is The Ethical Fashion Initiative. Through their network, fashion brands can manufacture ethical fashion items produced by some of the most talented artisans in the world.

According to the EEFI, “Artisans are the key to a fashion industry that has ethics and aesthetics. Sweatshops and workers trapped in an endless cycle of creating cheap fast-fashion is not true fashion.”

Artisans

“If you’re looking for innovative ways to help developing countries flourish, artisans are a terrific place to begin,” stated U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Although the artisan industry is not recognized as a major influencer on economic growth, artisan activity is the second largest employer in the developing world, only behind agriculture.

Globally, artisan production is a $34 billion industry. Even during the 2008 economic crisis, when most markets fell, the demand for artisan crafts continued to grow. Supporting these craftsmen and craftswomen is a proven way to create employment opportunities and pull families out of poverty.

Our support also provides them with the means to educate and feed their children. It can revive entire communities by stabilizing local economies.

There are several Black owned businesses that use artisans to create dope products. Here are a few that are based across East Africa, West Africa, the U.S. and the U.K.

Black owned ethical fashion brands

Brother Vellies is based in Brooklyn. Aurora James created the brand with the goal of creating artisanal jobs within Africa while introducing the rest of the world to her favorite traditional African footwear.

Sole rebels was created by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu. This is a sustainable footwear company that offers ethical, eco-friendly & vegan shoes handcrafted by Ethiopian artisans.

FOMI was created by Afomia Tesfayeo. They offer handbags and shoes that are handcrafted in Ethiopia.

A A K S is a Ghana and U.K. based brand created by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi. The pieces incorporate the use of raffia and leather to create bags hand crafted by the best artisanal local weavers in Ghana.

Coins were used as jewelry in ancient times. They were passed from generation to generation as a special memory from loved ones. The Coins Shop is a family-owned business in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Sindiso Khumalo founded her fashion label with a focus on creating modern sustainable textiles. Sustainability, craft and empowerment lie at the heart of the label.

Alafﬁa’s goal is to alleviate poverty and encourage gender equality. Their Empowerment Projects include several Education-Based Projects, Maternal Health, Eyeglasses and Reforestation.

Lemlem offers hand-woven cotton scarves, women’s clothing and children’s dresses made by traditional artisans in Ethiopia.

Kenya-based Adèle Dejak creates handmade luxury fashion accessories for the modern woman.

Adèle’s collection expresses her appreciation for African-made fabrics and a dedication to using recycled materials including rice and cement sacks, brass, and glass.

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Published on December 13, 2015May 19, 2023

6 mins read

Intra-Africa Trade: The Key To Unlocking Wealth On The Continent

The majority of African trade is conducted with Europe, North America, and China. Only 16% is with other African countries. By comparison, 60% of Europe’s trade is with its own continent. The same is true in Asia. In North America, the figure is 40%. The main factors responsible for the low rate of intra-Africa trade are restrictive trade policies and poor infrastructure.

It costs Africa’s largest retail and fast food company, Shoprite, over $20,000 a week to secure import permits to distribute goods within one country. As if that isn’t enough, 1600 additional documents are required in order to send ONE of its trucks across the border to neighboring Zambia.

Another problem is the excessive amount of border check points. To transport goods from Nigeria to neighboring Ghana, you have to go through about 5 border checks. The legal and illegal payments made at these borders are all costs that are passed onto consumers in order for the traders to make a profit.

At one checkpoint in Mali, border agents extort as much as $4,000 every day. In addition to the aforementioned high costs of trade, unclear policies are another hindrance.

Seeds from Kenya can be held indefinitely at an Ethiopian border because they don’t meet Ethiopia’s standards. Tanzania may ship corn to Kenya only to find out that a ban has been implemented on the importation of corn.

The issue of poor infrastructure also needs to be addressed. The lack of adequate road, rail, and other physical infrastructure, continue to impede trade within and between African countries.

According to a report from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, only about 30% of African roads are paved. As a result of this, shipping a car from Japan to Abijan costs $1500 while shipping that same car from Addis Ababa to Abijan would cost $5000.

Some of these unpaved roads have potholes big enough to swallow an SUV. The railways in Kenya and Uganda face multiple constraints, including aging equipment and infrastructure that is over a century old.

These are just some examples of red tape and trade barriers that are costing Africa billions of dollars and depriving the region of new sources of economic growth.

However; in spite of all this, there is reason to be optimistic. It seems that for the past few years, this issue has become too dire to ignore and strides are being made to rectify it.

In 2012, South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, unveiled a plan to spend $97 billion on infrastructure by 2015 to upgrade roads, ports, and transportation networks. At the World Economic Forum held last May in Abuja, Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, called on African leaders to work together in removing obstacles that hinder movement across the continent.

In his speech, he said free movement would help Africa meet its development targets. He also announced plans for Kenya and Nigeria to sign agreements that will boost trade and investment between the two countries. Since then, the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, and its Kenyan counterpart have pledged to explore the vast market opportunities in Africa to promote trade and investment.

Also at the 2014 World Economic forum, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, spoke on the matter of visa issuance stating that presently, he and other Nigerian businessmen are required to obtain visas to enter about 38 African countries but a foreigner has more access to these same countries than he does because all they need to do is get a visa at the airport and pass through. Steps are being taken to streamline the visa process so that African businessmen and investors can invest in other countries with ease.

In Kenya, barriers that formerly prevented professionals like doctors and lawyers from practicing in Rwanda have been removed. Now, a Kenyan lawyer can practice law in Rwanda without sitting for the bar all over again. This will also lead to a reduction in unemployment because new graduates will have more job options and not so new graduates will have more opportunities to provide services.

Increased intra-Africa trade is the best way for Africa to use all of its resources and talent to become self-sustainable and prosperous. The less cumbersome the trade process is, the lower the cost of goods and services will be. The lower the cost of goods and services, the more people can afford them. The more people can afford them, the more empowered the people will be to gradually improve their economic status and begin to thrive.

– Tony O. Lawson

Published on December 6, 2015May 18, 2023

6 mins read

What Africa Needs: Trade Not Aid

“Trade Not Aid” is a popular phrase used by proponents of the idea that instead of giving ‘free money’ to Africa to fight poverty and hunger, donors should support job and business creation through foreign direct investment. Don’t get me wrong, not all aid is bad. I am not referring to emergency aid given in situations like a natural disaster.

The type of aid I am referring to is government-to-government aid. It’s time we recognize that this type of assistance is not only the least effective in terms of poverty reduction but is also destructive. It is stunting the growth of an African middle class that is needed to spur economic growth. Zambian-born economist and author of the best-seller, Dead Aid, Damiso Moyo states that “Over the past 60 years at least $1 trillion of development-related aid has been transferred from rich countries to Africa.

Yet, real per-capita income today is lower than it was in the 1970s, and more than 50% of the population live on less than a dollar a day, a figure that has nearly doubled in two decades.” If this economic development model is CLEARLY not working, why is it still being imposed? Why is it being used in Africa only?

China moved 300 million people out of poverty in 30 yrs. India has approximately 300 million people in its middle class. They did not achieve this by relying on aid to the extent that the entire continent of Africa does today and has for the past half century plus.

A serious issue is that African governments are now relying on this aid as a source of income like a welfare recipient waiting on their monthly check, instead of looking for alternative means of revenue generation. Some say that aid promotes government corruption because the funds are just moved to private accounts abroad.

I’m certain that this happens a lot of the time. However, that is not the only issue. Even where there is no corruption involved, you have a situation where African governments are relying on Western countries to provide their people with goods and services that they should be providing e.g. education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc.

Who will respect a leader that does not care for his own people? That’s partially the reason why many African ‘leaders’ get zero respect in the global community. They are perceived as beggars. They are sitting on priceless natural resources that can be traded, begging for money from countries that are in actuality, broke themselves. But I digress…

Another issue is that aid does not create a meaningful amount of jobs or opportunities to start and grow a business in Africa. Aid also comes in the form of goods donated. Why not invest in local producers of these goods or invest in a manufacturing plant to produce the goods that are currently being shipped to Africa?

This is a sure way to spur job creation and invest in a local business instead of flooding the market of charity goods that will put local producers out of business. There is no way to reduce poverty if there are no jobs or means for individuals to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors as a means to increase their income and start to create wealth for themselves.

Therefore, if there is no middle class to drive the economy you are left with a situation similar to that in Nigeria where there exists the extremely wealthy and extremely poor with a few middle-class citizens sprinkled in the middle. I’m sure you can see how this would also lead to increased crime, whether it’s the latest 419 scheme or good old-fashioned armed robbery.

The good news is that in recent years due to the slowed economic growth in Western countries, the amount given in aid is now gradually reducing. Now, more than ever, the focus has turned to Africa, not just as a poor desperate continent in need of help, but as a place where Western and Eastern countries need to do business in order to not only stay competitive in the global marketplace but to survive.

This in addition to business friendly policies that have been implemented in several African countries have led to economic growth in different regions of the continent over the last few years.

The aforementioned to me is proof that we do not need handouts. What we do need, however, is to be taken seriously as players in the global trade market. We have the resources, we have the talent and we have the potential. What we need to do now is phase out aid and increase the number of trade deals and investments that help move the Continent in the right direction.

– Tony O. Lawson

Your TRUSTED source for all things Black business, Globally

Africa - Page 6

Happy Birthday Thomas Sankara: “The Upright Man”

Top 12 Thought Provoking Steve Biko Quotes

Steve Biko Quotes

Casey Bridgeford of OnCast Media on why more Black Americans should consider doing Business in Africa

African Fashion Brands to Keep An Eye On

African Fashion Brands

23 African Startups to Keep an Eye On

African Startups

Black Owned Businesses in Paris You Should Know