Why is Africa still in horrible shape?

Question

I remember seeing Live Aid on TV as a child. Twenty yrs later and Africa is still messed up. How come these countries can't get their act together. Eastern Europe is doing better. South East Asia is improving. Few decades ago, Veitnam was a dirt poor country. Now, IBM is setting up shop there. Yes, corrupt governments have a lot to do w/ it. However, corrupt government officials is the norm all around the world. Plus, Africa is rich in natural resources.

Answer 1

Your right, corrupt politicians. They steal all the money made from Africas mines and oilwells, etc. Then they take advantage of the dirt poor people they are stealing from, who are hungry and dying by giving them clothes/uniforms, food, and automatic weapons. Then they convince them that those of different religions or tribal ethnicity are to blame for their problems (Which doesn't take much persuading considering most African Countries have a long history of civil war, w/ each rival faction mistreating the other when in power, making revenge a factor. Then they give them a liscence to commit genicide. So these poor, uneducated, starving people take on that "group mentality", (doing things they would probably never think of doing on their own, and go out raping, robbing and exterminating every man , woman, and child they see. Purpechuating a long history of violence, death and poverty. Now w/ the addition of A.I.D.S. in the last couple decades their, (The People of Africa) situation is more dire than ever.
I also think that their was much less publicity and help being offered to Africa than some other countries (For whatever reason, you can draw your own conclusions on that point). Africa is also a much larger, and in my opinion, will be much harder to "fix", because of its sheer scale. I also believe its problems are more serious in number and severity, and its people worse off than they were, for example in most parts of E. Europe and S.E. Asia.
However, it seems like there may be a little "light at the end of the tunnel". The horendous conditions in Africa are finally being shown and reported on, and are starting, (slowly), to be addressed thanks to the the herculian efforts from people like Bono, (Did you see his speech after recieving an award at the N.A.A.C.P Awards? It was fantastic, he even got a standing ovation), Chris Rock and Oprah. There are also many more Corporations, like drug companies that are donating much needed supplies and medicines to Africa. Not to mention the increase in the number of volunteers, like doctors, nurses, health, workers, engineers,etc.
We can only hope the conditions will soon improve, hopefully in our lifetime. Thanks for the great question. Peace.

Spell checker not working so I sorry for any misspells.

Answer 2

You should visit several African countries, or as it sounds to me like you would never do that, talk to people from those countries.

There are extremely complex problems going on...more than in Asia, South America, or Europe.

I have been to several African countries, as well as around the rest of the world.

Many African countries are doing well, considering the circumstances they face.

First of all, the natural resource wealth is mostly owned by the descendants of "colonials". They are private citizens who live in the countries and just like you and I can't personally benefit from the wealth of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, neither can the people living there.

The rest of the wealth is owned by the government and other corrupt private individuals.

Unlike Asian or South American countries, most African countries can't benefit from the outsourcing wealth or trade agreements other countries have benefitted from...

An Israeli friend of mine just came back from Cameroon and he toured other West African countries and lamented bitterly how cheap fruit was and was falling off the trees and how no one could really sell it globally.

The European and North American markets get their fruit from other countries.

There are professionals in North, South, East and West Africa, but they go abroad because there are no European or North American companies settling there to take advantage of their labor, the way the do in Southeast Asia or South America.

Environmental issues are epic in Africa. So much of the environment has been destroyed for industry over centuries and more today that it would take massive WPA like projects (which these countries do not have money for) to help.

If you combine the complex economic and environmental issues with the human complexities in the various nations of war, famine, and disease then you have a better picture.

I have oversimplified and overgeneralized to the extreme. If you really want to know, ask people who live there or have been. I have been to almost every African nation and lived in many as well as other nations on this Earth, and the problems are more complex than anywhere else.

Read some books and magazine articles too.

Answer 3

From what I understand, Africa is in bad shape because of a few reasons. There is little to no respect for private property in the countries where a weak economy is most clear. Also, warlords can destroy the economy by using practices such as destroying supply to raise prices (this was done in South America with coffee beans). The most important reason is that countries there have to spend so much money on public goods that there is no money left for future investments and capital to really bring about some economic growth. The instability of governments is probably the main reason.

Answer 4

Africa is not that in horrible shape because it is an continent so maybe the countries you saw growing up are different from the countries now. Also alot of countries in africa do not have that many natural resources any more as the sahara desert is starting to invade lands that where once lush and had alot of farmland thus people lose there income.

Answer 5

Well Africa Can change but It isnt ready to change cos the people aren't ready to give in to work for a better africa.The white man's thinking is different from the black man's thinking.The Black man thinks like let us say doesn't think and act better.Like recently a cocaine case hit Ghana.The people who were supposed to see it to the case that is the police were the ones who stole the cocaine.Just recently an audio recording was revealed showing the ACP and some democratic party officials talking about how to sell the cocaine.So Africa can change if only it sons are ready to give to patriotism.

Answer 6

this is a very complex question - if you are truly trying to understand it, speak to 'africans' (like myself) directly who have lived there long enough to tell you exactly what goes on in some of these countries...or read online newspapers & blogs that come from african countries. here's one from Kenya for starters: www.nationmedia.com

.......but here are some tips to keep in mind: the fact that a continent (made up of 100s of several nations, ethnic groups, nationalities, governments with their own languages and histories etc) is compared to countries instead of other continents is illogical and makes the 'problem of africa' larger than what it seems...

next....remember African countries are on average 40 or so years old, so it makes no sense to compare the continent or its nations to a 200+ year old nations like the US which have grown & developed over decades. you must compare countries that are similar in age/history/ population etc, for example - Serbia or Ukraine vs. Eritrea.

if you must compare the US, then use the US when it was just 40 years old.....

once you start to treat 'africa' as a continent, and that there are unique countries, you'll learn that, in addition to the harsh realities so often portrayed in mainstream media, there are also:

millions of Ethiopians, South Africans, Sengalese, Nigerians, Egyptians, Sudanese etc etc living well, working, going to school, not starving, having homes & cars, developing their countries, & what have you.

see this: http://sociolingo.wordpress.com/2007/03/07/1066/

it's like assuming the most powerful country in the world -USA has no problems.

Answer 7

all of Africa just gained its Independence(the first country to gain Independence was only 50 years ago.) and even so, Africa doesn't have people investing in it as much as other countries. also, the leaders there are not only corrupt, they do not have much experience. also, Africa doesn't have as much money as other countries. they are still in the rebuilding process. even with all of this one of the countries in Africa has a female prime minister/president! apparently America hasn't gotten quite that far yet.

Answer 8

Africa's economy is not stable because of exploitation of its resources and its inabitants. For example a lot of conglamorates make money by trading its gold, that the natives dig. The conglamerates do not take any amount of that money that they make to help improve the country through building schools, clincis etc. Instead they chose to poket the money for there own personal use, and to keep their business(es) thriving.

Answer 9

Africa is not rich in natural resources. South African Country can be rich in diamonds, and other natural minerals, but the rest of Africa is in a very very bad shape from geografic resources standpoint.

Answer 10

You've hit the nail on the head - Africa is rich in diamonds, gold but De Beers (Dutch) and company (UK. France etc) still mine and retain all the revenue from this natural resource.
When the time is right these thieving companies will get their come-up pence