African Economy

People often say when Africans argue for an integrated national African economy, they are self-indulgent entertaining nothing but a futile illusion. They claim that to argue that Africa must unite economically, ‘knowledge-ically’, politically, and ’society-ically’ is to day-dream and to give in to fantasy. [Pambazuka]

Biofuel production is certainly one of the culprits in the current global food crisis. But while the diversion of corn from food to biofuel feedstock has been a factor in food prices shooting up, the more primordial problem has been the conversion of economies that are largely food-self-sufficient into chronic food importers. [Pambazuka]

It’s just been a few weeks since Nelson Mandela was taken off the United States terrorism watch list. No doubt so that they too could join in the celebrations of this living icon, without the embarrassment of hoisting up a revolutionary. [Pambazuka]

In Hokkaido, Japan, we have not only in Bush, Sarkozy, Brown, and Fukuda a group of discredited leaders with very low ratings at the polls in their own countries, writes Walden Bello. We have as well a G8 that is, more than ever, lacking in legitimacy. [Pambazuka]

A proper analysis of the food crisis is a matter that cannot be left with trade negotiators, investment experts, or agricultural engineers, writes Yash Tandon. It is essentially a matter of political economy. A crisis for some is an opportunity for others. Any analysis of the present food crisis carries with it its own prescription, and these prescriptions have the potential to bring benefits for some and losses for others. [Pambazuka]

In even the most exploitative African sites of repression, sometimes corporations take a hit, and victims sometimes unite on continental lines instead of being divided-and-conquered. Turns in the class struggle might have surprised Walter Rodney, whose 1972 classic “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” provided detailed critiques of corporate looting. Patrick Bond and Richard Kamidza on resistance to the excesses of Western capitalism. [Pambazuka]

Si l’Afrique est incapable d’assurer sa souveraineté alimentaire, ce n’est point qu’elle manque de ressources pour relever ce défi. Les terres agricoles sont encore peu exploitées, l’eau est disponible à profusion et les bras valides pour remuer les sols sont là. La dépendance alimentaire dans laquelle se trouve le continent est tout simplement due aux chaînes des politiques néolibérales qui l’entravent. [Pambazuka]

Dans « La natte des autres », Joseph Ki-Zerbo terminait son propos comme suit : « L’homme patient finit par plumer un œuf. Plumer un œuf, telle est la finalité du développement. » En fait, l’historien avait déjà indiqué les voies et moyens pour plumer l’œuf lorsqu’il notait que « pour l’Afrique d’aujourd’hui, trois conditions majeures semblent s’imposer pour un développement endogène : L’intégration de l’espace africain, la recherche participation-action, la démocratie »[Pambazuka]

In the March 27th, 2008 Pambazuka issue, Firoze Manji argued that in comparison to Europe and the US, China in Africa is still a small player and that while keeping an eye out on China, Africans should not be distracted from paying attention to the West’s continued exploitation of the continent. In this essay, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta adds yet another layer by looking at India’s growing role in Africa. [Pambazuka]

Firoze Manji argues that in comparison to Europe and the US, China in Africa is still a small player. While keeping an eye out on China, Africans should not be distracted from paying attention to the West’s continued exploitation of the continent including the use of military might to protect its economic interests. [Pambazuka]

La glorification du libéralisme pur et dur domine le débat au sujet du meilleur avenir civilisationnel pour l’humanité. Pour Nsame Mbongo, les idéologies ultralibérales ont fait faillite comme modèle de développement en Afrique. Ce qui rend nécessaire la construction d’un discours développementaliste de libération, aux antipodes de l’asservissement post-moderne. [Full Text Article, pdf]

Kjell Havnevik, Deborah Fahy Bryceson, Atakilte Beyene and Prosper Matondi look at the destructive role the world bank has played in African agriculture and food production. [Pambazuka]

Paper presented by Dr. Neville Alexander at the South African Embassy in Berlin on the 20th November 2007. One of the main points of his presentation was: How do we assist in the decolonisation of the mind of the billions of people who are held in thrall by the demonstrable “superiority” of the global languages as propagated and prioritised by their own ruling groups and strata? [Full Text Article, pdf]

Edited by Patrick Burnett and Firoze Manji. Can trade in the era of globalisation be ‘fair’ or ‘just’? Drawing on lessons from the slave trade and studies of the international finance institutions, these essays provide insights into how free trade policies have a profoundly negative impact on the rights of communities, environmental sustainability and the development of democracy in Africa. [Full E-Book, pdf, 2,1 MB]

Economic, political and security cooperation between China and Africa has grown exponentially in the last decade, presenting new opportunities and challenges for Africa. The need for Africans to understand China, and its motives for the enhanced engagement with Africa over the last decade, is now greater than ever before, writes Ndubisi Obiorah. [Full Text Article, html]

Article by Francis B. Nyamnjoh. The idea of writing a paper on Barbie democracy came to me from reflections on the idea of ‘The Market’ and the sort of socio-political institutions this model has tended to inspire. [Zeleza.com]

By Hakim Adi. Trade in African slaves underpinned the British economy in the 18th century: the rich and powerful, the monarchy and the Church. So why was an enterprise that was so economically important ended so abruptly… [Pambazuka]

Interview avec le Prince Kum’ a Ndumbe III diffusé dans le journal de Canal 2 International à l’occasion du forum économique organisé par la fondation AfricAvenir à Bonabéri/Douala. Le thème: Comment sortir de l’Informel et de la Pauvreté ?


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Interview sur Canal 2 avec le Prince Kum’ a Ndumbe III. à l’occasion du forum économique organisé par AfricAvenir en décembre 2006.

Jacques Depelchin challenges global citizens to make links between poverty across the world both historically and in the present day: From Cite Soleil in Haiti; to Abalhali in Durban, South Africa; Kibera, in Nairobi, Kenya; Marako in Lagos, Nigeria; and Ndjili in Kinshasa, DRC. [Pambazuka, Full Text, html]