Is African continent a cursed land?

[gbrendeh]

Despite having the most favorable landscape that is not tormented by natural disasters, they are lacking behind in term of development. They are endowed by lots of natural resources but hardly traceable to their mode of living, infact they are categorized as underdeveloped countries. Yes, indeed they are, due to the lack of the following:

Absent of good road
Lack of social amenities
Decayed infrastructures
Absent of regular power supply
Abuse of fundamental human rights
 ... The list can go on.

The major cause of this is bad leadership which produces bad governance. Almost all the leaders are corrupted, self centered, dictatorship and abuse of power. That is the main reason coup is very common and we just had one recently from Mali.

Would blockchain technology be able to tackle African menance and free the second largest population from this longage boundage of suffering? Most of the countries leaves on less than $1 per day.

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[BADecker]

Is African continent a cursed land?


Not regarding Covid.

Check the stats starting at about 47 minutes in this video - https://altcensored.com/watch?v=aX_Q1FaY9pI. Then check them against public stats available to everybody.

It seems that while the USA was at well over 400 deaths per million population for Covid, 6 countries in Africa were well under 4 deaths per million population.

Regarding Covid, Africa is blessed.... or is it because they were using hydroxychloroquine nationwide long before everyone else!

[Mauser]

Despite having the most favorable landscape that is not tormented by natural disasters, they are lacking behind in term of development. They are endowed by lots of natural resources but hardly traceable to their mode of living, infact they are categorized as underdeveloped countries. Yes, indeed they are, due to the lack of the following:

I don't think Africa is a cursed land. The landscape might be beautifulm but it is definitely not favorable for growing things. There is a lot of heat and desert in Africa, which makes agriculture for basic food very difficult. It might be good conditions for Tea, Coffee or Bananas, but just he basics flower or rice is very difficult to grow. Just look at Egypt and how the people where only settle close to the Nil river thousands of years ago. The most important thing to develop Africa would be investments into education and infrastructure.

[BIT-BENDER]

African countries do experience natural disasters
+Flood
+ Famine
+ Earthquake -not pronounced is vast area's-
+ Drought/dry conditions
Natural disasters is of nature Africa as a continent has it own share.

The African land can't be caused if it's fertility and bubbling with natural resources.

Democracy is spoken and written in Africa but not practiced, anything goes, turning a blind eyes to corruption. Some countries In Africa are lead by autocratic leaders, terrorism and civil riot is not far away from this countries.
The citizens are also to share in the decadency and collapse of the country, African countries seen a fraud - internet scam- base. And those well doing once look to take their knowledge/talents to other countries -better life-.
The land is not caused, the inhabitants of the lands are to blame.

[Cnut237]

Despite having the most favorable landscape that is not tormented by natural disasters, they are lacking behind in term of development.

The main reason for the struggles of Africa today is the centuries of exploitation at the hands of (largely European) colonialists.
As for why Africa, as the birthplace of civilisation, is not the most advanced continent, one possible reason is that the continent's geography hampered development. It is often overlooked how vital navigable rivers are for establishing a prosperous trading society... and Africa's rivers are not particularly well suited for this, with plenty of rapids, waterfalls and shallows. Compare to say North America, with wide open rivers across the continent.

[c_atlas]

I think it's always hard to talk about entire continents since you start making generalizations that are untrue for certain regions. For example, Rwanda and South Africa have good roads, whereas Mauritania has abysmal roads.

Infrastructure is a good way to gauge the health of an economy, but I don't think it's a be-all-end-all metric. Infrastructure indicates that an economy is growing and there's an expected increase in population and transportation needs, China is a good example of this. With that being said, while China's infrastructure and economy has grown substantially, I think you'd be hard-pressed to say that the quality of life of the average Chinese person grew in proportion to the economy.

As mentioned in the OP, there's a lot of corruption in Africa; it seems to be everywhere. Don't be fooled, this is by design. There's massive interest in keeping Africa under control. For the average African, I think bitcoin presents an incredible opportunity to escape poverty. The idea that they can have an asset with a supply that's not controlled by their corrupt government—one that gives them access to a global market—is incredibly powerful. Considering how ubiquitous Mpesa is, I think many African countries will see the value in the Bitcoin network and as electricity stability increases throughout the continent, so will bitcoin adoption.

[Febo]

Despite having the most favorable landscape that is not tormented by natural disasters, they are lacking behind in term of development. They are endowed by lots of natural resources but hardly traceable to their mode of living, infact they are categorized as underdeveloped countries. Yes, indeed they are, due to the lack of the following:

Absent of good road
Lack of social amenities
Decayed infrastructures
Absent of regular power supply

All you wrote is true but they will get all that.  Why I think Africa is cursed land is because of robots. China, South Asia, Europe, North and South America will keep production in their countries and not export it to Africa as in past was exported to China and now in South Asia countries. If there would be no robots Africa would develop same way as China did and South Asia will in a decade. Africa is cursed and that will not happen so easily.

[BADecker]

African countries do experience natural disasters
+Flood
+ Famine
+ Earthquake -not pronounced is vast area's-
+ Drought/dry conditions
Natural disasters is of nature Africa as a continent has it own share.

The African land can't be caused if it's fertility and bubbling with natural resources.

Democracy is spoken and written in Africa but not practiced, anything goes, turning a blind eyes to corruption. Some countries In Africa are lead by autocratic leaders, terrorism and civil riot is not far away from this countries.
The citizens are also to share in the decadency and collapse of the country, African countries seen a fraud - internet scam- base. And those well doing once look to take their knowledge/talents to other countries -better life-.
The land is not caused, the inhabitants of the lands are to blame.

Two African nations get together to practice democracy.

Of all the people in these two nations, 60% are in the bigger nation, and 40% are in the smaller nation. Everybody in the smaller nation says to the bigger nation, "We don't want to die." Everybody in the bigger nation says to the smaller nation, "We want you to die."

Then all the people vote with their spears and shields and knives. The smaller nation dies. True democracy.

[Charles-Tim]

Take for example, Nigeria as a country in Africa, citizens are not able to speak their mind, their legislative arm of government had made it mandatory to pay a fine of 5 million naira ($11,100) for hate speeches from citizens that are saying their mind. All they know is to always borrow money from world bank, China and many other world organizations, the leaders are not leading but ruling. They are saying they are fighting corruption, but they are the most corrupted leaders in the world, all they know is their pocket to be filled with money, and also about their children to be abroad, claiming the citizens of abroad but ruling the country. Even, after such greed and nepotism, they still do not also have the idea to make a country good. What they have done have made the countries miserable for people. Now, many citizens of African country want to travel out and never come back, some because of lack of knowledge are forced to human trafficking, while some are dying in the Mediterranean sea why traveling to Europe for better life. Their leaders are even not having the brain to be a leader.

The world is now moving towards technology, but Africans lack technology, how can Africa be good, the quality of living is poor, and nothing they are making that will make the continent progress. With what we are seeing, there will be a time the continent will be more unbearable for citizens.

I always thought of what the OP wrote, that Africa with no natural disaster. Although, there are natural disaster in Africa but very few. I have not heard of tsunami, hurricane, earthquake and many others from Africa before, only few that happens all over the world is what they experience, like farmine and flood. But, with experience, this are just low risk disasters. Certain parts of Israel are desserts but why did such place turned to a fertile land today with technology, we are in the age of technology, I can not expect a country that has water to say they are experiencing farmine. But, not surprising this is happening in Africa.

I have ones thought if we blacks are not even primitive to white, we are underdevelop, and we are called third world country, After third world countries, will be the world of animals, don't we get this, this is shame unto us. I will always expect Africans to be like whites or be better but I do not think this is possible as there is no love in Africa. The leaders will always think of their pocket, families and other relatives.

[Naida_BR]

Africa is the richest continent in the earth.
Europeans and Americans conquered many places in the African Land and tried to exploit a lot out of them. This is the reason why Africa is poor. They didn't want them to be free as there are a lot of minerals and crops in this continent.
If Africa was free, they will be dominant in the global economy.

[Charles-Tim]

Africa is the richest continent in the earth

You are very right, we have fertile land, mineral resources, and many more. The mineral resource shown in the below picture, are just the ones most exessive in each African country, but each country still have many more minerals embedded in their lands.


https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2016/10/mapping-africa-natural-resources-161020075811145.html

Europeans and Americans conquered many places in the African Land and tried to exploit a lot out of them. This is the reason why Africa is poor.

England and France colonized most of all African countries. About them exploiting our land, you are right, but if you link it to the reason we are poor, you are then wrong. Why is South Africa the most developed African nation. After long time of colonial reign. We Africans need to wake up from our slumber, if not, the future can be worse.

[Coyster]

Europeans and Americans conquered many places in the African Land and tried to exploit a lot out of them. This is the reason why Africa is poor. They didn't want them to be free as there are a lot of minerals and crops in this continent.
If Africa was free, they will be dominant in the global economy.

AFAIK there is no territory in Africa still under colonial rule, many African countries gained independence some 50+ years ago and that's more than enough time for them to have developed their territories. Of course I know development comes with time, but half of a century is more than enough time to be on the path to achieving something good as a nation and in the larger picture, a continent, at the least providing a life worth living for their citizens.

After 'outside' colonialism ended in Africa, a situation of "Africans colonizing Africans" began, and it is the product of failed/greedy leaders, After their hero's of the past struggled to attain freedom for them and they were then free, they should have taken the opportunity to make Africa great since they now ruled themselves. I wouldn't blame colonialism for Africas woes, but rather lack of good leadership and since this leaders still save their looted funds in foreign banks, pumping the economy of the Western world, whilst impoverishing their citizens back home, the light at the end of the tunnel is dimmer than ever for Africa.

[Cnut237]

Europeans and Americans conquered many places in the African Land and tried to exploit a lot out of them. This is the reason why Africa is poor. They didn't want them to be free as there are a lot of minerals and crops in this continent.
If Africa was free, they will be dominant in the global economy.

AFAIK there is no territory in Africa still under colonial rule, many African countries gained independence some 50+ years ago and that's more than enough time for them to have developed their territories.

@Coyster - I would argue that it's not that simple. History teaches us that when a colonial power leaves, the country doesn't just revert seamlessly back to its pre-colonial state. They leave behind power vacuums, or a system of hatred where the colonialist's local allies are left defenceless (Rwanda after Belgium left being a prime example). Sometimes they only leave in name, with 'free' elections rigged (example: https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/08/377883.html) or puppet rulers installed. Often the departure is rushed and botched - because the colonialists are ceding all control, they have no interest any more in helping to manage the transition. Look at the mess of the Indian partition as an example here.

Colonialism leaves deep scars, and yes, even 50 years may not be long enough. Much of the instability in the Middle-East today can be traced back to the arbitrary divisions created by the British and the French more than a century ago, in the Sykes-Picot agreement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement).

The world is not a level playing-field, with equal opportunities for all. Africans start at a severe disadvantage, due in large part to historic injustices perpetrated by the West.

[BADecker]

The world is not a level playing-field, with equal opportunities for all. Africans start at a severe disadvantage, due in large part to historic injustices perpetrated by the West.

Remember that the West brings good and advancement, as well.

Remember that it isn't only the West by any means - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tippu_Tip.

Note that there is greatness in the archaeological finds in Africa. But if the current African native inhabitants are going to remain savages, and if they are going to sell their brothers and sisters into slavery, somebody will overcome them.

[Coyster]

The world is not a level playing-field, with equal opportunities for all. Africans start at a severe disadvantage, due in large part to historic injustices perpetrated by the West.

Of course the world isn't, and I'm not arguing that it is, the West have gone far ahead of Africa by every means possible, and I'm not expecting Africa to do that good between their time of independence and now; but obviously closing the gap is something they should have achieved somewhat. Colonialism doesn't end outrightly and the former colonial powers still have some form of authority in their former colonies only because the greedy African leaders let it be so, they most times need their support so their dictatorial powers in their country won't be checkmated and their corruption charges would only be stifled within their territories.

We've seen what happened to leaders like Ghadafi who stood up to the powers in the Western world, if African leaders want their territories to be truly Independent, then they must abstain from excessive corruption, how can their territories be free from the authority of the former colonial masters when they send their looted funds over there to be kept in foreign banks, these Western countries know those funds are looted, but it's accepted and put into their economy, after recycling it for years, they expose and return it back, we've seen this happen countless times, that being said, the culmination of it all is that Africa's current state is cause of the high level of nepotism and corruption within.

[CryptocurencyKing]

It's true Africa might be backward in a lot of aspects, partly because if it's indigenous nations leaders and partly it's people but, Africa is sure to measure up in time.

[BADecker]

^^^ But, they have America and Europe whupped regarding Covid. They simply used hydroxychloroquine for malaria, and it saved them from Covid. Meanwhile, the devfeloped nations of the world flounder and die, because they won't follow the lead of that backward Africa.

[Cnut237]

I'm not expecting Africa to do that good between their time of independence and now; but obviously closing the gap is something they should have achieved somewhat. Colonialism doesn't end outrightly and the former colonial powers still have some form of authority in their former colonies only because the greedy African leaders let it be so

It's a fair point. I suppose my response would be that a lot of the problems are due to the way that colonial powers depart. They tend to just leave abruptly, rather than carefully managing the transition. This dramatic and sudden shift to a new society causes civil unrest and often a power vacuum. This sort of society is then much easier to exploit than a mature democracy would be. This is why we so often see the military sweeping to power in Africa, and once that happens it is difficult to establish any form of democracy.

However there are some signs of improvement. Wikipedia only lists two current military dictatorships across the continent, compared to a huge number in recent history:

Current cases:
 Sudan 2019-
 Mali   2020-

Former Cases:

 Algeria (1965–1976; 1992–1994; 2019)
 Benin (1963–1964; 1965–1968; 1969–1970; 1972–1975)
 Burkina Faso (1966–1980; 1980-1982; 1982-1983; 1983-1987; 1987-2014)
 Burundi (1966–1974; 1976–1979; 1987–1992)
 Central African Republic (1966–1979; 1981–1986; 2003–2005; 2013–2014)
 Chad (1975–1979; 1982–1990)
 Ciskei (1990–1994)
 Comoros (1999–2002)
 Democratic Republic of the Congo (1965–1997)
 Republic of the Congo (1968–1969; 1977–1979)
 Côte d'Ivoire (1999–2000)
 Egypt (1953–1956; 1981-2011; 2011–2012; 2013-2015)
 Equatorial Guinea (1979–1992)
 Ethiopia (1974–1987)
 The Gambia (1994–1996)
 Ghana (1966–1969; 1972–1975; 1975–1979; 1981–1993)
 Guinea (1984–1990; 2008–2010)
 Guinea-Bissau (1980–1984; 1999; 2003; 2012)
 Lesotho (1986–1993, 2014)
 Liberia (1980–1986, 1990–1997, 2003–2006)
 Libya (1969–2011)
 Madagascar (1972–1976)
 Mali (1968–1992; 2012; 2020–present)
 Mauritania (1978–1979; 1979–1992; 2005–2007; 2008–2009)
 Niger (1974–1989; 1996; 1999; 2010–2011)
 Nigeria (1966; 1966–1975; 1975–1976; 1976-1979; 1983–1985; 1985–1993; 1993–1998; 1998–1999)
 Rwanda (1973–1975)
 São Tomé and Príncipe (1995; 2003)
 Sierra Leone (1967–1968; 1992–1996; 1997–1998)
 Somalia (1969–1976; 1980–1991)
 Sudan (1958–1964; 1969–1971; 1985–1986; 1989–1993; 2019–present)
 Togo (1967–1979)
 Transkei (1987–1994)
 Tunisia (1987–2011)
 Uganda (1971–1979; 1985–1986)
 Venda (1990–1994)
 Zimbabwe (2017–2018)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_dictatorship#Africa

[alani123]

Africa got majorly fucked over by colonial powers. Ever seen what Belgians did to Congolese people? Some major atrocities even in the 20th century.
Colonialists essentially drew made up borders in a continent with some of the most diverse language and cultural heritage. Some countries are still plagued by civil war and lack of democracy. It's good that colonialism ended, but the world is still battling with its consequences. 

[Cnut237]

Colonialists essentially drew made up borders in a continent with some of the most diverse language and cultural heritage. Some countries are still plagued by civil war and lack of democracy. It's good that colonialism ended, but the world is still battling with its consequences. 

Indeed, and not just Africa. Problems today in Syria, Iraq and the wider Middle-East are due to how the British and French agreed to carve up the carcass of the Ottoman Empire after WW1. Imperialism/colonialism casts a long shadow down the decades. Nations, lands and tribal groupings have been carved up with absolutely zero regard for any local considerations. Any then these nations leave without cleaning up any of the mess they created.

Colonialism leaves deep scars, and yes, even 50 years may not be long enough. Much of the instability in the Middle-East today can be traced back to the arbitrary divisions created by the British and the French more than a century ago, in the Sykes-Picot agreement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement).