Why is africa so poor?

Question

I am doing a short essay on why Africa is so poor covering the main factors trade, debt, environment and government. I have got those covered OK in the main body of the essay but I'm struggling a bit with how to start it off in a few sentences, any ideas?

Can I just say to everybody here.. Africa IS poor, no matter what you say. What other causes are there so that they are STARVING?

Answer 1

Perhaps you could find a very short anecdote illustrating the poverty. That would make a good intro to your subject.

Answer 2

The people of Africa have found themselves behind the power curve as compared to the rest of the first world countries in part because of colonialization by the Europeans. They came, took charge and helped themselves to whatever natural resources the region had to offer, all the while not necessarily oppressing but not advancing the education of the local populace. As the people became more aware of how they were being raped (figuratively), they began to push for self determination. And with that movement came the oppression by the colonial authorities over them. There is also the great matter of local chieftans and power struggles between tribes and communities. With war, comes either an advancement of technologies at an accelerated rate, or a massive decline at an accelerated rate. Dependent upon the level of destruction achieved by the warring parties.

Answer 3

Africa is actually quite rich in resources however they tend to be exploited rather poorly. The govts are usually inept with the notable exception of Tanzania which is making great strides. The govts steal from the people, from NGO's, aid packages and companies trying to do business. Africa is poor because of corruption. Debt wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't for the corruption. You lend the country money and the higher-ups in the govt steal it. Aid packages are ransacked or wasted before they reach the people. Your other factors regarding trade and the environment are all tied into the corruption. The other problem is the tribalism. The distrust from one tribe to the next usually causes one to prosper at the cost to the other until power shifts and then they reverse roles. Most "liberation" movements seem to also be most for the liberation of the money that one group gets to get it to themselves. Its all so sad. Africa is a beautiful place and the people are awesome but it is not what most people think it is. When you see it and experience it in person the colors and the smells are brilliant and striking. The poverty is also heartbreaking. Where I was at, most (not all) of the work seemed to be done by the women and children. The men just sat around. You see that a lot also in the Caribbean too. Africa is rich in many things that is why the Chinese have taken note and are heavily investing there. They are also attaching NO STRINGS to their investments which is a huge departure from the west's tactics and one that will pay off greatly. They are also not limiting themselves to countries that are resource rich. They are making friends across the board. The face of Africa may change greatly because of this in the next 10 years. They are also smart in that they are investing and not just doling out aid which only serves to create a class of people not much above slavery. Textbooks, most school and most celebrities like Bono (with the exception of Oprah's work in SA) are out of date when it comes to that land. Bono just wants to throw more of Other People's Money at them. With the kind of money that has been thrown at Africa, everybody there should be riding in Cadillacs. The problem is corruption.


It seems like you are writing a report to support your conclusions regardless of the evidence. Africa is rich but is full of poor people. You need to be clear about that. Why are they poor? Because people in the west treat them like beggars and just throw money and food at them like panhandlers in the street. They don't work with them to make their lives better just thinking money will solve everything. Perversely, money is the problem. The govt leaders there have the money and they are not letting the poor get any of it. Western govts and charities just give them more which just ends up in Swiss bank accounts. Africa has the ingredients to be rich. Its just that the cooks eat it all up. What happened in the past during colonialization is the past. That is not today's problem although its a great sounding excuse. The people of today are responsible for their own problems. Too many people are showing the path out of poverty is real but it requires real work. People used to hand outs don't generally want to do that work to get ahead. Its that minority that gets ahead. Take a good look at how Tanzania is dealing with this. They are not tolerating corruption in govt. I'm sorry but it sounds like you're essay is not based totally on fact but on what you simply want people to believe or more likely on what you believe you think will get you an A from your teacher which more than likely has a lot of pre-set notions on Africa. He probably has never been there or only circulated amongst the most wretched. As America (N&S) grows poorer, just watch how Africa lifts itself.

Answer 4

Africa is very possibly one of the richest countries in terms of natural resources of any other continent on the planet. The people in Africa and the nations and states that the people make up are poor for the same reason you find massive amounts of poverty anywhere. Vast concentrations of wealth in the hands of the few always leads to poverty, eventually. Africa's resources tend to not only be very concentrated in the hands of the few, but the types of resources make for easy concentration, namely, diamond mines, water resources, urban land, and other minable deposits. Rural agricultural land, where most of the GDP of the majority of the south and sub saharan african countries relies on this land, is not as valuable as urban land (indeed, urban land is exponentially more valuable).

Much of the problems in africa come from land speculators who withhold land from production, which causes a never ending spiral downwards. Take the shanty towns you see outside of major urban centers, while at the same time urban dwellings inside the city are either not being developed or are run down to the point of no return. This causes political unrest and can manifest itself in many ways.

Since people need to concentrate most of their allotment of time on mere survival they do not have the time to dedicate to liberating their minds (IE education). This lack of education not only has the direct problem of lower wage workforce, but also uneducated people tend to be more prone to violence and other criminal activity.

Answer 5

they are poor because they don't care. Every other culture actually wrote or invented something. All they know how to do in Africa is spread aids and create mouths that they can't afford to feed.

As someone told me, Africa is like a giant New Orleans.

Answer 6

Africa's main problems are political.
Numerous theorists purport that the predominant reason why Africa is so poor and remains in this condition lies with "bad governance" (corruption / kleptocracy).

" Even "given greater Western efforts," he writes, "the sum of Africa's misfortunes--its wars, its despotisms, its corruption, its droughts, its everyday violence--presents a crisis of such magnitude that it goes beyond the reach of foreseeable solutions. At the core of the crisis is the failure of African leaders to provide effective government." " - source: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051024/rice

I suggest that you refer to the following books/articles:
Ayittey, George B.N. (2005) "Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa's Future"
Ayittey, George B.N. "Why is Africa Poor?" (web document)
World Bank Report "Can Africa claim the 21st century?"
The Economist has numerous articles
Also look out for books/articles by Martin Meredith; Robert Guest

Answer 7

Africa is poor becuase that is the way the conquering empires left them and want them to remain. US,UK,Belgium,Germany,Italy,Persians most every country in the world has used Africa as a way to finance wars or as a dumping ground for the polutants that are not permitted in thier home countries.
The European Nations, all of them, used Africans in WWI to fight and die. No recompense, no thank yous sent. The Africans have been so abused and mistreated by the Christian Nations of the world it is little wonder that Islam took on so well there.
One day I see a world with either No Religion or One Religion with many Gods, pick wich God you want, thats kewl, pray to tyhe one or ones that want, thats kewl.
It is we either get along with getting along or we are all lost to horrible deaths that we deserve for being such poor stewards of a planet.

Answer 8

The poorer parts of Africa are poor because of squandered resources, AIDs, economic scarcity, oppressive governance, exploitative corporations...

The richer parts of Africa are rich from oil, diamonds, tourism, and other economic resources...

Answer 9

yes africa is poor due to high rate of corruption,mismanagement,embezzlement and other abnormal act, this therefore makes africa a dark age continent with 8% possibility of growth and unwesternized act of africans such as killing in other to control the actions of others.

Answer 10

Developed nations, through colonization and exploitation, set the stage for political and economic failure of many African countries. After de-colonization, proxy wars, poorly conceived and unmanageable loans and unfair trade practices have contributed to stunting the development of Africa. Ultimately though, it is up to Africans themselves to develop their own political heritage, their own economies and their own management of their resources.

Peace

Answer 11

Yeah that's right Bill D, it is the United State's responsibility to ensure that everyone in the world is rich and it is our fault that Africa is a disease ridden, poverty stricken, crap hole. But really it is not. Typically in third world countries, the people with the money, knowledge, or military, continue to get more while the rest suffer.