African Paysan Prosperity in the Connectivity Age: (still small voices)

Do African forests, savannahs and wetlands need to give way to plantation pine, GMO crops and tilapia ponds in order to fuel economic growth and prosperity? The Green Continent still contains vast, unspoiled ecoregions with amazing biodiversity. Can Kenya be like Singapore, whose geography positions her as the gateway to Asian markets? Must Ghana strive to imitate Japan while tolerating the “silent killer” of chronic air pollution that causes 16,000-30,000 premature deaths every year? Do African forests, savannahs and wetlands need to give way to plantation pine, GMO crops and tilapia ponds in order to fuel economic growth and prosperity? The Green Continent still contains vast, unspoiled ecoregions with amazing biodiversity. These ecoregions support the livelihoods of local, indigenous communities. Her people have evolved intricate bodies of traditional wisdom – a fulfilling life gazes at the stars and stir the seas. Africa enters the second quarter of the 21st century with huge advantages. Her population is ~60% under age 25; her collage of ecoregions is ~39% unspoiled; her smartphone adoption rate will reach ~50% by 2028. These “pluses” can catapult her over the industrialization phase that has enriched developed countries at the price of poisoned landscapes and social inequity. Africa can weave together humanity and nature, tradition and modernity, creating a colorful and unique kente cloth of sustainable development. Let’s join together as a global community to help her reach that goal.