Source: iStock retrieved from https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/south-african-rands-coins-collection-set-gm615995886-107040157
Africa, the birthplace of human beings, is the second-largest continent in the world. On the heads side of the coin, Africa is in possession of enormous wealth in mineral and biological resources (Kroner, 2020). Africa is known for its vast reserves of fossil fuels, metallic ores, gems, and precious metals. (Korner, 2020). Africa is world-famous for its “equatorial rainforests” and “populations of wildlife” (Kroner, 2020). African culture is rich with diversity that varies within each country, as well as from country to country within the continent. However, on the tail side of the coin, with all of its riches of culture, natural resources, and biological resources, Africa, the dark continent, remains a very underdeveloped and impoverished region.
Sources: Kolumn Magazine Retrieved from http://www.kolumnmagazine.com/2018/02/16/africa-not-poor-stealing-wealth-al-jazeera/
Africa was known as the Dark Continent because it was relatively isolated and unexplored. Today, it largely remains a mystery to the outside world (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, p.and PSU, 2020). However, Africa’s vast potential has been overshadowed by cross-cultural conflicts, droughts, exploitation, famine, health epidemics, lack of education, and corruption that have stifled Africa’s economic and technological prosperity. Africa has a Third World economic status and contributes only one percent of the global economic output (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, p. 506). Nearly 70 percent of the world’s poorest countries are located in Africa and competing for resources against the headwind of a lack of synergy. Responsible development of Africa will benefit Africa and the world.
Sources: Afrodigital.org Retrieved from http://www.kolumnmagazine.com/2018/02/16/africa-not-poor-stealing-wealth-al-jazeera/
Developing continental synergy will allow Africa to pool their vast resources for a shared goal of development and prosperity. Continental synergy will negate differences within and among Africa’s diverse countries, tribes, and cultures. It will enhance those differences while promoting shared values of combating poverty, mitigating health epidemics, responsibly accessing natural resources, and providing educational and developing public and private international investment opportunities.
Source: Aperian Global Retrieved from https://www.aperianglobal.com/debunking-common-myths-stereotypes-africa/
African plays a vital role as a strategic international partner. Africa casts over a quarter of United Nations votes. Africa has made great strides in mitigating epidemics such as Ebola and HIV/AIDS, and child mortality. Africa is embracing gender equality in which eleven African countries have a parliament in which women hold one-third of the positions. Some of the fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa.
According to U.S. Department of State, “Africa is the continent of the future. Thus, we need to make the most of its potential” (Nagy, 2019). On one side of the coin, Africa is where humankind began. On the other side of the coin, Africa is where all of humankind can prosper.
References:
Kroner, A. (2020, October 30). Africa. Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Africa
Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing cultural differences (9th ed.). NY: Routledge.
Nagy, Jr. T.P. (2019, November 20). Why Africa Matters. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/why-africa-matters/
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2020). OLEAD 410, Section 001, (FA20): Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2075490/modules
I really enjoyed your blog post. The post really made me think and give considerations to Africa that I have never thought of before. I always thought of Africa as a poor, starving country. Maybe it is because of the commercials for UNICEF that feature images of malnourished children crying that rips your heart out. Or, maybe it is because I am old enough to appreciate the song We Are The World, which ended up raising over $63,000,000 for humanitarian causes (90% pledged to African relief).
As other countries have come together to support the country in the past, I cannot see why they cannot continue to work to develop the area and assets that exist to stimulate the economy and alleviate poverty? There appears to be many natural resources that are displayed in your diagram, which would be beneficial to other countries. What a way to develop their export business! Definitely something to consider.