The question has been asked several times whether Africa will ever be rich? Others also ask: “Why is Africa poor?” and still others ask whether Africa will ever develop. These questions arise out of the concerns of Africans living in Africa; Africans of the Diaspora, and friends of Africa all over the world. Africans must first be aware and also understand the challenges and barriers that have plagued the continent’s advancement. This awareness and understanding is necessary before one can appreciate the possible solutions that should be put together before the continent could reach the stage of richness and prosperity. 
The fact is that Africa was a rich continent in ancient times; is still rich in mineral wealth and therefore has the potential to become one of the richest continents of the world.  Two examples of Africa’s greatness can be cited from ancient Ghana and from an account on the structure and organization of cities in West Africa in the 15th century. These examples lead us to discuss some of the reasons why Africa finds itself in this unfortunate social and economic situation. Other articles on how Africa will overcome its poverty situation, recapture its past glory and move on into the 21st century standards of wealth creation will be presented in later editions of this magazine. 
The ancient Ghana Empire was established by the Soninke people.  The empire was located in the Western Sudan, with River Senegal and River Niger as its western and eastern borders. The empire consisted of many conquered states. Ancient Ghana traded with North Africa and with all its neighbours in gold, foodstuffs and in slaves. The empire controlled the Trans-Saharan trade route and therefore collected taxes on goods going out of the empire and on goods coming into the empire. At the height of its glory in 900CE, the capital of the empire, “Kumbi” became the centre of trade in the Western Sudan. 
Ancient Ghana had its existence starting from the year 300CE. The empire was rich in gold and mighty in military power. The Almoravids, a sect from the Berber tribe in North Africa attacked the Ghana Empire in 1062CE. Through a series of wars, the Berbers defeated the Ghana Empire in 1076CE. After this defeat, many of the Soninke people escaped from the empire moving northward, southward and eastward. 
The empire became a wounded tiger unable to put up effective defence for itself after suffering the defeat of 1076. The remnant of the Ghana empire was attacked In 1203 by Sumanguru and his army from the Susu state, a state that existed within the Ghana empire.  After 900 years of its existence, enjoying fame, wealth and power, Ghana was attacked again and completely destroyed by Mandingo forces under Sundiata, the war leader, in 1240. 
Our second story on the glory and richness of Africa comes from the 15th century. In an internet article of October 2002, Emma George Ross (Dept of Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, The Metropolitan Museum of Art) describes the disbelief of the Portuguese when they first landed in West Africa. Ross wrote the following: 
 Disembarking at cities that were large, complex, and technologically advanced as Lisbon at the time, the Portuguese actually experienced far less culture shock than we might expect. In fact, they encountered urban centers in West Africa comparable to those back in Europe, governed by elaborate dynasties, organized around apprenticeship-based artistic guilds, and with agricultural systems capable of feeding their large populaces. Many African cities were even deemed to be larger, more   hygienic, and better organized than those of Europe. 
If this is the description of cities the Portuguese found in West Africa at the time, one may ask why is it that West Africa, and for that matter Africa, is groaning under hardships today? Africa is projected to become the poorest continent by the end of 2030. What has changed? The factors that changed Africa started from the time the Portuguese arrived in West Africa. 
The arrival of the Portuguese started the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its consequent effects. But long before the Portuguese arrival in Africa, was the emergence of the Sahara desert seven million years ago; cutting off Sub-Saharan Africa from trade links with North Africa, with Europe and with the Middle East. This event constitutes the one greatest external factor that has inhibited Africa’s growth and development. This event is beyond human control. But there are many internal events, factors or causes that Africa can deal with if ever the continent should move out of poverty into richness and prosperity. The first factor is the culture in many countries of the continent. 

Culture and its effects 

Culture is defined as the sum total of the way of life of a society. And this includes their language, their literature, arts, crafts and technology, their religious beliefs and every aspect of the life of the society. Culture can be dynamic leading to modifications and positive changes in short periods of time; can be slow in movement, stagnant in some societies, or die off completely from the face of the Earth. In essence, it is the internal dynamo of culture that moves nations. 
Some of the cultures that have died off from the Earth or possibly merged with other cultures include the Babylonians (presently the people of Iraq), recognizably the first inventors in the world, and the Maya of Central America; in the area between Mexico and South America. 
When Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor, invaded Briton about 50 years before the time of Christ, he wrote an account of the culture of the Britons; an account that is uncomplimentary by today’s standards. Over a thousand years later, and by consistent learning and adaptations, Britain is among the world’s G7 countries; and is one of the most modern, dynamic and powerful nations of the world. 

The gods in African cultures 

The worship of multiple gods is embedded in many African cultures. None of the major religions of the world: Buddhism, Christianity and Islam worship a pantheon of gods. Most of the annual festivals in West Africa have the central theme of worshipping and giving food to the gods at a specified time of the year. This is customary, traditional and continues to present time. The Israelites had gods and worshipped gods. The Romans worshipped gods: Mars, Saturn, Pluto and others. Some of the nations of the Middle East worshipped gods at some point in their history. 
Some of the cultures that worshipped gods also practiced human sacrifice as part of their rituals. The Maya practiced human sacrifice. Some of the people of the Judaic religion, by accounts in the Old Testament of the Bible, practiced human sacrifice. Parents sacrificed their children to Molech and to other gods in times of hardship. African traditional religions, particularly those in West Africa, practiced human sacrifice until it was abolished by the British colonialists in the early part of the19th century. 
As development grows in sectors of the world, the practice of worshipping gods other than the one God diminishes and stops eventually. Possibly none of the Middle East countries currently have any gods and consequently do not have celebrations for any gods. It is said that some of the celebrations to gods in the olden days in the Middle East have been retained and held but without gods. This seems to be the way to go. It is the culture in which one grows up that determines whether a person will be an achiever or a failure. Juju or “muti” does not have that formative power. It is said that whatever juju gives you, it will take it back in due course of time; and sometimes by inflicting death on the seeker or on their family. 

Custodians of culture 

The chiefs are the custodians of the culture of their ethnic groups. Most chiefs, together with the Chief Priests of the gods, are therefore the principal agents and leaders of customary rites to the gods. In a situation of such nature, the culture of worshipping multiple gods will never cease in significant parts of Africa. In current times when Americans, Chinese and Russians are going to the Moon, and when there are Space Stations, worshipping gods is completely outlandish. What is really the purpose? As a commentator on Nab TV said sometime   in 2021, the nations of the Middle East, particularly Israel, where the worship of God was central to their life, are now nations at the forefront of world development. Africans cannot go into the future with the baggage of idol worship. 
Events from America and Europe over the past 150 years clearly indicate that it is man, and not the gods, who invent. It is the thinking and planning man who is at the centre of world development. 
Getting to richness and prosperity needs clear and unimpeded vision, effective planning and hard work. If Africa should be able to reach the stage of richness, all outmoded institutions must be done away with. Africa, with its multiple gods makes the African a misfit in the current world. 

The Churches 

Some Christians, unfortunately, are those caught up in both the worship of a god and God, the creator. A Christian takes part in their church activities and in the annual celebrations to a god and does not think of anything wrong. 
The churches are well aware of the physical and spiritual impediments that the worship of gods poses to religious life. A person cannot worship God and Baal at the same time. It doesn’t work that way. The churches cannot preach against idol worship and cannot take action against their members involved in idol worship. They are mostly silent on this matter. 
The Politicians 
Politicians are also quiet on this matter of gods and their custodians; and yet they are fully aware that people function best with uncluttered minds. 
 
Politicians do not wish to get involved in such matters because they are not matters in the constitution and are better left alone. But citizens go to money doublers who openly advertise their power to double money through “juju” or “muti.” It is expected that politicians would tell their countrymen and women that money is issued by the Central Banks and is obtained by individuals from their banks, not from people dressed in funny garments parading as spiritual people with extraordinary powers. Such people should not have the right to issue money in local currency nor in any foreign currency. People who deal in money should be registered, whether they operate in secret rooms or in the streets. Actions of unregistered persons who openly entice their victims, whether by false pretences or not, leading to loss of money and other property of victims should be a matter of court action.  
 
Public corruption 
 
Corruption is one of the factors that have contributed immensely to the poverty of Africa. In 2013, the UN Economic Commission estimated that Africa lost 50 billion United States dollars every year. In the year 2020, just seven years after the pronouncement of the UN Economic Commission, the African Union (AU) estimated that 140 billion US dollars were lost through corruption in Africa each year. This amount, AU said, was “equivalent to the total GDP of all African countries except only 5” of the countries of the continent. 
 
Africa faces more corruption challenges than other continents of the world. And Africa is one continent that has some of the most repressive governments. 
 
The barriers and challenges facing Africa in its struggle toward richness and prosperity include the following: 
  • Corruption 
  • Political instability 
  • Military Coup d’états 
  • Illiteracy (that is the inability to read and write) 
  • Low quality formal education 
  • Civil wars 
  • Unemployment 
  • Terrorism 
  • Repressive regimes 
  • High imports in the face of high youth unemployment 
The above barriers, culled from a number of sources, and probably others, are internal to the continent. 
In his book “The Wretched of the Earth(1961), Frantz Fanon complained of the psychological, the dehumanization and other mental health effects of colonization: race discrimination, subservience, oppression and forced loyalty of Africans in Africa, Africans in America, and Africans in the Diaspora in his time. 
The wretched of the Earth is no longer caused by colonialism and racial discrimination. It is the drama played out by the internal challenges that plague Africa’s development listed above. It is these challenges and unwritten others that together push the continent into mental health problems, poverty, and wretchedness. 
Fukuyama (1996), in his book “Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity”, writes that societies of the world can be divided into two kinds: “High-trust” and “Low-trust”. He states that high-trust societies are those in which integrity is admired, encouraged and respected. Such societies are also those that are law abiding, free and prosperous. Fukuyama states that “Low-trust societies” are those that are characterized by tyranny, thievery, dishonesty and corruption. Such societies are without exception, undemocratic and poor.” 
For nearly 500 years, that is from the years 500-1000CE, the Vikings terrorized Europe, raiding and pillaging. The countries that were associated with the Vikings have all developed into democratic, incorruptible, and prosperous high-trust nations. It is doubtful if Africa will want to wait for 500 years to get into the league of rich nations. Tyranny and corruption, to borrow from Fukuyama’s statements, are major causes of poverty in Africa. Slavery is gone and colonialism is gone. Africans and all others who advocate that we should forget about past slavery and the wretchedness of life under colonialism are right. We cannot go into the future with feelings of anger and wretchedness over past events. Africa should forget about the past, maintain peace with all races, cultures and countries and be very ready for the present and the future. 
All the ten listed barriers constitute the sources for the poverty of the African continent. The listed barriers to Africa’s growth, development and movement to richness are just self-inflicted wounds. Africa will become a rich and prosperous continent on two conditions: It will depend on the plans and actions of our governments to strengthen democracy; eradicate corruption and improve education. It will secondly depend on how far the youth of the continent will embrace knowledge, life-long learning, democratic life and hard work as the essential parts of a new culture. With the synergy developed by the combination of government actions and the knowledge the greater proportion of the people of the continent bring to their life and work, it should not take more than 30 years for Africa to travel the road to richness and prosperity. 

Sources 

  1. https://www.metmuseum.org>toah>agex>hd (Article: The Portuguese in Africa1415-1600) 
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org>wiki>The_Wretched_of_the_Earth (1961); published by   Francois Maspero 
  3. https://www.amazon.com>Trust-Social-Virtues-Creation 
  4. Francis Fukuyama; Trust: The Social Virtues and The Creation of Prosperity. In   International Journal on World Peace; Vol 14, No.1, March 1997. 
  5. https://guardian.ng>business services>140bn-