African narrative: Afro-pessimism and Afro-optimism

The social imagination about the African continent wanders between afro-pessimism y afro-optimism. The latter has become increasingly widespread since 2011.

What is Afro-pessimism?

Afro-pessimism, for whose explanation I am going to rely on the famous article ““The heart of the matter” (2000) by The economist (since it perfectly symbolizes the Afro-pessimist argument) states that Africa is that lost continent that does not function at a political, economic or social level.

All this due to a loss of self-confidence caused by growth (3%) lower than what was expected at that time (6%), by a level of poverty that is close to half of the population and by a very high level of corruption. high.

Increased by the lack of difference between democracy and dictatorship; together with clientelism, personalism and concentration of power in governments.

Harmed by state economies dependent (producers) on oil – those that have grown the most – and, therefore, from abroad, as is the case of Angola; which has not given any stability to the respective countries that currently have the same problem.

That is, for the pessimistic theory, the West has forged Africa on a hostile soil, prone to the spread of diseases and with a very low life expectancy. Furthermore, governments do not respect the human rights that the West imposes on them, but which are not recognized or disclosed.

What is Afro-optimism?

Pfor him Afro-optimistic, Africa is a continent whose demographics are young and, therefore, it offers a great productive potential.

Which, together with the governmental changes that are increasingly more peaceful (due to the wave of democratization of the 90s), make Africa a land of opportunities.

In which the middle class has increased and, with it, the entrepreneurship: mobile payments without the need for banks, advances in communication... As well as consumption.

Reflected all this in that six of the ten countries that have grown the most internationally are African.

Well, in addition, it is being inserted into the international economy through non-western foreign investments, as well as advancing regional cooperation.

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That is, it denotes a confidence towards a change to the prosperity, exemplified by an apparent internal peace -fewer children carrying weapons and more attending school-, the rise of the economy (external investment, greater consumer spending, the increase in the use of telecommunications (large number of mobile devices, as well as the incorporation of new technology)) and the latent decrease in diseases such as HIV and increase in life expectancy.

Conclusions on African Narrative: Afro-pessimism and Afro-optimism

In recent years, the trend has shifted towards new vision of the continent much more hopeful and eloquent that shows what, until now, had been the poorest of the territories as a land of dreams, of young people, where entrepreneurship has a place. 

However, Neither of the two visions reflects the African reality.

Although it is true that Africa is not that continent prone to poverty in all the senses that they have always wanted to convey to us, the situation of misery, social and political breakdown, confrontations and lack of Human Rights that continues is not trivial either. living in many countries of the territory.

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However, from the attempt to analyze why this abrupt change in trend, it could be argued by asian investment, as well as other Western countries, which consider the continent still unexploited, and, therefore, a suitable place for business. Well, this turn may be due to wanting to plant a new vision in the social imagination.

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And you, what do you think? Are you an Afro-Optomism or an Afro-Pessimist?