Topic: Does a place called Africa really Exist in the world Economy - page 3. (Read 520 times)

Cleopatra was a member of the  Ptolemaic dynasty, the dynasty established by Alexander the Great and already 300 years old by the time the was crowned queen.
Also, she was called actually Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, and she was the 4 queen to rule Ptolemaic Egypt.

So, let's not start re-writing history!


Nope, not even close!
The whole thing about wealth and how the world runs on African resources is just a myth thrown around to help some victimising themselves.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-the-worlds-largest-lithium-producers/


Australia produces 54 times more lithium than the whole of Africa and the US alone has more 4 times the reserves of all discoveries in Africa.
Just for comparison, Africa's total mineral exports including oil and gas are barely half of those of Australia alone!
Also, silicon...common, silicon makes up over 25% of the Earth's crust and is the second most abundant element on the planet after oxygen.

Aren't they one of the most reliable sources of lithium in the planet, the very same metal we use to power the phones and devices you use to post this on bitcointalk? Also would like to add that besides precious gemstones like Diamonds and Emeralds, they are also one of the most abundant sources of silicon on the planet, which is so integral in the current setup of our technological advancement that if Africa decided they wouldn't settle with the bullshit anymore we'd literally have to start begging them?

If not for the massive corruption that most African politicians commit against the countries within the African continent, the whole area would've been one of the richest territories in the planet by large. And while a lot of people might downplay the current state of Africa due to how poor the living conditions in there are, a lot of countries in the African continent have been slowly making a name for themselves and are pushing for massive reforms and globalization, it could be possible that within our lifetimes we see Africa actively partaking in the world economy, not as someone's slave, but as its own free entity.

The problem of Africa, is bad leadership, somehow corrupt politicians keep recycling in African politics, and I feel like it's some external forces that have made it to  remain so, we in Africa, have people that will change the fortunes of their countries from poverty to prosperity, but they won't be given the chance to rule. We have cabals that control African politics, and they determine who rules their country, unless these mafias who don't have the interest of their countries are rooted out, even elections can't produce good leadership, because they'll rig it. It's very sad that despite the intelligent people that has what it takes to make African economies to be like China, and other developed countries, it's still mediocres and criminals that continues to rule us.

I am an African, but I bet you if we begin to talk the African thing today there are a lot of things that are going to evolve which we might not be able to handle here. The African problem is actually more than the corrupt leaders that we are accusing. This set of politicians were not like this from the beginning, our forefathers we are upright and truthful and not very close to corruption but after the emergence of the westerners many things changed about our culture and believe. The corrupt leaders learnt the wrong way and they are unable to do without what they learn while the teachers have actually changed from the way of corruption. The African problem is more than Colonization, it is a long orchestrated conspiracy and it will not change any time soon. It is African that can save themselves and they can't do this when they are heavily dependent on their oppressors.

Lots of countries still experience the effects of colonialism. Especially those who never gotten out of poverty even after their independence and became third world countries. It is not unusual in third world countries to have colonization mindset where they think everything is better outside of the country. I feel sad especially when you know just how rich and diverse your culture is and how there are so many ways to make a living out of them but instead we are pleading at the same countries who had colonized us. I wish better for countries like these.

It is becoming difficult for honest people to survive in Africa. This is because the minimum wage in most African countries cannot sustain most people this has led many people to start engaging in corrupt practices. Honest people are even blackmailed it intimidated by corrupt officials because they refuse to engage in sharp practices. The insincerity and corrupt nature of the political class is having a great effect on the populace making it difficult to see honest people. To survive many honest people are fleeing the country to other lands where their hard work would be recognized and beneficial.

You are totally correct Franky and this reminds me of a report by a reputable newspaper that the US embassy in Nigeria raised an alarm that some US citizens are engaging in illegal and fraudulent intercountry adoption of Nigerian children, child-buying and the imprisonment of pregnant women. So Africa will always be a source of mineral and human resources.

AFAIK, Africa exports mostly natural resources and maybe some agricultural products like cocoa.
Most African countries haven't even started the process of industrialization, while the western and some Asian countries moved from an industrial society to highly technological consumerist society. Africa is failing to industrialize because of the "poverty trap" and the lack of capital. The "poverty trap" happens when there's too many children and not enough government funds to include all children in the educational system. The foreign investors aren't interested in Africa because of the high levels of corruption and the lack of educated workforce and infrastructure.

want to know the most basic and simple cause?
here goes

simply manipulating FOREX currency exchange
if african currency stayed at 1:1 of one loaf of bread in africa was same price (different currency) as 1 US loaf of bread. the economics would be fairer for africa
if african currency stayed at 1hours labourUS:1hours labour africa (same price (different currency)). the economics would be fairer for africa

but by manipulating the rate where by EU/US can get food/labour and other things in multiples from africa for far less than EU/US prices. africa will always be victimised, invaded, resource/land taken and used.. because its cheaper

and on the flip side. due to the multiples of cost to get equipment and tools from US/EU  it slows down africa's domestic development speed to not match that of EU/US
EG if a US farmer(min wage $15) can get a new harvester for $150k (10,000 min wage labour hours) (every 5 years)
EG if a african farmer(min wage $0.50) has to pay for a new harvester for $150k (300,000 min wage labour hours) deprived by 30x(~600 labour years)
you soon see how forex rate does not help africans prosper but does show how the US/EU can then use the cheap equipment on their side to then become big EU owned industrial farmers of african land with 30x land plot size in africa, at just the cost of family farming plot in EU

..
yes africa exists in the world economy of resources and labour. but when ranked based on currency rate of USD, then it appears low

Africa will never disappear from search, especially if the country becomes rich. Because what all countries in Africa need are honest people and human resources that their own governments can rely on. However, if the government is generally very corrupt, I think this needs to be followed up thoroughly by citizens so that in the future they will no longer elect the wrong leaders. Because it's hard to find really good people in hungry conditions or in unstable economic conditions, but that doesn't mean there aren't good people.

Take a look with picture below, as you can see African is filled with red color which mean the corruption rate in Africa is really high.

My comment is, if you don't have any power or rich in your country, it's better for you to study abroad, work abroad or work remotely. Since your country is full of corruption, so you wouldn't get paid as much as your effort. If you relying to your country, don't be surprised if your life will be same like now.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index#/media/File:Countries_by_Corruption_Perceptions_Index_(2023).svg

I regularly work on contract in many African countries and I speak to a lot of people living there. There are people from all races, not just black people... so let's stop that narrative that Africa are just for black people. (We build and educate local people... so that they can fish for themselves)

In any way, most of them blame their own corrupt governments and politicians that took over from the Europeans that colonized them.

Africa are one of the richest countries in the world, when it comes to natural resources, but the greedy politicians and their family and friends are stealing that to fill their own pockets... and the other people suffer as a result of that.

Stop blaming the past and playing a victim, focus on the real problem... your own people selling your future to enrich themselves.

Well that's not totally fair: brilliant African guys don't end working in big African companies but they emigrate to other countries looking for a better life, and that's also what the OP was complaining for. Answering the OP's question, Africa exists, but opportunities for the people are way less in the continent than outside, which doesn't help either.

maybe if people like you have a good mentality, part of African problem would have possibly be sorted out at ease. Just like every other continent of the world, we can't exist independent of ourselves. The world must exchange core moral values and culture for it to exist effectively. It's through that most European nation become civilized before us and that the level of technological advancement that's evident in their region is superb compared to what is predominant here but it's just a stage that we are currently working on.

Have you seen brilliant African guys that are doing great things with their skills and not complaining and speaking ills of her continent like you're currently doing? The African man has been so blessed with natural and mental resources that's not fully hearneese yet and we've got big businesses men that are doing well for themselves in the global stage. The world is designed in different context and maybe if you stand up from your complaints and sit your ass down to do the right things, it will go a long way in making Africa better than mere talking here and their.

Africa exists, and it is hidden from the rest of the world by the governments. Particularly, the agreements that have been made with Western nations have given rights to the mineral mafias to excavate and empty natural wealth. Even now, the Western Nations continue to exploit the wealth of the country, and some countries have broken the treaty after a great struggle to safeguard the natural wealth. Even in such a situation, corrupt politicians standing against the common man is another reason why countries weren't able to progress.

The prevalence of the phenomenon of corruption among leaders in the African countries is as a result of the high rate of the culture of political apathy within the masses, their lack of interest in political events makes them have a weak stands to wield and demand strict accountability from the leader and die to this the leaders take the opportunity to steal at will because he knows that the commonwealth is ignorant of their rights and demands.

 The secret why the West and Europe are developed to the large extend that they are today is because the people at all levels demands for accountability from leaders for every penny spent, this makes the leaders to know and understand before time that they can't act otherwise else the people will revolt without looking back because everyone is very much interested in the political-economy of the state and how every was expended. But this is not the case with these side of the periphery.

A lack of political education leading to a lack of demands on the political system to deliver on the mandate given and to account for every resource is the main problem to the development of these nation's outside those cause by external forces of the West and Europe which for me are minor if the former is tackled.

their government is very bad if that is the case, even though their country is rich, it is really sad whether it will continue, until the next government, if so over time Africa will really be lost from search

First of all, I would like to convey and emphasize that Africa has a rich and very diverse history. and if we talk about natural resources, Africa has a lot of great potential. However, because its human development index is still relatively low compared to other continents, this continent faces very serious challenges in terms of managing and utilizing its natural resources and wealth effectively.

and if we look back, from the past until now this continent has never been free from the shackles of colonial colonialism, or what is now better known as neo-colonialism and resource exploitation by foreign countries. and not to mention the internal problems that occur, such as inter-tribal conflicts, corruption, inadequate and uneven infrastructure development, and uncertain political conditions, this makes the economic situation even more difficult and worsens conditions in Africa.

And to be able to make countries in Africa into developed countries, and be able to let go of their dependence on aid from foreign countries, of course this is not an easy thing to achieve. At least to achieve this, it will take decades, and even if, for example, the government and society on the African continent are really serious about fighting corruption, able to increase infrastructure and superstructure development, and able to promote peace and good political stability. . Otherwise, this progress will never be realized.

I think there are many facets to this discussion, but what you did is an underlying statement to everything that is going on with the African economy and African culture at large. Unfortunately, we Africans have allowed much infiltration by Europeans into the continent, and what they were able to take from us since then up to today is our natural resources. What we were able to take from them in return is mainly their language, and not much more than that.

Unlike in Asia, where they were able to impact them positively, Asia received civilization from them while preserving its culture. The only thing they took from Asia was remnants of the civilization they brought, as well as some natural resources. But the responsibility lies with our leaders, even from way back.

We had leaders who were ready to sell off our treasury in exchange for benefits from our colonial masters. That's why slave trade was common in Africa, and most Africans after the slave trade era were dumped in what was known as the free town, which is why it's called Freetown today.

Our leaders have continued to remain the same. Few of them have changed, but the ambitious nature of our leaders, ready to negotiate anything for power at the expense of the masses, is still prevalent today in Africa. That's why they were able to colonize us in the colonial period, in the medieval era, and still able to neocolonize us in the modern era. Not many African leaders are challenging the status quo or preserving our cultural heritage.

We've also had situations where most of our idols were taken by those people at very low prices, only to be sold back to Africans at very expensive prices. We need to create a turning point for ourselves, and the change begins with our leaders. They need to take leadership seriously, seeing it beyond a business enterprise and putting the nation's interest above their personal interest.

By having leaders who lead by example and prioritize national interests, we can have a continent free from the shackles of colonization, which would reflect immediately on our economy. Our leaders need to come together, brainstorm, and put their ideas together to succeed as a continent. Movements like the African Union need to be revitalized to hold our economies together before we can thrive as a nation or continent at large.

As Maitama Sule said, "Any people that leave their culture or abandon their culture will lose their respect and identity. Any people that try to emulate an alien culture will end up being a poor caricature of what they are trying to copy. They will be out of source everywhere, at home nowhere."

If you use a mobile phone you have benefitted from Africa produce  almost certainly, not only does Africa the continent exist you rely on their existence and hard labor to continue.    The only negative argument for Africa is the shear amount of wasted potential in a variety of ways.  IF you were asking for investment with possible returns and growth then there is nowhere else as capable and under utilized at present.

The question really is can you improve the situation existing in many African countries to better enable and enrich that countries population.   Can you make order from chaos in some situations, its not straight forward and you could face armed resistance to your idealistic capitalist aspirations, priorities may exist elsewhere like protecting the heritage and natural wealth of the country.

Many firms are accused of exploitation and not building up a country while residing in and benefitting there as guests.  I think its China which has tried to demonstrate investment but they are controversial in demanding too much ownership and power over people and assets long term in exchange for their investment.

Oui, colonized mentally is quite hard to overcome when the people are already used to it for hundreds of years. it needs a total overhaul but this is just a continent that was already compromised even in ancient times. Egypt for example, Cleopatra was said to be installed by their rulers as she is not an Egyptian. the real Egyptians are black but Cleo was put there as pharaoh despite being a woman.

colonizers may be kicked out but someone else is going to replace them. Niger for example kicked out French and US but whos going there after them? well, the newest that will stay there in the guise of having tons of investments and building their economy is China. it may not look like they win the country by war and establish the government but they are there through the businesses they put up like the BRI and most probably China will also make them use their digital Yuan in the end.

it's just a series of colonization. African countries today are starting to speak Chinese already. Oui?