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T
here seems to be a new Af-
rica looming in the horizon.
An Africa bursting out of a,
shadowy existence. Historic ac-
counts in the global stage of-
ten placed us as a continent in
dire economic straits. It had al-
ways been an all familiar refrain
of grief, famine or pestilence in
much of Africa. Africa had long
decried mismanagement of re-
sources and corruption.
But all that seems to be chang-
ing. Long years of uninspiring
leadership are giving way to
democratic and purposeful gov-
ernance. This has in no little way
contributed to robust growth in
many African economies. Af-
rica is beginning to see cleaner
records, better balanced books
and unending capital flows. On
the global stage, Africa is setting
the terms for economic negotia-
tions. It is no longer negotiating
from a position of weakness and
vulnerability, but strength and
new found confidence.
In spite of an air of optimism,
there is still a lot that undermines
the pace of progress in the Af-
rican continent. A lack of basic
infrastructure that would facili-
tate both economic and social
progression remains a huge chal-
lenge. The inspiring tales may not
be about well defined double
digit growth in the economies of
the African nations, but there is
definitely an accelerated shove
of economic momentum in the
continent.
Research has shown that there
has been a sharp increase in the
collective GDP in African coun-
tries. Economic efficiencies have
been significantly enhanced,
while better implementation of
government policies and great-
er commitment to reforms is ad-
hered to. From a perspective
of policy implementation, the
continent is clearly treading on a
path of economic recovery and
its strategic importance cannot
be underestimated anymore.
These impressive credentials in
sub-saharan Africa have also
meant a growing middle class.
Research has also shown that
Africa boasts the highest return
on investment anywhere in the
world. Business leaders in Asia,
Europe and America are looking
onto Africa as, not only a great
investment destination, but also
for its great market potentials.
The pulsating heartbeat of the
African is vividly expressed by
its burgeoning middle class with
new taste and increasing sophis-
tication.
Spending power has increased,
in spite of daunting inflation,
and there seems to be an un-
spoken resolve to face the price
war with unblinking resilience.
The African middle class never
miss an opportunity to celebrate
their eventful lives even at the
risk of living above their income.
In the world of entertainment, it
has also been proven that more
movies are produced in Africa
than in Bollywood and Holly-
wood where it is presumed that
the movie industries are more es-
tablished.
But, reflecting on the promise
that Africa brings, there are nu-
merous challenges. Let us pause
for a moment and think about
the deep and ever widening
gulf between the rich and the
poor, the people who pound the
streets in a sweaty crush of mo-
tion to put food on the table. It is
the riveting image of the young
mother with a kid strapped to
her back hawking oranges to
make a living. It is an image that
reminds us of our neo- capitalist
system.
The African caged bird as de-
picted in Maya Angelou’s poem’
I know why the caged bird sings’
has long liberated itself from the
shackles of inhibition and drudg-
ery. The songbird has sang its
soul out and taken to flight. It has
simply taken its own destiny in its
hands, the destiny that shapes
tomorrow and the prospects it
brings. The African caged bird is
no longer in the cage, but keeps
soaring in flight and flawless co-
ordination.
AFRICA:
A NEW
HORIZON
by Michael Nwabuzor
Feature