European colonialism and it’s aftermath has left most of today’s independent African nations with economic, health, educational, and political problems.
Compounding these problems is Africa’s challenging geography.
Africa’s history of colonization has had long-term effects on its economy.
Barriers to African economic development include illiteracy, foreign debt, and a lack of manufacturing industries.
European colonizers exploited Africa’s resources, peopleEuropean colonies
were set up only to benefit Europe.
Land was mined, drilled; environment was ignored
Most countries do little manufacturing sell raw materials to
industrialized countries All this has limited
Africa’s economic growth, political stability
In fact, most African countries are worse off today than in 1960 average incomes have
decreased
African countries lack crucial infrastructure such as roads, airports, railroads, ports.
Many people have little access computers or high technology
Newly independent countries borrowed money to build economies total Africa debt of
governments was $295 billion by 2002
many Western leaders push to forgive Africa’s debts
“One-commodity” countries rely on export of one or two commoditiescommodity —agricultural or
mining product that can be soldvalue varies daily based on
worldwide supply and demand this makes “one-commodity”
nations’ economies unstable Economists want Africans to
diversify — create variety in economies
Uneducated populace is a large barrier to economic development
Average schooling time for women up only 1.2 years in last 40 years
In Angola and Somalia, civil wars have destroyed school systems
But in Algeria, 94% get a formal education 83% of Mauritians over 15 are
literate
Many of Africa’s best and brightest end up migrating to western nations.
Many urge them to return and help out their nations.
Epidemic diseases are killing Africa’s people in huge numbers.
African nations and countries around the world are using a variety of methods, including education, to eradicate disease.
Cholera —sometimes fatal infectionspread by poor sanitation, lack of clean water
Malaria —often-fatal infectious disease marked by chills, fevercarried by mosquitoes; resistant to drugs due to
overuse Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS)—caused by HIV virus70% of adult, 80% of child AIDS cases are in Africaoften paired with tuberculosis—infectious
respiratory infection
3 million died from AIDS worldwide in 2000- 2.4 million lived in sub-
Saharan Africa In Swaziland, 3 of 4
deaths were from AIDS life expectancy has fallen
from 58 years to 39 In 2000, 26 million
people in Africa had HIV or AIDS
Many countries are trying to fight disease epidemics in their countries
Educating the masses on the problems
Outside agencies have funded immunization and treatment
In some areas this has helped, but the struggle continues.
European control begins to fade in 20th centurymost countries gain
independence in 1960s Despite leaving,
there is long-term damage to cultural and ethnic boundaries, economy
Colonial boundaries included rival ethnic groups in the same country.
Colonial governments increased the rivalries by favoring one group or pitting them against each other.
Colonial governments were often run with high levels of corruption.
After independence, many nations struggled with ethnic conflict and corruption.
Early 19th century Africa was home to great empires, rich cultures
By the end of the 19th century—poverty and violence
Many of Africa’s problems stem from European colonialism
Portuguese establish coastal trading stations in the 1400s
By mid-1800s, Europeans seek Africa’s rich natural resourcesneed raw materials for
industrial economies, markets to sell goods
Berlin Conference (1884-85) sets rules for dividing up Africa