Africanitis: A Provocative and Critical Analysis of Issues and Opportunities for Africa

By Ayukepi J. Ayukekbong

mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Africa is a continent that has been traumatized from the period of slavery and colonization and continues to be ensnarled in the hook of neocolonialism. It's the most diverse continent in the world in terms of ethnic and linguistic variations, with over three thousand tribes speaking more than two thousand languages in fifty-four countries. This diversity is also reflected in the difference in economic performance from one country to another. However, with much concerted efforts, the old narrative of a continent characterized by poverty, war, despair, and corruption is fading away, with new opportunities emerging.line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Based on extensive travel experience by the author, numerous years of research about the continent, and interviews with several experts, Africanitis presents a historical connection of Africa with the world and discusses current issues in the continent. These issues include the threat of natural disasters, emerging infectious diseases, food insecurity, civil unrest, corruption, foreign aid, and weak economic systems. The author also presents key areas of opportunity, such as diaspora mobilization, biotechnology, sustainable natural resource management, and educational and digital transformation of the continent.line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> Africanitis is unique because it's written by an individual of African origin and offers a non-biased perspective from which global citizens and Africans alike should view Africa. Particularly, the book invites readers to view Africa as a continent that is making conscious efforts to wean itself from foreign aid and the largesse of its colonizers or multilateral organizations, instead seeking genuine international partners. In this regard, Chinese penetration and interest in Africa is also extensively discussed. Overall, the author presents a nuanced, fact-based perspective of the vast opportunities available in the continent to be explored.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Dec 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9780228896845

Ayukepi J. Ayukekbong

line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Dr. Ayukekbong150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> is a leader, teacher, writer, speaker, and a multidisciplinary researcher. He was born in Cameroon and is a staunch proponent of African emancipation and sustainable development of the continent. He obtained his PhD from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and then moved to Canada, where he currently resides. Although an African diaspora, he has served in various leadership capacities in Africa and continues to be keen on the geopolitics of the continent vis-a-vis the rest of the world.line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">He is also the author of Living a Century, a book about a statesman in Africa who lived for over one hundred years.

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Africanitis

A Provocative and Critical Analysis of Issues and Opportunities for Africa

Ayukepi J. Ayukekbong

Africanitis

Copyright © 2023 by Ayukepi J. Ayukekbong

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-9683-8 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-9682-1 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-9684-5 (eBook)

Table of Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Slavery, Colonialism, and Neocolonialism of Africa

Chapter 3 China’s Penetration and Interest in Africa

Chapter 4 A Struggling Economy

Chapter 5 Corruption in Africa: How Bad Is It?

Chapter 6 Foreign Aid: Is It Making a Difference in Africa?

Chapter 7 Christianity in Africa

Chapter 8 Keeping Africans Safe from Disasters and Diseases

Chapter 9 Stop Wars and Stir Growth

Chapter 10 Good Governance: A Recipe for Economic Growth

Chapter 11 Education for Innovation

Chapter 12 Diaspora and Africa

Chapter 13 Biotechnology for Food Security

Chapter 14 Digital Transformation of Africa

Chapter 15 Telling the African Story by Africans

Chapter 16 Africa and Its Endowments

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Dedication

To my parents, Richard and Elizabeth Ayuk: Thank you!

Prologue

Having lived on three continents, traveled to over half of the fifty-four countries in Africa, served in roles involving capacity building in Africa, and read extensively about the continent, I have earned the right to be given a seat at the table as someone of African origin to talk about the problems of Africa and articulate ways of moving forward.

I am neither an economist nor a politician, or even a leading expert in some of the areas discussed in this book, but I am an informed Pan-Africanist who is concerned about the progress of Africa.

I was born in Cameroon, Africa, completed undergraduate studies in the country, and worked for four years before moving to Europe for further studies. Before leaving Africa for Sweden on January 11, 2007, my main aim was to acquire post-graduate education in Sweden and then return to my country of birth, Cameroon, and establish a career as a university professor. I was particularly motivated in my school days in Cameroon when I met lecturers who’d studied abroad, and I felt the Western experience was indeed enriching.

During my stay in Europe, I was fortunate to have had tremendous exposure in Sweden and also in Germany to different governance structures, which enhanced my appreciation of governance and social responsibility of a government to its people. Each time I compared this with what prevails in most countries in Africa, I wondered why there was so much greed among our political elites in Africa and why the governance structures created so many opportunities for mismanagement and embezzlement. Also, each time I considered returning home, I was always concerned with issues such as political unrest, corruption, tribalism, nepotism, insecurity, and limited opportunities. The prospects for my personal development seemed to be unclear.

As the years went by, there continued to be fewer and fewer reasons for me to return to a country where the majority of the youth had lost hope in the system and where there was diminished recognition for excellence. As well, the public service is managed by the privileged few, who continue to destroy an already terrible system. But finding a sustainable solution to the problems of Africa is a call that every African should be interested in, whether they’ve left the continent or are living in the continent. After all, as long as you’re a person of color, anywhere you live in the world, the first impression is that you are an African until proven otherwise.

Having been raised in a middle-class family, with a father who served as a warder (prison officer), and a stay-home mom running a small business and raising kids, I fully understand the day-to-day struggles of many African families. Therefore, I have a strong desire to discuss issues and explore opportunities to educate families like my own, who continue to suffer the consequences of economic failure and bad governance. As I walked through the streets in North America and Europe, where I’ve lived for most of my adult life, I often pondered the question of development. How did Western countries go so far in terms of infrastructural development, while infrastructure lay in ruins in Africa, where most people are still in shacks and slums? I’ve also wondered why Africa has failed while other regions have ostensibly achieved so much economic prosperity and growth.

The continent is the second largest (after Asia), covering about 20 percent of the total land surface of the Earth and measuring approximately 30.3 million square km, with the inhabitants making up 17 percent of the world’s population. Africa contains a huge proportion of the world’s natural resources. It’s home to some 30 percent of the world’s mineral reserves, 8 percent of the world’s natural gas, and 12 percent of the world’s oil reserves. It’s the source of about half of the world’s gold and diamond supply. The continent is also blessed with nice year-round favorable climatic conditions, fertile land, and touristic landmarks. So why is Africa still the poorest region in the world?

This book is the result of my burning desire to answer this question, and it’s my humble perspective and contribution to the topic of issues and opportunities in Africa. Unlike many other books on the market about Africa, written by non-Africans, this provocative and critical analysis is written by an author of African origin. The book is a self-reflection and non-biased objective analysis of facts. It is written for Africans and well-wishers of Africa.

Because it’s a provocative and critical presentation of the continent, I recognize that some readers, depending on which side of the Mediterranean they come from, may be disturbed by some of the facts presented. My sincere goal is to present to everyone (both Africans and non-Africans) a holistic picture of the continent. I have touched on some difficult moments in the history of the continent, strategies that aren’t working, and key areas of opportunities for Africa. I also looked at the main quandaries of Africa’s global image: corruption, disease, poverty, and war, and offered my perspective on where the problem lies and how to navigate it.

But first, I must state clearly that Africa is not a country. It’s a continent with fifty-four countries. Writing about an entire continent is challenging, perhaps because of the diversity and variability of trends from one country to another. However, in my research of the continent, I noted key themes impacting the continent as a whole, which I took interest in, and some compelling transformations of how far the continent has come. I drew from the abundance of new research, interviews, and my travel experience. It’s my best endeavor to discuss Africa from a wide and objective lens to a street-level perspective, identifying issues in policies and practices to stir a provocative discussion as well as provide a compelling argument of some positive realities.

While I’m no expert in many of the areas covered in this book, I feel the unique perspectives shared will add to the ongoing conversation and growing discussion of a badly traumatized continent and how other non-African nations continue to take advantage of the loopholes in governance across the continent for their gain and self-aggrandizement. The book also explores some opportunities in the continent that could improve the lives of the population, such as biotechnology, digitalization, diaspora mobilization, and tourism. I also debunk some of the stereotypes about Africa that are commonly heard or propagated by some media outlets outside of Africa.

Chapter 1

Introduction

He that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is no better than the mad man himself.

(African proverb)

Every day across Africa, thousands of young men and women line up in front of the gates of embassies of some European, North American, and Asian countries. For those who are already abroad, millions have asylum claims, with horrible stories to justify the reasons for their unwillingness to return to their home countries. Others even take risky voyages through the desert and the Mediterranean Sea to escape from Africa for greener pastures.¹ The result is often news of tragic incidents of Africans drowning in the sea, all in an attempt to run away from the land of their birth.²

Why are young people running away from a continent so blessed with resources, fertile land, and a good climate? As I point four fingers to these issues, my thumb points at myself. I left Cameroon in 2007 for further studies in Sweden, where I completed a master’s degree in molecular biology and another in biomedicine. I would later proceed to study for a Ph.D. in medical science at the University of Gothenburg. After completing my Ph.D., the most noble thing would have been to return to Cameroon, where I’d probably seek a job as a university lecturer or researcher, but I decided to migrate to Canada, where I currently reside.

In my conversation with many Africans in the diaspora, I’ve also learned that Africans aren’t moving from Africa to Europe or America because of hatred of their countries. If the right opportunities and environment is created in Africa, many immigrants are likely to carry their bags and return to where they call home. But as we think around this line, the situation becomes even more ironic and opens up an important question: If all the skilled class of Africa move abroad, who will develop Africa to create that enabling environment with the right opportunities worth their return?

As I discuss this subject further in Chapter 12, we’ll see that the diaspora population plays its role in the development of Africa. Therefore, the discussion about developing Africa should be of interest to every individual of African origin, whether at home or abroad. Those at home should cease from being passive in the affairs of their communities. Those in the diaspora need to rally support to pull foreign direct investment into Africa or create friends of Africa networks to encourage even non-Africans to invest in Africa. These investments can range from as simple as just going on a vacation to Africa or setting up a business in Africa.

For these things to happen, governments must commit to creating stable political environments and improving on security and health care. In my experience, these are the three critical areas that both tourists and business people often ask about, and they’re key recipes for economic growth and prosperity. Also, the regulatory framework of most countries in Africa is porous and weak. It’s easy for any product, even in counterfeit form, to make its way through the system without being thoroughly vetted.

The problems of Africa are further compounded by the fact that those who are educated and knowledgeable to drive change and who live in the continent, are often passive bystanders in their countries because of fear of extrajudicial treatment. As a matter of fact, the political class of some countries has been hijacked by a privileged group of often less qualified and ambitious persons who use their populism and charisma to exploit the vulnerability and passiveness of the population to accomplish their political agenda. The result is often leaders who have little or no regard for the communities they serve.

In fact, the deep-rooted issues of Africa have progressed like a disease. In medical science, the suffix itis is often used to denote a disease condition. For example, appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, endometritis is inflammation of the endometrium, gastroenteritis is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, etc. Africanitis, by analogy, is an arbitrary term developed by the author to describe the problems of Africa.

It’s common in Africa to see a wide disparity in the wages of workers based on their ethnicity or race. Africans themselves have an inferiority complex. With the vast number of projects going on in the continent, it’s common to see a local employee working in the same project with a foreigner of similar qualification, yet there is a wide salary difference. Sometimes even less qualified Westerners branded as expatriates earn far more than more educated and experienced locals. Two things stand out clearly in this situation: either there is bias or there is an inferiority complex.

Sometime ago, while I was a resident in Sweden, I witnessed bias and the display of an inferiority complex on one of my visits to Cameroon. During this trip, I went to a bank for a transaction. The bank was full, and all four tellers were busy serving the four parallel queues of customers. I was impressed by the fact that it was so orderly and that the customers respected and maintained the queue. Coming from Sweden, which is one of the most orderly countries in the world, I was proud of the situation. Unfortunately, my admiration didn’t last long, as while we were all in queue waiting patiently to be served, a guy walked in, bypassed the queue, and went straight to the teller serving my queue. I watched keenly, waiting for the teller to advise him to go back and stay in the queue, as other customers were already grumbling and frowning. Unfortunately, the teller, in an unconcerned manner, started serving and chatting with him.

I walked up to the gentleman (who I would learn later to be a French national) and asked him to take his position in the queue. He responded by saying, You have no right to talk to me; the teller is already serving me, and she’s not complaining. So, what the heck is your problem?

It was getting heated, and our voices were getting loud. The argument that ensued prompted two bank security guards to walk up to us, but to my greatest dismay, after they had been briefed by some customers of exactly what had transpired, they asked me shut up or else they would escort me out of the bank. I, like the others in queue, watched the White French guy be served while we waited disgruntledly.

This situation is yet another example of a showcase of an inferiority complex. The lesson is that non-Africans and organizations or entities should not take advantage of the weakness and hospitality of Africans to undermine progress made by the continent to improve on critical issues, as I discuss further in this book.

Despite the highly youthful and growing population of Africa, estimated at over 1.4 billion with a population growth rate of 2.3 percent, Africa continues to have a terrible reputation globally. For many people in the world, Africa is associated with war, civil unrest, poverty, diseases, and uncountable social problems.³ This image unfortunately reflects the dire reality in some countries, although not all, as significant progress has been made in many countries.

Tragic and unimaginable incidents continue to occur across the continent. For example, why did two African teenagers, Yaguine Koïta and Fodé Tounkara, sacrifice their lives by sneaking into the rear right-hand wheel bay of a Sabena Airlines Airbus from Conakry to Brussels in July 1999?⁴ This incident happened in the summer holidays while I was preparing to enroll in the university as a freshman. It was reported that they carried plastic bags with birth certificates, school report cards, family photographs, and a letter. Their letter, addressed to Europe, was a call for concern for all those who have Africa at heart as they narrated in their own way some of the day-to-day challenges faced by youths in Africa.

But the story of Yaguine Koïta and Fodé Tounkara is not an isolated one. On a regular basis, we hear news of Africans embarking on dangerous voyages from the shores of Libya and Egypt, often in very small, inflatable boats, in search of a better life in Europe. From 2014 to April of 2021, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that over 29,000 Africans died trying to cross from North Africa into Europe.⁵ Every year skilled workforce from Africa—including lawyers, physicians, pharmacists, teachers, nurses, engineers, researchers, and accountants, just to list a few migrate to Europe and America, some of whom are often faced with the challenge of integrating into an entirely new system. Some end up working in nonskilled fields as