The New Africa, the New America
I am writing this blog on a plane flying back from Kampala, Uganda; Nairobi, Kenya; and Abuja, Nigeria where I have spent the past week immediately following Election Day in the U.S. I have interacted with Africans from many nations, regions, tribes and allegiances during this period and clearly Africa is like a new world again, and America is its friend. The result of our Election, has given them new hope in spite of their acute awareness of our subprime mortgage debt, over-leveraged financial system, and economic malaise. Surprise, surprise, their banks and financial systems are in better shape than ours, as "they never bought our toxic instruments" - probably because there were too many eager buyers in the developed world. And while there may not be as many houses or banks as ours, their systems of mortgage financing are solidly asset based.
Barack Obama has over night changed the African mindset and "yes, we can" is echoed by everyone, in casual conversation with a taxi driver, woven into speeches by business people at meetings, ads for products or events in the newspapers, and even by government ministers. In some respects it has gone too far as many think the U.S. may now provide visas for all Africans, have jobs for them in the U.S., or at the very least give them a space at a U.S. school. If your name begins with "O" and you live in Kenya, in particular, you fantasize that you may be a cousin of Obama. Barack, which means blessing in Swahili, fortunately is not a name used commonly, as I was told the real name is Baracka so our President-Elect may have had his name shortened.
In Kenya, the day after the Election was a national holiday. All the embassies I came in contact with stayed open all election night with food and drink and TV watching for the hundreds they invited - many stayed from 8pm (Africa time 12pmEST) until 7am or 8am when the full results were known. What a difference I saw from the attitudes when I was last there six or twelve months ago: no heavy debates, but constructive dialogue about America resuming the role in leading the world in dialogue on the impact of the current financial crisis on their lives and when the impact would trickle down, which they fully expect, and share the hope that somehow Obama will be a savior.
In Nigeria, of course, they benefited from $150 barrel oil, but fortunately they based their budget on $65 a barrel and are adjusting to estimates of $45 for next year. It will restrict their budget surplus, since 75% of their export is oil. It will restrict the building of all too important infrastructure projects, particularly roads, dams, electric power lines. Uganda, so far, has no oil, but it is drilling. Commodity prices, particularly coffee, have been strong all year, although the recent declines will have a major impact on their ability to maintain GDP growth rates of 6 to 9% - which has been common in much of Africa in the past few years.
What impressed me above all was the intimate knowledge of not only our Election process, even down to the state level, but a sensitivity to the secondary effects of a slow down and recession worldwide. While Africa clearly has a very high level of poverty with incomes of under $2 per day, there is a growing lower-middle and middle class that have jobs, cars, trips, vacations, eating out, new clothes and accessories. These types of Africans are looking to a period of doing with less and don't seem to express any hardships in the process. I was intrigued to hear a group of ten around a dinner table talk about the fact that not only do Americans have to cut back but they, Africans themselves, could do "without another suit" have a "staycation" (vacation at home). And probably most simplistic or impactful, they universally said "you know we don't have to turn in our 3, 4, 5 year-old car when with a little fix up the car can run for another few years." The conversation vividly brought home to me that we, in the U.S., have been living in a society where few of us have been spending on real needs, but rather, satisfying our shopping impulses, subliminally put into our head by advertising and by the media. We have been indulging ourselves for years in excess in every aspect of our lives. We think we "need" things when, in fact, we all have more sweaters, shirts, ties, shoes, cars and "things" than we really need, while the Africans that we conjure in our minds as "needy" are cheerfully willing to do with less. Obviously, those in poverty who don't have their basic needs met will be more severely impacted and deserve our concern, but the rest of us - both African and American - can afford to cut back.
We won't know for a while when all of this will sort out, but hopefully the malaise that we all are all feeling one way or another currently will restore basic values and eliminate excess - much of which was financed by far too much speculation and excessive credit. And if Africans can tighten their belt, maybe we can or will and we won't be that much the worse for it. Maybe it's a new paradigm of family values. Sadly, it is going to result in dislocation in many industries and we will have to find ways to re-train and re-employ people in new areas to satisfy demand for new products and services that are only bounded by our creativity and imagination to develop.
Africa is a continent with 750 million people, rich in resources and rapidly taking its place in the modern world - much of its population still desperately needs our assistance, but there is a growing proportion of the population that will experience many of the economic setbacks we are currently facing in the U.S. and Europe, and they seem to be doing it with a stoic but constructive attitude.
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@Julianne: So, "South Africa is sliding into chaos . . . "? You've been getting your information from all the wrong places, the kind of places, it seems, where embittered losers splutter and spew about how it wasn't so bad in the good old apartheid days. True, the way we conduct our politics is somewhat less than mature. That does not make for chaos, though; just for great headlines filled with empty threats and boasts and the occasional delight -- such as the politician whose embarrassingly poor high school academic record finds its way into the media.
One lesson we can offer about our world post Mandela and post misty-eyed hope is what it's like to never be as good as you hoped and never quite as terrible as some feared. Some things work quite well; many others are a mess. That's not chaos, that's just life the way we live it.
Sorry I insulted your country. Very possibly I've been reading the wrong literature and also had my head up my ass. Apparently, I also undermined the very point I was attempting to make which, simply, is that the U.S. has been extremely violent and arrogant in the past and that we may be better off having some humility and not acting alone in the world along with receiving some advice and assistance from other nations who seem to have their act together as good or better than ours.
On the contrary, because Russia blocked US expansion to central Asia and Caucuses, that Latin America, by large, has freed itself from the iron grip of US domination and the US defeat in Iraq which will weaken US position in the ME, Africa is the only continent fully vulnerable to US domination. The US history in Africa is very sad and destructive. I am an Africa[from Somalia] and while support President elect Barack Obama, I do not feel hopeful that he will bring a new dialogue based on mutual respect and reciprocity to Africa. The US approach to the global South is predicated on the use of military might to project America power around the world. This will not change any time soon.
Kenya should not be favored automatically for aid because of Obama's connection. Rather any African aid should be based on principles such as rule of law and democratic principles like fighting corruption. There is only one country that follows those creeds and is the West African Nation of Ghana. Kenyans would even admit that Ghana rocks!
That's disingenuous and assume we ought to provide aid in the first place. Julianne (below) is right. The United States is not in a position to provide aid. We shouldn't be providing it to the nations we do (several of which are hostile to us anyway), much less adding more to the list. If people want to help, let them help as they choose. They should not be required to help via government policy (that's called theft).
No, that's not called theft, that's called self interest. It's a folly to think that what happens over there doesn't affect us over here.
What is the fertility rate in Nigeria? Eight? How about the Central African Republic? South Africa is falling into chaos and everything to its north is hellish. Check out the Congo and Ethopia, Chad, Sudan, et al. Devouring corporate "development" will only accelerate the destruction of the balance of life on the African continent. Only massive population control and local, indigenous agricultural, environmental, and other more benign projects will even begin to save Africa and the animal and plant kingdoms that today cannot even support much of Africa's looming population. In a different measure but similar context that also goes for the United States. Do you know what the U.S. population is projected to be in the next 60 years? We can't and are not required to lead anybody. Look at the absolute deaf, dumb, and blind whorehouse in Washington and our grotesque economic elites. It is apparent that we can't even "lead"ourselves as our cities duplicate, our borders remain open, and the pathological reign of capitalist-corporate power continues to destroy our economy and environment and tax us to death. We are not in a position, at least not alone, to be leading anybody.
Increasing infancy survival rates has proven to be the most effective way to decrease birth rates and improve living standards. Provide health aid (e.g., malaria nets), and you'll effectively prevent a whole number of problems which ultimately, even though they occur a far way off, end up hurting everyone. It's a folly to think that what happens in Africa does not effect the US; and it's preposterous to assume that the US is not in a position to help. Foreign aid has always been in wealthy nations' best interest (cf. the Marshall plan for a good example).
South Africa tanking?????
Where do you git yo infomation?????/
Our govt instituted a credit act last year and raised interest rates. The runaway credit crisis was averted and we are already in a recession for over 12 months.
The difference is, you folk are only going into it now and we will be out of it long before the USA recovers. Why?
Because the new growth will be based on assets not sub prime crap that you folk have.
We have our faults but you are only just learning how f**ked up your system is.
The reality is, the labor in the uSA is too high to compete internationally. Just like us and others, you will need to dress down your standard of living or else you are doomed to a depression. Then the world will abandon the US$, write off the bad debt and you will be reduced to a banana republic.
Physician, heal thyself before you want to heal other nations. Birth control indeed when you folk want abstinence only.
In Africa, the more kids you have the bette off you are in retirement, archaic I know, but now many grandparents are raising their grandchildren as their kids have mostly died of Aids.
Be informed before you judge -you obviously do NOT know much outside the USA.
And just as an aside, SA produces 40% of the worlds gold so that alone puts us in a better position than the USA who produces how much?????????? [/rant]
leading the world depends on the goodwill of those being led.
Fantastic article, Alan.
It's unfortunate that we (Americans) are not aware of Africa's past, especially it's centuries long trade with China and India long before it came into contact with Europe.
Historians remind us that Africans sailed across the Indian Ocean to both India and China in order to develop economic trade routes starting before 500AD; trade that continued as late as the 1300s or the 14th century. Not too long ago, this "poor" continent may have been the wealthiest of all.
Incredibly, Africa has reestablished trade with both of these countries YET AGAIN (as if it was never interrupted by Europe). The trade materials are far different than before, of course, as oil and natural minerals are the top commodities.
My hope is that America can use this new found international admiration of her long enough to grow trade with this re-emerging economic player. If we are successful, we can get far cleaner fuel than what comes from the Middle East as well as have an abundant supply of mineral resources.
This was truly a great article that demonstrated that Africans have a vast understanding about American politics & the world in general.As an African living in the US,this was a breath of fresh air since all I'm used to seeing are -ve images about an otherwise beautiful continent (Not country...Palin) that is making +ve strides even though the rest of the world has given up on it based on just Ignorance.
Thanks.
Finally, a positive article about Africa in the American media, that doesn't complain about America's miserable contribution to African foreign aid, one of the lowest of the OECD nations.
Although I see it didn't take long in the comments section.
Well wishing is always preferable to its opposite, and distant friends are a fine thing to have. But having watched us stampede ourselves into quicksand, exactly where is it Africans are imagining we can lead them?
I'm curious about this as well. Given how close attention they pay to our politics, I'm also curious as to whether or not there is an expectation of US aid to Africa because of Obama's election.
During every election, Africans pay attention because the us leader is the world leader. They do not expect anything different. They are excited for the same reasons African-Americans were excited...does that mean they expect to be treated differently from the fellow whites? No, it just passes a message because most people outside of the US have always held the opinion of how rampant racism is here in the US and Africans are a lot more knowledgeable than you think. Perhaps if you toured outside the US to Africa you would have a different perception, perhaps more like that of the author who is conversant with how the rest of the world lives. Sometimes the ignorance of US is appaling especially from those who take the effort to display it!
It's not so much about where Obama can lead us, but rather about how he can lead. Africans are not expecting Obama to help us directly; our view is that he has already done more than enough just by winning. The way he ran his campaign and the convincing landslide win sent out a very strong message. One that encourages us to move on from the days of colonialism, to stop blaming the west for all our problems and be proud of our heritage . Obama shows us that when we stand up for what we believe in and hold onto our values and dreams, we too can achieve.
Probably the biggest message goes to the state of democracy in Africa; whereby people are waiting for a "Savior" to deliver them from oppressive governments. Now we know from the American example that the power is truly held by the people, and when people are hungry for a change and come together, nothing can stop the resultant tsunami from sweeping an incompetent government out of office.
In short, Obama gives us hope for a better Africa that we the African people can build! We are so proud to be BLACK and it will no longer hold us back!!
Every time I see "convincing landslide win" I cringe. The only thing "convincing" was the electoral numbers; take a good look at the popular vote, too, before you start calling "landslide victory". It was a hell of a lot closer than a lot of folks want to admit.
as long as we are not wasting money on foreign aid (to africa or any other country), its all good.
"In Nigeria, of course, they benefited from $150 barrel oil, but fortunately they based their budget on $65 a barrel and are adjusting to estimates of $45 for next year."
No one ever said Nigerians were bad with money. Does anyone think the Nigerians would fall for a pitch from Hank Paulson from Goldman or one of the Fannie Mae Posse to buy the derivatives they were hawking? No way.
Your message, on economics, confirms my experience that "America's image in the world" as Americans imagine it, is not about feelings about Iraq and Bush's personality, but how we manage the dollar and world economy.
You are thinking about this the wrong way. The economies or economics are all tied to Americas foreign policy. I'm a foreigner and most countries in the whole despise America too for its invasion, yes invasion of a sovereign nation such as Iraq. C'mon we all know its based on a lie.
The one thing you need to know is that we are living in the information age now and most of the dirt that lay buried by the mainstream media in the US for such a long time are now exposed on the internet. And not only governments are looking into it, the ordinary folks as well.
If Obama stay good on his election manifesto whereby the American people have to access to how their government is using its taxpayer dollars and so forth, this will set a trend worldwide and you'll see other countries, even in the third going for the same transparency process.
Mark my word.
I guess we should limit our invasions to non-sovereign nations.
Thank you for this article. I am an African living in the US and it was amazing to talk to my family back home and hear how excited they were!! I volunteered for the Obama campaign because I believed that this was going to be great for the whole world. This election (especially the results) really helped breath a much needed new life into Africa just by showing the possibilities that exist even as we struggle with the many issues facing Africa. And thank you for pointing out that Africa is not just the negative images you see throughout the media; it is also very progressive and what i like to call the sleeping giant. Hopefully, we can get better leadership over there too so that African can live up to its true potential.
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