Africa Essays (Examples)

Africa's Armies Robert B Edgerton

However, how are these hardships related to the civil strife and militia? It is this point that is unclear. Edgerton provides more of a subjective review of what he feels is going on and provides a few factual details to support this, but provides little in the way of detail and real conjecture, which would help the average person discern what steps the people of Africa should take to liberate themselves from the grasps of the army or militia today.

Edgerton does successfully suggest the wars in Africa today are nothing more than the results of a "maladaptive" culture (p. 230). This suggests that something is inherently wrong with the people of Africa today. Those engaged in war or civic strife are according to Edgerton, people that are part of any society with its blips, ups and downs. The "warrior Tribes" described in the book are inflated to seem like they are something much more than what they really are (p. 100). The author suggests that only a few wars and strife's are important, rather than reviewing the entire history to decide what is and what is not wrong with Africa.

Edgerton would have done far better to "re-title" his…… [Read More]

Africa Since 1940 the Introduction to Frederick

Africa Since 1940

The introduction to Frederick Cooper's "Africa since 1940: The past of the present," asserts that unless one has thoroughly researched African history, or has lived in Africa, it is nearly impossible for an outsider to chronologically organize all of the events that has happened within its borders in order to come up with some kind of clear statement about nationalism. Cooper enters his book with the ideas of colonialism (pre-colonialism, colonialism, and post-colonialism) and how that shaped Africa as it is today, and how that influences Africa as a nation together, a nation divided, and a nation trying to find some sort of statement about their own country.

Cooper's book about nationalism within Africa, and how Africa came to rest at this current (the present is 1994) climate of dualism between tribal bloodshed in Rwanda, and the victorious election of President Nelson Mandela in South Africa (1). Cooper takes the reader back, and even back further to the 1700's where Africa was being colonized by several countries such as Britain, France, and Italy. Few of the African states seen today remained independent, and instead became heavily influenced with their colonizers religion (Christianity or Catholicism), economy, and even…… [Read More]

Africa the Diverse Continent of

Technological advancements are rare in the bulk of sub-Saharan nations, which remain among the poorest in the world due to their weak levels of exports. However, some Sub-Saharan nations possess a range of natural resources from ore to agriculture. Some sub-Saharan African countries such as Sierra Leone rely on a corrupt and dangerous gem mining industry, the profits of which do not reach the general population. Many African nations possess ore and mining resources and other raw materials such as vegetable gums.

On the other hand, North African nations enjoy far more prosperity and technological advancement than sub-Saharan Africa. Egypt's economy is strongly tied to the Middle Eastern nations and also boasts a significant tourism industry. Egypt's sophisticated system of damming also permits the otherwise desert country to produce agriculture for export. Egypt also has some petroleum reserves. Algeria's economy also depends to an extent on oil but that nation also has a booming natural gas and hydrocarbons industry. The Sudan, a North African nation which is currently struggling with a devastating civil war, depends on agriculture for its economy.

The geography and climate of these two regions differs significantly, and also impacts their economic development. However, topology and climate…… [Read More]

Africa Comparative Review Comparative Book

It would depend on one's view of the legitimacy of psychoanalysis and its patchwork utility in describing a mental complex.

Basil Davidson recognizes the alienated consciousness of Africans, albeit from a politico-historical rather than a psychological perspective. He phrases it in terms of forced African rejection of its own history under hopes of prospering in the new modernization the colonial system pushed for: "The future was not to grow out of the past, organically and developmentally, but from an entirely alien dispensation."

Like Fanon's, his book the Black Man's Burden is critical of any notion that liberation could only come from outside Africa through a denial of African roots and acceptance of European models.

His sketch of African history is poignant. Unlike Fanon's book, Davidson's aim is not to liberate the mentality of black men from a colonial alienation. However, he does ultimately suggest a possible way forward that has more to do with social conditions than the psyche. His final proposal for a "route of escape" is through "mass participation" (i.e., a grassroots effort) that recalls the history of Africa and restores a moral political order based on self-respect in place of the wounded morality that colonial dispossession imposed.…… [Read More]

Africa and UN System the

" (UNDP, 2007) Therefore, the official voice of the UN draws the attention on the necessity of the societies facing difficulties that the best means possible for the re-launch of their economic segment and automatically the eradication of poverty is the share value of the work they undergo.

Despite the realistic tone of most official commentaries, the reality on the ground rarely coincides. In this respect, there are other factors as well that play a significant role in shaping the relations and evolution trends of the countries around the African continent. One of these factors is represented by the financial institutions that make up the World Bank Group. Thus, the IMF and the World Bank "are two of the most powerful international financial institutions in the world. They are the major sources of lending to African countries, and use the loans they provide as advantage to prescribe policies and dictate major changes in the economies of these countries. The World Bank is the largest public development institution in the world, lending over U.S.$22 billion in 2005 - of which almost U.S.$4 billion (or 17 per cent) went to Africa." (Africa Action, 2006) However, this continuous system of borrowing from the…… [Read More]

Africa and the Anthropologist

Africa

There are many ambiguities in the concept of being Western. Many individual use this description without fully understanding what it means or how the term developed. Generally when people are using the term 'the West" or Western, they are simply referring to a lifestyle that includes a certain standard of living that includes a certain material well-being. Yet this broad and all-encompassing term is used without any clear meaning or substance in normal discourse. The term is not innocent, and it is used to further ideological perspectives that are biased towards a certain culture and set of values.

The colonial period in South Africa is interesting to study because it exemplifies some of the social contexts in which culture crashes can framed and the discourse that is used in the literature. The local natives in South Africa were viewed in a very negative manner and the discourse makes many claims of idleness and primitiveness. However, this perception was born out of ignorance and bias. This analysis will focus on the Hottentot tribe in South Africa and the discourse that was used to describe their tribe and their way of life. This tribe provides an enlightening use of discourse theory…… [Read More]

Africa the World's Forgotten Stepchild

World Trade issues are an important issue to the plight of Africa as well. Providing a more level playing field for Africa to get into the game will set the wheels in motion for improvement and allow Africa to begin reaping some of the benefits of the world trade agreements. That money can be funneled back into the development of the continent thereby reducing the need for outside funding.

Debt cancellation and a significant rise in official development aid, though helpful, cannot simply put right Africa's deep-seated problems. The commission report emphasizes that ultimate prosperity depends on robust private investment-led growth. Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, chairman of Anglo-American, said at the G8 Business Summit in London: "There will only be sustainable development in Africa if the increase in government aid flows is complemented by a resurgence of enterprise (Small, 2005)." Echoing similar views, Arun Sarin, chief executive of Vodafone Group, remarked: "The ultimate aim of policymakers must be to create the conditions for private enterprise to make poverty history in Africa," and "A thriving business sector, led by capable and highly motivated African entrepreneurs, will lie at the heart of spurring economic growth and reducing poverty (Small, 2005)."

This is another…… [Read More]

Africa Why Democracy Has Taken Hold in Some Countries

Africa - Politics

Africa and democracy haven't always been two words that go together well, because following the colonization of much of Africa, democracies were established but they struggled (and sometimes failed) to become stable -- and many continue to struggle today. This paper reviews the democratic movements in Africa, some of which failed, and some have succeeded. This paper also projects the success or failure of future democracies in Africa.

What are the primary characteristics for the existence of a democracy?

A democracy is far more than just the establishment of government institutions and the setting up of a constitution. It is more than just a set of values, rules, laws, and the election of the people who are sworn to uphold those values, rules, and laws. According to the U.S. Department of State, a democracy is a government in which "…power and civic responsibility are exercised by all adult citizens" (State). The power in a democracy can be exercised either directly, or by elected representatives whose elections took place in a free and open environment.

A democracy is based on "the principles of majority rule and individual rights," and moreover, those leaders in a democracy must constantly be…… [Read More]

Africa Since 1800 Is Primarily

They note that the reign of Idi Amin in Uganda was not simply bad, but an example of "three decades of civil strife" where military abuses were inflicted by the nation's rulers upon the populace (312)

However, there is no question that the technological imbalance between Africa and Europe in terms of military power affected the development of the region's history, although the European possession of arms should not be seen as an example of Western moral superiority or civilization. During the 19th century, as well as the demand for ivory and slaves, one of the most significant forces that changed old ways of life in Africa was the demand for firearms by the central inhabitants of the interior against other African warring tribes.(95). For better or for worse, colonialism changed the region forever.

The book is as much a history of changing European perceptions of Africa and the European relationship with Africa as it is about the nations of Africa as a whole. Originally, European colonial interest in 'the Dark Continent' paled in comparison to the more economically lucrative Indies, and the potential to gain control over the trading routes to East Asia. The only significant colonial power in…… [Read More]

Africa and the Anthropologist

Africa and the Anthropologist Literature Review

AFRICA AND THE ANTHROPOLOGIST: LITERATURE REVIEW

The work of Lefkowitz (2012) and the work of Bernal (1996) oppose one another on the history of Greece as it relates to the history of Egypt with each of these authors making valid points for their argument however, Lefkowitz stubbornly refuses to consider that anything good or worthy could have arisen out of Africa while the evidence is clearly to the contrary.

Afrocentric interpretations of the history of Africa are related in the work of Lefkowitz in the reply to Bernal. Bernal believes that the interpretation of this history by Lefkowitz is sloppy at best. This study examines Africentrism and each of these author's views.

Background

The work of Irele (2002) entitled "Negritude: Literature and Ideology" published by Oxford University Press in the Journal on African Philosophy reports that Pan-Africanism has been described as being "essentially a movement of emotions and ideas" and this is reported to be such that can applied as well to its cultural parallel or that of 'negritude'." (Irele, 2002, p. 35) Irele states that the black man "recognizes himself as belong to an 'out-group', an alien in relation to the West, which…… [Read More]

Africa Countries Are One of

Companies in sub-Saharan Africa cannot simply afford to reuse provision of AIDS drugs to its workforce. As a socially responsible organization Heineken has taken the issue seriously and issues are being considered at corporate level within its subsidiaries as well as in headquarters. They are aware of the complexities of issues at hand. The management has not only identified the issues but they are looking for ways for the remedies and thus plying their role in social responsiveness. They have already introduced their AIDS program in Rwanda and Burundi and are looking for a roll out in the rest of the countries where they have their operations. Due to their active role the company along with other active companies is being hailed by the media and their active programs and policies have also made other companies like Coca Cola a target of criticism. However the approach cannot still be considered completely proactive yet Heineken is doing its bit by are expanding its program to provide antiretroviral treatment for their employees.

Amidst the calls for coverage of the entire cost of ARVs for employees and dependents, organizations like Heineken have to look for partnerships and association with government, non-government organizations, UN,…… [Read More]

Africa Can Be Able to Make Up

Africa can be able to make up for the economic and social gaps in comparison with the rest of the world. To determine this, we will look at various statistics and discuss alternative solutions. Once this occurs, is when we will be able to see what steps need to be taken to deal with these challenges.

Over the last several years, Africa has been the focus of many different NGO's. The reason why, is because a number of officials inside these organizations believe that positive economic development will help to address a host of challenges facing the region. A few of the most notable include: wars, abject poverty, malnutrition, corruption, terrorism and HIV / AIDS. Evidence of this can be seen by looking at the below chart, which is illustrating how Africa ranks in comparison with the lowest income countries in the world.

Table 1: The Health Indicators for Africa in Comparison with the Lowest Income Nations

Condition

Africa

Low Income Countries

Acute Respiratory Infection

Fever

Diarrhea

Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus

Measles

Lack of Vitamin A

79

76

(Easterly, 2009, pp. 373 -- 447)

These figures are significant, because they are showing how Africa is lagging behind many of the poorest nations on…… [Read More]

Africa and Its Diaspora the Purpose of

Africa and its Diaspora

The purpose of this particular document is to show what has happened to Africans throughout the years and indicate that, at least to some extent, they have let it happen. This is not because they have willingly gone along with much of what has been done to them, but because they have not stood up and fought it strongly. They have not seen themselves as being at the center, and therefore have accepted what the Europeans said about them, named the oceans around them, and did with their history. The strongest purpose of the document, however, is to show that African history has been greatly affected by the European ideals that were used to create it, and in order for it to be accurate, Africans must create their own history and not let others embellish or change it.

This is very important for Africans across the country and the world. Not all Africans still live in their home country, and making a home somewhere else can sometimes be difficult based on what kinds of beliefs and ideals others in that area have. Africans are becoming increasingly concerned about the way that their history is being discounted…… [Read More]

Africa United States

South Africa Country Report

The country of South Africa is a diverse and varied nation. As an international player in the economic and political system many comparisons between nations have been made. One comparison that is often analyzed is the one between the United States and South Africa. Though demographically the two countries are quite different there are several similarities worth note and of coarse the interplay between these two nations is a crucial point of analysis, for the development of a more comprehensive understanding of world relations. This work will compare the demographic structure between the United States and South Africa and will further discuss issues associated with cooperation between the two nations.

According to the CIA World Fact Book for 2003 South Africa is comprised of approximately 42,768,678 people, who live within a land-mass of 1,219,912 sq km, including the Prince Edward Islands, geographic entity roughly twice the size of the U.S. state of Texas. (CIA World Fact Book South Africa 2003)

The United States by comparison constitutes 9,629,091 sq km and has a total population of 290,342,554 (CIA WFB United States 2003). The United States maintains a population that is slightly less than seven times that of…… [Read More]

Africa Development

African Development

Countries which have not technologically or sociologically progressed through the years are considered under-developed. This means that most or much of the population still live as they did in past centuries. Most of the population lives in poverty and there are not enough schools or hospitals. There is not enough drinkable water and children in the regions still die from conditions which have been easily treated for decades in more advanced places of the world. As a whole, people living in Africa have the shortest projected life expectancy of anywhere else in the world. Despite a wide variety of natural resources which are available for human use and consumption, the continent of Africa as a whole remains heavily underdeveloped. The reasons for this continued underdevelopment are many and scientists and sociologists have endeavored to isolate these reasons to little progress, but most experts agree that the key explanations for Africa's underdevelopment are: the physical geography of the continent, "top down" factors such as post-colonialism and rampant corruption of those in positions of power, and "bottom up" factors which refer to the sociology of the population including ethnic differences which leads to violence between groups.

The geographical features which…… [Read More]

Africa and the Anthropologist Isaac Schapera Felix Bryk Meg Gehrts-Schomburgk

As depicted here, the other female actresses in the film -- played by actual Africans -- are naked above the waist. The white actress is not. Indeed, the lower photograph depicts Gehrts-Schomburgk reclining on a leopard skin rug, while a topless native woman fans her with an elaborate fan made of feathers. The ludicrous excess of the colonialist fantasy could not be more evident here.

Yet this actress is the same woman whose "anthropological" photographs would be included in the English-langugage publication of Felix Bryk's Dark Rapture. As a result of the photographer's own strange backstory, Meg Gehrts-Schomburgk's photographs of Africa occupy a rather unique place: although some are included in her early memoir of the "ethnodramas" -- whose English-language version (published in 1915 in Philadelphia and London) was entitled A Camera Actress in the Wilds of Togoland -- they would be collected by themselves in 1930 under the title Negertypen Des Schwartzen Erdteils, or "Negro Types of the Dark Continent," indicating an ethnographic survey but also an intrinsic artistic interest (at a period in time when African native art was well-established with the European avant-garde as having its own particular aesthetic). It is these 1930 photographs -- now credited…… [Read More]

Pre-Colonial Africa

Africa

Ghana Empire

The Ghana Empire was one of the most powerful empires of pre-colonial West Africa. Geographically, the empire occupied a territory south of the Sahara Desert, encompassing lands that are part of the modern-day nations of Mauritania and Mali, with a trading influence that extended much further. The Ghana Empire spanned a period of our around 400 years, from 830 CE to 1235 CE. While the Ghana Empire was little known in Europe, Arabs in the North of Africa were aware of the powerful empire that lay south of the desert. In particular, they were aware of the abundance of gold from which the empire derived its wealth and power (Conrad, 2010).

The Ghana Empire rose to prominence in the 9th century when Arabs became aware of its wealth and power. Most of this derived from gold, and control over trade routes in the region. West Africa's trade routes were dominated by rivers that flowed west to the Atlantic, or east and north via camel caravans. Arab writers described the gold mine of Ghana as the largest in the world. These mines were along the Senegal River. Trade was centered on the city of Kumbi Saleh, and in…… [Read More]

Colin Legum Africa Since Independence

Africa Since Independence" Review

Africa, as a continent, went through an extended colonial period. Although the entire continent was not involved, the greatest part of the nation was and many achieved independence from other nations in a relatively short span after world War II. Legum says that at the end of the War only five nations had achieved independence (though one, South Africa, was still under a form of dominance) and that over the next 15 years that number was quadrupled (2). The fact that so many nations experienced freedom from colonial rule in such a short period of time meant that they all went through periods of romanticism, disillusionment and reality at roughly the same time. "Africa Since Independence" examines the cultural, political and religious renaissance of the many countries that occupy the African continent and how they have risen through the periods suggested in the book as markers.

He begins the book by looking at Africa through the eyes of the people of the continent and trying to determine what differences they saw during colonialism and after that the rest of the world did not see. He says that whereas Europeans see a vast continent with a large…… [Read More]

South Africa Economy History of

The laws of South Africa has been constituted and formed, as a result of the influence from the English laws in procedure.

6. Environmental Concerns

Where it has been observed that South Africa is full of resources, on the other hand, it has also come to notice that environmental concerns also loom large as one of the issues that needs grave consideration. Amongst the environmental concerns, air pollution, marine pollution, soil erosion, soil waste, deforestation and desertification are the most common and prevailing.

Coal is one of the essential and vital sources for the production of fuel, which is equally consumed by the local people of South Africa. In order to meet the energy needs, virtually all of the households of the rural community burn fuel wood. This is one of the major reasons that are leading to deforestation within the country.

In fact, collection of the fuel wood is unsustainable because the burning of fuel wood also lead to air pollution. This is primarily due to the reason that the wood is burned within the surrounded space, which results in inadequate exposure to air for the people, which is an essential need. The inadequate ventilation due to burning of…… [Read More]

Algeria to Zimbabwe Africa Is

My personal favorite African cuisine is Ethiopian, because of the spongy teff bread injera. Injera is like an edible plate, and is piled with delectable morsels of tasty, well-spiced dishes that we eat with our hands. The cuisines of other African countries include flavorful stews replete with rich goat meat and root vegetables. South African foods have been influenced by European cuisines, with some regional variations. Root vegetables like cassava are among the most ubiquitous foods served throughout the African continent. South Africa also has a world-renowned wine region, which makes it a fun place to visit.

One of the main reasons to visit Africa is for its wildlife and stunning scenery. Many of the animals found on the African continent are not found anywhere else in the world including giraffes and zebras. Tourists tend to enjoy safaris in southern and eastern African nations like Kenya and Uganda. Madagascar has its own special ecosystem with unique animals like the lemur. Victoria Falls between Zimbabwe and Zambia is one of the world's largest and most beautiful, and is contrasted sharply with the endless barren landscape of the Sahara desert. Western Africa has miles and miles of tropical beaches. The continent has…… [Read More]

Africa's Political Crisis and Major Events in Egypt and Djibouti Post Independence

Africa's Political Crisis

Most African colonies became independent in the 1950s and 1960s amid hopes that this would be the prelude to an era of democracy and development (Cooper, 2002). By the end of the 1980s, Africa was plagued by instability, authoritarianism, poverty, war and famine. In some countries, the state itself had begun to disintegrate.

There are many reasons for Africa's current state of political instability. For one, continuous rivalry between tribal units is a constant source of disunity (Cooper, 2002). For most of the 19th and early 20th century Africa had lived under colonial rule of the Europeans. Because the European leaders left Africa immediately after it gained independence, many African leaders are relatively inexperienced. Also, many leaders are greedy, corrupt and act entirely based on self-interest. Basically, because multi-party rule encouraged ethnic conflict, one party controlled most African states. This has largely contributed to Africa's political instability.

In addition to political challenges, post-independent Africa faces many social challenges, which have stagnated the nation's development and growth. For one, massive debt to other countries was built when attempts were made to modernize Africa (Cooper, 2002). The country has also experienced massive food shortages due to rising population, drought…… [Read More]

Africa the Continent Is One of the

Africa

The continent is one of the most geographically diverse and astounding areas of the earth. It is made up of close to 30,244,050 square km (Europe is 9,700,000 square km). The most northerly point of the continent is Morocco, and the most southerly in South Africa, the extreme west in Somalia, with the most easterly point 7,400 km away. Africa's coastline is 26,000 km in length. The mean elevation is 600 m, while area under 180m is relatively rare, and land over 3,000 m is also uncommon. As such, the continent is marked largely by elevated tablelands. Overall, Africa can be divided into four main divisions. The first is the coast plains, which do not range fare inward, and are often fringed by mangrove swamps. Second is the Atlas range, which is separated from the rest of Africa by the Sahara. The third main divisions are the high southern and eastern plateaus, with a mean elevation of close to 1000 m. The fourth are the north and west African plains, which are usually below 600 m and include the Sahara (Wikipedia).

Given its size, Africa is home to a number of prominent land masses, oceans, lakes and…… [Read More]

Africa Governments in the Majority

Social tensions, like wars and strikes, should be solved amicably. The parties have to understand that only in times of peace and tranquility the African society can prosper. Education must also be encouraged, in order to improve the literacy indicator, to enable the social and cultural development of the average citizens.

The reintegration of women in the society - offering equal changes with men, in terms of employment, voting rights, decision rights - is also an important aspect. Women should be involved more both in society, but also in corporations, where they could put in practice their entrepreneurial skills.

The assurance of food and health protection, so as to limit the negative consequences of diseases and epidemics, is essential.

Conclusions:

The huge growth potential of African countries can be explored by adopting the above mentioned governmental resolutions, directly targeted to the African society.… [Read More]

Why Is Africa'so Poor

Africa so Poor?

Why is it that Africa, despite the aid and help and support that she gets from different sources all over the world, is still very much impoverished and in a state of poverty even now? It is a fact that this continent has been availing of outside help and has also been a site where numerous large-scale experiments have been performed over the years in order to improve and reform its economy for its innate betterment, but it has still remained in the same condition in which it has been existing all these pats few centuries. The truth is that none of the above experiments have been able to succeed in achieving a sustained and continuous economic growth in Africa and this has also led to the astonishing fact that most African three dozen nations are, today, even poorer than they were during the 1980's. It is also a fact that only Uganda and Botswana have been able to demonstrate a growth rate that actually exceeds three percentage per annum since the year 1980, and even more shocking and sad is the fact that more than two thirds of all the African countries have been in a…… [Read More]

Mobile Phone Industry in Africa

13.36% during 2007-2011, increasing the mobile subscriber base to 351.93 Million by the end of 2011.

The mobile penetration rate is forecasted to increase from 15.37% at the end of 2005 to almost 31% by the end of 2011.

The large number of potential African buyers reduces their negotiation power, which is convenient for companies as they don't have to deal with a lot of pressure from its customers.

Substitutes. The globalization and implicitly the technological advancement is likely to attract MNCs from the digital service industry, which can easily serve as substitutes for the mobile phone services. VoIP solutions are clearly a cheaper alternative to these services and since Africa is a poor continent, African customers are likely to be very price-sensitive.

ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators, 2007

Suppliers. The number of companies that can supply mobile phone operators are still reduced in number, which is why they can have a strong negotiation power and therefore put pressure on mobile operators. On the other hand, the labor market in Africa offers plenty of properly skilled candidates, which is why staffing should be easy. The salaries are low and because the number of candidates exceeds by far the number of job…… [Read More]

South Africa Is the Economic

Almost a third of the government's total revenue emanate from indirect taxes, mainly from value-added taxes (Brand South Africa, Niekerk).

3. privatization -- this process was viewed to create a robust flow of business opportunities in the next many years at a range of 100-150 billion South African Rands (PGI 2012). This is equivalent to U.S.$12-20 billion. There will be estimated and sustained business acquisition opportunities in agribusiness, agriculture and fisheries; hotels, restaurants, resorts and tourism; mining and mineral extraction; forestry, logging and wood products; electricity generation and power reticulation; manufacturing; road and rail transportation; telecommunications and information technology; financial services; and water, waste water and water management. Transactions are likely to be in the form of complete or partial sales, concessions or public-private partnerships (PGI).

4. trade and trade finance and investment -- the Department of Trade and Industry

formulated the trade policy, which the Cabinet adopted in July 2010 (Brand South Africa 2012, Niekerk 2012). The policy framework promotes the development of higher value-added labor-absorbing production. As a complement, the Department formulated strategies for export development and promotion and investment promotion and facilitation. On top of these, it set up a single integrated facilitation center and formed a…… [Read More]

War in Africa

War in Africa

Due to European colonization and then decolonization, Africa was left in a similar state of the other former colonies. What state were the other colonies left in and what are the similarities?

Concomitant colonization and decolonization of Africa left most of the countries in a state of utter economic dependence on their colonial masters. This state is more or less similar to what happened to former colonies in the Americas and Asia. While there are other socio-political impacts that also resulted, this brief paper focuses only on the state economic dependence that African colonies found themselves in soon after colonial masters went back to their countries.

Prior to the "Scramble and Partition of Africa," African economies were on an upward trend in most areas, but more so in terms of trade. Africans had already established trade patterns with some long distance traders walking covering miles just to exchange their goods

. However, with the arrival of Europeans, this form of economic activity took another turn. European colonization of Africa was largely inspired by the rich natural resources and raw materials found in Africa. Not only did they use Africans to exploit these resources and ship them back…… [Read More]

East Africa's Great Rift Valley

Article weaknesses: On page two the authors write, "What else can we say about the Ethiopian and Kenya Rifts? Quite a lot actually." This is very sophomoric narrative for scientists to be putting forth. Using a cliche like that tends to lessen the value of the science. It takes the authors quite a long time to get to one of the most interesting points of the article. That is, the rifting is important in terms of understanding human evolution. It seems like that fact could have been placed at or near the front of the article. There are many "hominid fossil finds" in the rift, which means that the evolution of humans can be traced by scientists because the evolution of the rift itself is giving clues to human evolution.

The weakness here is because the authors waited until the last page to present something about humans that is far more interesting than just information about tectonic plates and how crumbling plates may be creating newer plates. There are no known factual errors, but it would have been more compelling to begin the article with how a rifting situation teaches science about human evolution. And they way they explain the…… [Read More]

East Africa's Great Rift Valley A Complex Rift System

East Africa's Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System"

Wood and Guth's article, "East Africa's great rift valley..." details some of the lesser known facts about the shifting of the earth and how continents are formed. The authors are extremely enthusiastic about this topic, and write about it with a familiarity and adherence to scientific principles that edifies the reader. Although the subject matter is fairly dense and filled with unfamiliar vocabulary words, the authors do well to explicate their main points and bring a better understanding of this subject matter. As such, it is a decidedly valuable work of literature.

The main point of this article is to discuss the origins and the significance of rifts in Africa, specifically the Lake Albert Rift and the Albertine Rift (which collectively are known as the East African Rift), and the Ethiopian Rift (which along with the other two comprises the East African Rift system (Wood and Guth, no date). Rifts are cracks in the earth that eventually spread over periods of time, and account for the shaping of continents and the very land structure that exists on the earth. The authors explicate how rifts are produced, and eventually discuss some of…… [Read More]

African Beginnings Africa Was the

This can be traced to the conservative view that Blacks have in fact no real history in comparison to the richness and significance of European history. "As astonishing as it seems most of the prestigious academics and universities in Europe and America have ridiculed the idea that blacks have any substantive history."

This derogatory view has its roots as well in the colonial attitude that tended to see all Black people as inferior in status and 'ignorant' in order to justify the intrusion and invasion of their lands and territories.

In other words, the justification for conquest and what was in reality the theft of African land and wealth was provided to a great extent by the ' rewriting' of Biblical texts. Blacks were cast as 'heathen' people who had not achieved the enlightenment that the white group had attained through the Bible and Christianity and therefore Blacks were seen as inferior and subordinate.

This rewriting or interpretation of the Bible excluded Black people, thereby lending theological and moral validity o the colonizing actions of the European and white ethnic groups. This is of course a very simplistic view and does not take into account many complex and interrelated factors.…… [Read More]

China's Influence in Africa Though

This is true not only in African countries with "dictatorial or authoritarian regimes but in fact China's […] commonly shared roots with African nations […] has struck a chord even with those democratically elected leaders in Africa," allowing China access to even those countries that might at first glance appear to natural allies to the United States due to their democratic form of government.

Thus, Africa's colonial past has simultaneously meant that China has a natural cultural, historical, and ideological connection to the continent while any action by the United States is viewed with a degree of inherent suspicion and reluctance; the difficulty the United States has faced in developing close strategic and economic partnerships in the region is evidenced by the fact that it has yet to find a suitable host nation for AFRICOM, the U.S. military command on the continent, even amongst putative allies, at the same time that China has managed to secure crucial deals regarding the extraction of raw materials in order to support its growing economy and military expansion.

China has used its image as a fellow anti-colonialist developing nation in order to secure important economic and military deals for itself, positioning itself as less…… [Read More]

Strategic Context of Sub-Saharan Africa

Strategic Context of Sub-Saharan Africa

In response to the political administration of United States, interest in Africa changes. It is either decreased or increased. Cuba, China, France and Soviet Union are among those countries that have been influences for decades by the African continent which had pulled attraction of many towards itself. Africa has also been assisted by an economically powerful country i.e. United States. This continent had been able to gather a large number of consumers that were around 600 million. But this potential for the economic investment and growth was slowed down because of the instability. Another reason for this was the increase in the rate of migration (AERC, 2010).

Because of the foreign policy, Africa and United States were not able to maintain a close relationship as cold war came to an end. The strategy that had been used by United States was to make efforts to prevent communism from spreading. This was to work as the groundwork for U.S. interests on the African affairs. After this was achieved by United States, the relationship with Africa was not very good. U.S. did not showed much interest for issues such as economic development, establishment of the government etc.…… [Read More]

Protea and South Africa

protea, one of the world's most striking flowers, is a crucial part of South African culture, economy, and politics. The largest (and arguably the most spectacular of the proteas), the king protea, has an important place in the country's coat of arms and on the official currency, as well as acting as the nation's national flower. Today, the understanding and preservation of the protea has become an integral part of understanding and preserving the very nature of the nation of South Africa.

The King Protea

The king protea (Protea cynaroides) is the national flower of South Africa. The king protea was first seriously considered for South Africa's official national floral emblem in 1962, when a commission was set up to study its use as a national emblem. The South African Association of Botanists supported the choice of the spectacular flower, the king protea, however the choice of the flower as the national floral emblem did not officially occur until 1975 (SA Embassy).

The king protea is the largest member of the proteas. King proteas can reach close to two meters in height, and the flower itself can be up to 30 cm across. The king protea (Protea cynaroids) is generally…… [Read More]

Funding for AIDS in Africa

The weaker segments in Africa, women and children, were and are the worst hit by HIV / AIDS, which then is spread to the families and communities. (Bage 2004)

Dealing with this is a great scientific, social, and moral challenge that every organization and country, especially developed countries must rise up to. It is time to mobilize resources and contribute to make changes in the policies so that we at the United Nations can do something worthwhile to combat Africa's problem with this disease. There were commercial interests earlier that would not allow the developed nations to provide subsidized medicine. For instance the United States, there was a stance that there could be no recognition of the problem and a denial of need. This was followed by a policy that placed the solving of the problem on the affected countries. Until George W. Bush, the United States and many developed countries denied that there was a problem which required international response. There were later attempts that also required the costs of the proposed solutions to be met by the affected country. Thus while it was reasonable to expect selling drugs at reduced prices, the subsidy granted by way of loans…… [Read More]

Paying it Forward to Africa

As we have seen, fashion is not the only field that has the idea of integrating business with philanthropy. Other industries have focused on other African causes such as AIDS/HIV, Water, Business, health, education.

(RED), a division of the ONE Campaign advertises itself as "fighting for AIDS for a free generation." Using an optimistic message, (RED) promotes itself as an organization that believes that it can change the face of the AIDS epidemic in Africa by stopping transmission of HIV form mothers to babies. In 2010, 1,000 babies were born every day with HIV. In 2011, that number was reduced to 900. (RED) urges shoppers to buy (RED) products. The manufacturers send the contributions to the Global Fund which then uses all of the money -- no proceeds going to RED -- to finance HIV / AIDS programs in Africa.

ING is another original philanthropic program that promises to send a Moskeeto Armor Hood-E to every African individual per Hood-E bought. The Moskeeto Armor Hood-Es protect Africans from mosquitos that carry malaria and other insects and diseases.

Those two focused on health, whist AfricAid focuses on education. The website promises that bought merchandise, including educational material, supports girls' education in…… [Read More]

AIDS in Africa

AIDS in Afica

HIV / AIDS in Africa

An Overview of how this Terrible Disease has Rampaged the Population in Africa and what might be done about it in the Future.

The spread of AIDS has reached epidemic proportions on the African Continent. There are many factors that can be attributed to the spread of this phenomenon. Lack of modern health care facilities and trained medical professionals is often cited as a cause as well as a source that hinders modern treatment options for infected Africans. However, this is only one factor among several and other third world nations have avoided the AIDS epidemic. Another factor that is at play is the lack of education about the disease and its method of transmission. This factor especially affects young women who generally know little about family planning or how to practice safe sex. Finally, another major factor that will be discussed is that lack of availability of basic preventative resources such as condoms. To change the situation in Africa, it will take an effective intervention among both the private and public sector. Yet these organizations require additional resources such as funding and qualified staffs. However, there are promising developments that could…… [Read More]

Capetown South Africa Assessment Item

There are many symptoms that further support this contention, aligned by a rising level of ethnocentrism which is further blinding the company from its outside environment. Second, the lack of congruency of planning to leadership (Guay, 2013) and lack of organizing with delegation (Sengul, Gimeno, Dial, 2012) is leading to employees searching for other positions to further their careers.

Recommendations

In defining the plan for turning around the company, two objectives have been defined using the SMART method. These objectives are:

1. To complete an audit of managerial and leadership effectiveness of the South African expansion operations including employee satisfaction surveys and 360-degree feedback of leadership strategies.

2. To define minimum performance levels of management and leadership at Australian headquarters in terms of alignment with and strategies to overcome significant differences in Hofstede Cultural Dimension attributes.

Reference List

Bass, B.M. (1999). Ethics, character, and authentic transformational leadership behavior. Leadership Quarterly, 10(2), 181-217.

Fitzgerald, S., & Schutte, N.S. (2010). Increasing transformational leadership through enhancing self-efficacy. The Journal of Management Development, 29(5), 495-505.

Guay, R.P. (2013). The relationship between leader fit and transformational leadership. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 28(1), 55-73.

Hofstede, G. 1998, "Think Locally, Act Globally: Cultural Constraints in Personnel Management,"…… [Read More]

Investment in South Africa in Your Judgment

Investment in South Africa

In your judgment, were the possible utilitarian benefits of building the Caltex plant in 1977 more important than the possible violations of moral rights and of justice that may be involved? Justify your answer fully by identifying the possible benefits and the possible violations of rights and justice that you believe may be associated with the building of the plant, and explaining which you think are more important.

The possible utilitarian benefits of building the Caltex plant in 1977 were not more important than the possible -- or actual -- violations of moral rights and justice involved. The violations of moral rights and justices should have been prioritized. Looking back on the situation, of course, we have the benefit of knowing history, and the case of the South African apartheid is an exemplary case for the power of socially responsible investment movement.

In 1977, when the Caltex plant was built, the international action for socially responsible investment in South Africa had already begun (Magarell, 1979). The benefits to building the plant were several-fold: first, as its primary responsibility as a company, it could create more wealth for the stockholders; second, the by virtue of being an…… [Read More]

Continent Africa After Imperialism

Post-Colonial Africa

As anyone that knows history understands full well, the history of Africa has been fairly tumultuous over the years. Just looking over the last half a millennium reveals a very turbulent stretch of time that is full of slavery, colonialism, escape from said colonialism, genocide, starvation, anarchy and so forth. However, there have also been some good to great things that have happened in Africa and many of them are recent. This report shall look at the totality of post-colonial Africa. Much like the rest of the world, Africa has had to make a lot of adjustments since the imperialism of the French, British and Spanish has fallen away. Africa is far from being the only corner of the world that can say this about itself but Africa has quite obviously been hit harder than most continents and regions and this is especially true over the last half century.

Analysis

As noted in the introduction, a lot of what has happened within and surrounding Africa over the last five hundred years has been quite depraved and nasty. The blacks and Muslims (among others) that have lived on that continent have themselves had major issues and there has also…… [Read More]

African Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa

In addition to these external factors, Thomson (202) notes two colonial and post-colonial economic policies and developmental strategies that proved to be erroneous in the long-term, having an ultimately damaging effect upon the ability of African countries to make sound, profitable investments. The first of these is that African governments focused excessively upon import substitution, while the second is that too much revenue was invested in the expansion of state institutions. This paradigm emerges from the success of European and other Western economic developments. However, such strategies were far from suitable for the African continent, as it resulted in a lack of investment in Africa's richest resources: agricultural and mineral development.

Maponga and Maxwell (97) mention the concentration of national economies as a further factor that may lead a lack of concomitant growth for countries (and in particular African countries) that are rich in natural resources. In addition to the above factors, the authors hold that African countries tend to also invest excessively in the development of a single export commodity such as mineral or fuel, and thus create excessive dependence upon this commodity while neglecting other equally rich resources.

The reason the authors cite for this is that policy…… [Read More]

Repost Dengue in Africa the

2 to $44.4 million (NIAID, 2011).

The President's proposed 2013 budget also shifts funding around to effectively increase contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 60%, which should indirectly help dengue vector control programs and improve health system infrastructures in developing countries (ASTMH, 2013). Importantly, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed $1.5 billion dollars to this fund (Gates, 2013) and Germany is contributing another billion Euros (Niebel, 2013).

Other disaster relief organization can help provide the needed financial and personnel resources for a dengue outbreak response. The largest dengue outbreak ever recorded in Africa occurred in October/November 2009 on the island state of Cape Verde (MSF, 2009; IRFC, 2009). An estimated 13,187 suspected dengue cases were reported to the Health Ministry between October 1 and November 9. Of these, 93 patients developed hemorrhagic fever and 6 had died. The organizations Doctors without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ISRC) sent medical supplies and personnel to help with the overflowing hospital wards. Both organizations receive substantial financial support from U.S. citizens.

Conclusions

The ability to treat and control dengue in Africa is severely compromised by the…… [Read More]

Why Does Ghana Has Less AIDS in the Sub-Saharan Africa

AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa?

AIDS in Ghana

AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, has devastated much of Africa, hitting this continent worse than any other in the world. In fact, in the year 2000, 80% of the world's total AIDS-related deaths were within Africa. (BBC 2000) One of the areas hit the hardest by this virus has been the Sub-Saharan region. Ghana, within that region, has also been ravaged by AIDS, but it has a significantly lower percentage of AIDS cases than much of the rest of Africa. While the AIDS within Ghana has many of the same causes and effects on the people who are infected with the disease, it is a unique situation within Africa because of its particular effects on the women of the country, and the fact that there are comparatively fewer AIDS cases within this country.

The first reported cases of AIDS in Ghana were in 1986, mostly appearing in women who had traveled outside of the country. The AIDS problem quickly escalated, and by 1999 there were nearly 40,000 cases were recorded. (Ghana AIDS Commision [1] 2003) This problem has rapidly increased. "Currently, the national adult prevalence rate is 3.4%. This is almost a…… [Read More]

Portuguese Presence in Africa in

This region had long been the source of slaves for the route through the Sahara to the Mediterranean. The arrival of the Portuguese opened up another channel which they expanded during the 16th century.

On the east coast the Portuguese were drawn to Mozambique and the Zambezi River by news of a local people, the Munhumutapa, who allegedly possessed fabulous wealth in gold. In 1531, in an effort to reach Munhumutapa and their gold, the Portuguese established two settlements far up the Zambezi River. One of these settlements, Tete, was 260 miles from the ocean; however the treasure remained beyond their grasp.

The colonization of Africa by the Portuguese had a devastating impact on some of the exiting civilizations. The Afro-Muslim Zendj civilization of East Africa, who competed for the African trade, was completely destroyed by 1583. The Kingdoms of the Congo and the Monomotapa were also destroyed by Portuguese conquerors. Initially interactions with the Congo were good. They embraced Catholicism and welcomed Portuguese missionaries and merchants. However the slave trade eventually became a major issue of dispute in the region and the Portuguese imposed their will ("History of the Portuguese Empire").

Conclusion

The Portuguese presence in Africa in the…… [Read More]

Growth & Development That Africa

Governments will not provide public goods to those they mistrust, as they will not expect to be able to collect taxes at a later date. In Africa, this again can be related to ethnic tensions -- governments and regions from different ethnic groups may have mutual mistrust that predates the colonial era.

Conclusions

Every nation will develop in its own way. For the most part, however, specific antecedents to development can be identified. Strong government is essential as lack of security will reduce investment -- both domestic and international -- and thus stifle economic growth. Strong government must nonetheless not confuse the rule of law with a mandate to expropriate wealth. The government will need to tax, but must do so only in accordance with the needs of the region for public goods. At some point, trust will need to be developed between the government and the people of the region. This trust fosters an environment that facilitates investment in private enterprise and subsequent investment of taxes by government in public goods. Nations that have struggled to develop typically lack security in all regions, they lack trust between government and the people and they lack responsible government taxation and spending…… [Read More]

Adolescent Childbearing in Africa Adolescent

It produced a net increase in perceived benefits of protective behavior and in self-efficacy among both males and females, and a reduction in perceived barriers to protective behavior among females. Consistent with these changes, it was also associated with a reduction in risky sexual behavior among young men and an increase in contraceptive use among young men and women (Agha, 2002, p. 67+).

Agha also noted that there was more positive change among young women than among young men, a fact that "may reflect a better ability of these adolescent sexual health interventions to address the concerns of women than of men, or a greater receptivity to such interventions among young women than among young men" (2002, p. 67+). Because of the success of this program, however, Agha suggests that means of reaching young men to the same extent are worthy of additional study, and multi-media, educational programs of long duration are likely to result in lower incidence of HIV and STDs, as well as decreasing the rate of adolescent childbearing.

Works… [Read More]

Investment in South Africa and

Since they had so much invested in South Africa, they were in a position of power, and they could have used that power much more effectively. They might even have been able to bring change about sooner than it occurred. While they did not take their responsibility seriously, companies do have a moral and ethical responsibility to themselves, their communities, and their shareholders. The companies that do not recognize this should not gain support or business from their consumers. It is up to the shareholders to hold the companies responsible for their ethical behavior and to how they manage their investments. The company has a responsibility to make money and to stay healthy, but not at the expense of morals or ethics. It does not have to be difficult to act morally and responsibly. It can become a part of the everyday actions of the business, and it should be an everyday action, not a random act that is not followed up.… [Read More]

Western Africa Ebola Epidemic 2014 Is the

Western Africa Ebola epidemic (2014) is the "largest in history," and has killed many hundreds of people (p. 1). Formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease was first identified near the Ebola River, for which the disease is named. Symptoms of the disease may not be present for up to three weeks due to the incubation period of the virus. Moreover, symptoms are general and resemble those of other diseases, making definitive diagnosis difficult before taking laboratory tests. Symptoms include headache, fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Hampton (2014) notes that fatality rates are as high as ninety percent. Those who survive will develop antibodies that can last up to ten years (CDC, 2014). However, there are as of yet no known cures or vaccines (Brumfield & Wilson, 2014). Although fewer than 2400 cases were recorded until this year, over 700 individuals have died from the disease already in 2014 (Brumfield, 2014).

It is uncertain exactly how the disease evolved, but there are several different strains of Ebola (Li & Chen, 2014). Causation and risk factors include exposure to the disease, as direct contact with a carrier is the only known means of disease transmission. The virus can…… [Read More]

Apartheid in South Africa Diala

Though quantitative in its coverage and discussion, the article was helpful in generating the finding that BEE transactions are considered vital for a business or company to enter and succeed in the South African market, while at the same time reinforcing once again the "black" identity of the country -- a reinstatement of black African culture and society in the post-apartheid South Africa. In effect, the article touches an important international dimension to apartheid -- how, in the 21st century, South Africa has evolved and returned to its original identity as a 'black man's society, politically and economically.

Elder, G. (2003). "Malevolent Traditions: Hostel violence and the procreational geography of Apartheid." Journal of Southern African Studies, Volume 29, Number 4.

This article centers on the issue of violence that are still occurring as South Africa approaches a transition between apartheid and post-apartheid practices. The "economical geography of apartheid" that the author noted in the article was his own way of conceptualizing the gender conflict that happened between males and females as each tried to make sense of the newly-acquired independence that the black society had during the post-apartheid period. What emerged from this conflict is the finding that compared to…… [Read More]

AIDS Drugs in Africa Glaxo's

-- but Glaxo contends that Cipla violates the companies' patents and international intellectual- property agreements"(Boseley, 2002). In moral defense of its actions, Glaxo's CEO, told shareholders "Some people might see patents as the obstacle to getting medicines to patients in poorer countries. Nothing could be further from the truth....Even in countries where low cost generics are available millions of people are dying every year because they cannot obtain low cost generic treatments for malaria, TB and other common diseases. We should also remember that 95% of the medicines on WHO's Essential Drugs List are not covered by patent protection anywhere in the world, let alone in developing countries, many of which have no effective intellectual property laws" (Samson, 2001).

Still, a recent scandal revealing that "nearly $18 million worth of reduced-price HIV drugs intended for impoverished Africans have been intercepted by profiteers and shipped back to Europe to be sold at marked-up prices, according to a current investigation," which meant "nearly a quarter of the supply of the antiretroviral drug Combivir intended for African HIV / AIDS patients has not reached them in the last year" has not helped boost Glaxo's credibility or image ("HIV Drugs for Africa Diverted to…… [Read More]

Spanish Colonial Africa Even as

Spain chose, instead, to allocate its territorial expansion to the Americas. However, Spain was able to exploit its existing African holdings to supply Spanish colonies in the Americas with African slaves ("The Spanish Colonial System" par. 4).

Unlike its concerted efforts in the Americas, Spain's focus in Africa was not so pointed in its colonies there, namely Spanish Guinea, Spanish Sahara, and Morocco. The majority of Spain's African colonies were located along the northern coasts and served primarily as strongholds from which Spain could protect its shipping and commerce activities in the Mediterranean as well as between the Old World and the New.

Works… [Read More]