Africa is not poor. Africa is a rich continent inhabited by poor people. Once we fix the people problem, everything else will fall into place. In this post, I share what I consider to be the top 10 problems affecting the people ability to fix themselves and subsequently take control of their destiny.

[size=16pt]1. The Poverty Porn[/size]

Humanitarian organization like UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, and alike have done more damage to Africa than the marginal positive impact they supposedly have had.



In order to raise money for their operations, they have engaged into a “poverty porn” depicting Africa with the most degrading, and humiliating images.

African people dignity is not something they cared about. The huge billboard and magazines photos showing Africa at its worst now fill the mind of billions of people around the world, and unfortunately those people can’t help but think about Africa only trough those images. (In the same time, those medias won’t show the photo of a dead American or English soldier, because it’s shocking and doesn’t respect human dignity)


Underwear-for-africa

The worst consequence of this “free
publicity” is the way it has deeply impacted Africans self-perception and self-image.

For example, It’s common in France for African immigrants who are having problems with their teenagers to threat them “If you’ll continue to behave that way, you’ll be sent back to Africa” meaning “We will send you to the hell you have seen on TV or in the Newspaper”.


The “Poverty porn” of the NGOs, the
humanitarian organizations, and Western medias is the problem number one because it sabotages Africans self-image weakens their sell-confidence and resolve, and contributed hugely to the hate and racism Africans face all over the world.



Swedish minister in ‘racist cake’

Another problem we have is greed and no respect for ourselves. You try hiking around Africa with white friends, you will realise the whites will be treated better than you when trying to cross borders and you the African will be humiliated by your fellow Africans.

[size=16pt]2. International Aid[/size]

If foreign aid would develop any place, Africa will be the most developed continent in the world.



International AID is now doing more harm to Africa than good. It became the main tool used by foreign governments and organizations to corrupt the African elite, and get them to behave so irrationally toward their own populations and the basic interest of their countries.


Aside corruption and the criminality, International Aid is the root of the 5 Stars colonization disease that cripple the African elite which dislike the responsibility and the self sacrifice that comes with being in control of a nation destiny. As far as they enjoyed the status offered by their positions, they never liked the responsibilities demanded by the jobs, therefore they use international aid programs as substitute to their responsibilities.

If Africa needs any aid, the most urgent one is to get rid of the 40 billion corruption industry (called International Aid) that shackles its youth and elite, cultivates and maintains the beggar mentality.


How would you develop any country when the dream of the majority of its youth and elite is not entrepreneurship, innovation, education and self-sufficiency, but the dream to have a job with a humanitarian organization or to get their project financed by some International aid Agency or proxy.

Africa should help itself,with or without the aid,with or without the loans africa is the poorest continent on earth in terms of majority of its people

[size=16pt]3. International Medias[/size]

A friend of mine recently told me that the “Global Lying System” (referring to the western medias covering African news) is one of the biggest threat to peace and development in Africa. African tribes are created in London, Brussels and Paris by journalists.




The colonial heritage of those journalists (unless they are instructed to do so) makes them to see Africa only as a collection of tribes and focus their coverage on what they call as tribal issues.

They create new realities like “People from the North” compared to “people from the South” or “people from the West”. They invent new divisions with creative imagination, like the Belgians falsely created the “Tutsi” and “Hutu” tribes in Rwanda which ultimately lead to the genocide in 1994.

The western medias seems to follow an agenda of further dividing African nations and populations with their constant framing of Africa through fight between tribes, religions, geography, etc. This must stop before African could unite to fight their way out.

The influence of western medias in Africa is very negative, and could be considered as part of Africa problems.

The second most negative effect of the western medias in Africa is that they tend to focus their attention on what the Europeans or the White people are doing in Africa or for Africa, and how they are saving Africa, therefore continuing to create the false impression that Africa is a hopeless place with lazy people that could be saved only by the white man



What you often see is a white man helping African or an outsider making change in Africa. That’s bad, and perpetuate the feeling that Africans are incapable to solve their problem by themselves, and reinforce in the mind of the young people and generation “the white man as a savior” mentality. Very Bad!


Panel of experts on Africa development – Africa Without Africans

[size=16pt]4. The Colonial Borders[/size]

The current African countries borders are nonsenses. A study done in the years 70s showed that African nations had less trade between themselves than before colonization. The situation has not change much since then



There is no immediate solution, but initiative like the African passport or Visa would greatly improve the movement of people and increase the potential of intellectual and commercial exchanges.

[size=16pt]5. Ignorance of the Books of Machiavelli, Hegel & Darwinism[/size]

The western elite that currently rules the world has 3 majors intellectuals influences:
Machiavelli (How to rule over people with cynicism and deception),

Hegel (using the Hegelian dialectic of history they consider the western civilization as the end of history) and

Darwin (the Survival belongs to the fittest, therefore the white race should stay at the top and rule over other races.



Anyone who wants to understand the intellectual principles that are shaping our current world, should deeply understand the above 3 authors and their influence on the western elite.

Maya Angelou always advise the African-American elite to read The prince of Machiavelli, because, she said, without a proper understanding of this book, you won’t understand the western elite. The Prince is their bedside book. it contains the main principle all imperialist applies:

“If you want to control the people,
separate the people and you can rule
them. Divide them and you can conquer
them.”

The ignorance by the African elite of
the principles by which the western Elite think and act is a major cause of their permanent naivete and incompetency.

[size=16pt]6. The Rich Subaltern Mentality[/size]

There are two kinds of people in Africa, those who can’t make a living regardless of how much they put in, and those with lavish lifestyle and privileges regardless of how little they contribute.

The first group is made of those who has
not contact with “white” people, and the
second is made of people who has contact with “white” people.

If you live in Africa or know some African people, make a list of 10 people you know or have heard about who have a “good life” and social privileges. You’ll quickly find out that 90% those who have a good life are people who work for the “white” or with the “white”. They serve foreign-owned or controlled companies, organizations or foreign NGOs in Africa. They have big houses, nice cars, home servants, and enjoy high social status and privileges.

I call those the “Rich subalterns” or the “Selected subalterns”. (“White” in Africa is used for “European”, “Chinese” “Lebanese”, “American”, etc. In the context of this article it could be easily replaced by “foreigners”.)

What is the problem?

The problem is that you can’t develop a country or continent where the majority of people who have the potential to become leaders are raised to be “good subalterns” to be successful.



Young people aspire to emulate the most successful models in their society, and now the only visible and tangible model available is the rich subaltern model.

There will be no problem with the rich subaltern model if this group of population was not made mainly with “non-productive” people working in middle management position. Middle managers in office don’t create companies, they don’t create value, they don’t create jobs, they don’t invent, innovate or act in leadership position with the power to change things.

[size=16pt]7. Lack of Domestic Leadership Education[/size]

Africa is not poor, Africa has a leadership problem. For any society to prosper it should have a endogenous system of identifying, training and coaching its future leaders. Some countries do it through their military services, some do it through elite schools, and some others do it through informal coaching and assistance organizations or secret societies.



The main issue about Africa leadership is not the quality of its individuals, but the quality of the group of individuals.

Individually there are lot of brilliant people, but collectively they fail to work together harmoniously on long term vision, and commit with integrity and loyalty to their country or long term vision.

The reason behind this failure is that most the so called leaders are trained outside their country and context, by people who has no knowledge of the context in which their leadership skills would apply. Additionally, the heterogeneity of the systems in which they have trained make it difficult to make them work well together.



Domestic leadership education systems and programs that raises in the same place and context for a long period of time a whole generation of new leaders is the way to go.

Very good analysis, it annoys me so much when our government gives important projects to foreign companies as if our people are so daft they can't do it. How many African companies have you seen constructing schools, hospitals etc.... outside of Africa?
We cannot grow if we contine to rely on other countries for everything.

FrostyZonn: [size=16pt]6. The Rich


Subaltern Mentality[/size]

There are two kinds of people in Africa, those who can’t make a living regardless of how much they put in, and those with lavish lifestyle and privileges regardless of how little they contribute.

The first group is made of those who has
not contact with “white” people, and the
second is made of people who has contact with “white” people.

If you live in Africa or know some African people, make a list of 10 people you know or have heard about who have a “good life” and social privileges. You’ll quickly find out that 90% those who have a good life are people who work for the “white” or with the “white”. They serve foreign-owned or controlled companies, organizations or foreign NGOs in Africa. They have big houses, nice cars, home servants, and enjoy high social status and privileges.

I call those the “Rich subalterns” or the “Selected subalterns”. (“White” in Africa is used for “European”, “Chinese” “Lebanese”, “American”, etc. In the context of this article it could be easily
replaced by “foreigners”.)

What is the problem?

The problem is that you can’t develop a country or continent where the majority of people who have the potential to become leaders are raised to be “good subalterns” to be successful.



Young people aspire to emulate the most successful models in their society, and now the only visible and tangible model available is the rich subaltern model.

There will be no problem with the rich subaltern model if this group of population was not made mainly with “non-productive” people working in middle management position. Middle managers in office don’t create companies, they don’t create value, they don’t create jobs, they don’t invent, innovate or act in leadership position with the power to change things.

I love these article, the western world are really dividing n conquering us, even d so called amnesty/charity organisations. Few years ago watch a documentary on how RSPCA kills render africans homless in other to save a tiger. The media never give any good news about africa and dey have successfully made the next generation believe dat d white man is next to God. These so called charity never do what they say. RSPCC use the picture skinny, malnutrition African child as there logo n dey never actually help in feeding them. Its sad that we have not seen dis great destruction, dis whole tin started with d introduction of religion to africa n its went down hill from dere.

[size=16pt]8. Lack of Science & Engineering Education[/size]

A study done few years ago at the Stanford University (I’m struggling to find my source) demonstrated how colonial powers tend to drastically reduce the study of science and engineering in the countries they have occupied. They would favor literature and subaltern studies that would make the graduates just good enough to assist them in running the colonies or the occupied countries.



Results, Africa has a lot of “talkers”, people with oratory prowess. Now, We don’t need more of those lawyers, sociologists, philosophers, but more scientists and engineers.

what about RELIGION[size=8pt][/size]

[size=16pt]9. Lack of International Intelligence network[/size]

Africa knowledge of the world is very limited. I’d agree that most of my fellow Africans have very little idea of the world they are living in, specially the forces and trends that are shaping it.



This lack of intelligence is bad, because it leaves the continent unaware of events and shifts that could affect it.

[size=16pt]10. The Crab Mentality[/size]

If you put several crabs into a bucket, and if one of them begins to crawl out one or more of the other crabs will put it back down and prevent its escape. It’s called Crab Mentality.





This is a good metaphor for us as Africans to Unite and create strong networks that support each other, while avoiding the Judas goats.

Courtesy of Siliconafrica

daywatcher: what about RELIGION[size=8pt][/size]

Religion is not really the problem. Before the Arabians and Europeans came calling with Islam and Christianity respectively, the natives were indulging in deity worship of their own.

Europeans chose to call them pagans, but technically they were just as religious as their colonial masters.

The western media is one of the most lethal weapon of pyschological war against africa . . All the say about an african nation is negative e.g the BBC country profile goes thus;

mickyarams: Another problem we have is greed and no respect for ourselves. You try hiking around Africa with white friends, you will realise the whites will be treated better than you when trying to cross borders and you the African will be humiliated by your fellow Africans.

True words. It's something known as Crab Mentality.

Capnd143: The western media is one of the most lethal weapon of pyschological war against africa . . All the say about an african nation is negative e.g the BBC country profile goes thus;

US: officialy known as the united states of america, the us has a "good". . . .and a very "strong" . . . .the Us militasy is "highly" . . . . While forgeting to list the challenges it only highlights the achievement but when it comes to an african nation lets say nigeria:
Nigeria: official known as the federal republic of nigeria, nigeria has been gripped with years of insurgency, instability, corruption and civil wars. Most nigerians live in abject poverty . . .etc i.e highligting the challenges and leaving the achievements . . . . .

it is left for africans to struggle out themselves . . . Because am proudly an African

Interesting analysis. Good one bro.

gerald09: I love these article, the western world are really dividing n conquering us, even d so called amnesty/charity organisations. Few years ago watch a documentary on how RSPCA kills render africans homless in other to save a tiger. The media never give any good news about africa and dey have successfully made the next generation believe dat d white man is next to God. These so called charity never do what they say. RSPCC use the picture skinny, malnutrition African child as there logo n dey never actually help in feeding them. Its sad that we have not seen dis great destruction, dis whole tin started with d introduction of religion to africa n its went down hill from dere.

I disagree with the bold. Africans are always quick to heap the root of all their problems on religion. But it's not true.
Religion has always been there.

Rather, we allowed the white man to manipulate and divide us because we wanted to. In the old Benin empire, the Portuguese used to trade Boxes of sugar, White wine, and salt for hundreds of slaves, and it continues to the present, where multi-national oil cooperations would come in and dig in their drilling rigs and pay the federal government large sums of money to keep mute and turn a blind eye, while the local communities suffer the environmental pollutions caused by the oil spillage.

All these social and economic injustices have nothing to do with religion, or do they?

Op great! In as much as am tired of reading essays on african underdevelopment of afrocentric views,couldn't help to agree more dat u brought in some fresh nd challenging insight into african palaver.


Pls can u help with solutions too?

The solution is in the hands of we youths, instead of us bashing our ethnic tribes everyday on nairaland, we need to organise a peaceful March in FCT in our millions and fight for our future on a daily basis until the cretins we call leaders start listening to us. I am happy to join any peaceful demonstration that can achieve this. Going to church or mosque to donate money for private jet will not help us, God is not a magician!
Oyinbos that don't even have GCSE will come to our country, we give them official cars with drivers, we give them company houses with security, they enjoy a luxurious lifestyle they can only dream of in their own country. We would have to fast and pray to get a visa to their country and when you get there they make you wash toilets and work as a security guard and still blame us for their economic problems. It's hightime we Africans realised we cannot continue to live like this and we havve to sort out our problems at home because there is no place like home.

rash47:

Op great! In as much as am tired of reading essays on african underdevelopment of afrocentric views,couldn't help to agree more dat u brought in some fresh nd challenging insight into african palaver.


Pls can u help with solutions too?

rash47:

Op great! In as much as am tired of reading essays on african underdevelopment of afrocentric views,couldn't help to agree more dat u brought in some fresh nd challenging insight into african palaver.

In-as-much as I would have liked to take the credit for this incredible article, I have to remind you that I'm merely but a messenger.

rash47: Pls can u help with solutions too?

The solutions were treated in the article, but to summarize, Africans need to start believing in themselves, and start investing in departments they tend to leave to foreign investors to contribute. Areas, like science, Engineering and technological networks.

Good Domestic leadership education is also highly needed, else all the aforementioned will come to naught. Without good leadership, Africa will continue to stagnate.

Recognizing the white man for what it represent; a threat to the Africans. By glorifying them, we are advertently encouraging them to lord over us and by all intent and purposes, retaining their former social-economic position as our colonial masters. This could be actualized if we start trading more and more within ourselves(African continent) and less with foreigners(White Man).

Less sabotaging of ideas of African origin for foreign ones. Africans are universally guilty of these. An African will rather buy a foreign made junk than invest his money on a first rate African production
Once we stop this mentality, industrial development will hasten.


It goes on and on...

So many things you need to contribute as a citizen, cuz it start with you.

gerald09: I love these article, the western world are really dividing n conquering us, even d so called amnesty/charity organisations. Few years ago watch a documentary on how RSPCA kills render africans homless in other to save a tiger. The media never give any good news about africa and dey have successfully made the next generation believe dat d white man is next to God. These so called charity never do what they say. RSPCC use the picture skinny, malnutrition African child as there logo n dey never actually help in feeding them. Its sad that we have not seen dis great destruction, dis whole tin started with d introduction of religion to africa n its went down hill from dere.

there r И̣̣̣̥o tigers in africa #justsaying

Well composed article I must say BUT there's this thing about africans in general and blaming other people for their problems,if we were in the pre-independence era I would understand but now its been 30yrs since the last sub-saharan african nation had its independence,what else can we africans ask for?our leaders are indigenes,the people running our economies are indigenes too!!we shouldn't look at the western world as our enemies,we should just simply improve ourselves,Japan had a direct enemy in US/britain during WWII after the defeat they looked inward and got themselves into the level they are in now. The western world are not our enemies. Africa solve your problems and you'll earn respect,stop playing victim