Are the East and West a Hindrance or Blessing for Africa?

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Africa and its people have been treated differently by both the Western and Eastern countries of the world. However, in recent years the West seems to be becoming more and more involved with developing Africa, while the East has always seemed to want to exploit Africa’s resources. Is there one of these approaches that is better than the other?

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A look at Africa from the perspective of a Chinese person

China has been taking advantage of Africa since ancient times, and what China did in Africa was as bad as what western colonialists did to Africa in modern times. When China started joining into global trading in recent years, many African leaders thought that it could be an opportunity to change China’s relationship with Africa from exploitation to partnership, but so far there is little evidence showing that it was working out well for them. So, it is not surprising that some Africans are very critical of the China-Africa relationship; however, some people think that blaming only on China would be wrong because all countries are taking advantage of each other—China is just doing what other countries do as well.

A look at Africa from the perspective of an American/European person

And, though there is much to discuss regarding western aid in Africa, let’s look at it from another perspective: Europe and America aren’t preventing African success; rather, they are making it difficult for them to achieve it. The way western nations approach trade makes it extremely difficult for Africans to succeed in any sort of business venture because these same nations control much of their export supply chains; however, there is also an opportunity here that could spark change within some emerging economies (namely Ghana).

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Does China have real intentions for helping Africa?

China is one of Africa’s largest trading partners, but there’s been little scrutiny on what Chinese companies are doing on the continent. A new report by two Dutch research organizations, Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and Transnational Institute (TNI), has found that China is using its economic clout to advance its geopolitical goals in Africa at U.S., European Union, World Bank and African Union expense. The report focuses specifically on oil companies — China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) and Sinopec — and their investment practices across multiple African countries, including Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia. The study finds several instances where Chinese oil interests have resulted in human rights violations.

America/Europe wants to help, but what is it doing about it?

Americans should not assume that their help is needed in solving African issues, because in many cases, it is not helping at all; rather, it is holding back growth and development by infusing politics with economic aid. Many Africans are saying no more to political handouts by developed nations. For example, China builds infrastructure projects that don’t require subsidies from foreign governments — roads and bridges can be built without outside investment — but most Western-funded infrastructure projects require donor money that comes with conditions about how it’s spent. However, one thing both sides agree on is improving education and health care in sub-Saharan Africa, which has shown to lower birth rates dramatically.

A look at Africa from the perspective of an African person

I beg to differ while seated in a remote part of Africa. If only you’d interchange the words, putting East where you have put West, China where you have put West. Before the Chinese came to Kenya after 2002 elections, the new administration turning East due to Western sanctions, Kenyans took pride in a road that was built by Italian prisoners of Second World War from Nairobi to Kisumu by hand whose repairs had made it worse, and a railway that was built by the British in the late 1800s whose operations had ground to a halt. The Chinese turned Kenya inside out in development projects within four years. In 2007 the West sponsored ethnic strife that almost threw Kenya to the dogs as they tried to dislodge the Chinese.

Western nations have bn plundering and pillaging our lands for over three centuries now. This has been brought to an abrupt halt and slowly grinding to an end since China came in 25 years ago. The West was taking “Sweet Oil” from Libya. When Qaddafi invited the Chinese and they started drilling in the south of the country, the West started a severe social media campaign demonizing Qaddafi, started a war whose first mission was to drive the Chinese out of Libya, then murdered Qaddafi and utterly destroyed Libya. Today they plunder Libyan natural resources without paying a dime after turning the country into ruins. France is paid colonial levy by all African countries they colonized. Any of the presidents who try to rebel is brutally murdered Sankara style or grabbed from bed naked with wife at night by French Marines to be locked in the Hague Gbagbo style. The British crafted a treaty that no country in the upper parts will benefit from the Nile water except Egypt in the lower part long before those countries were born.

Ethiopia tried to build a dam on Blue Nile. They were warned. Today there is war aimed at destroying Ethiopia and Libya Somali style. The West has destroyed Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mali is on the table, Nigeria is on the line, and so on. China has brought development in Africa in the past 20 years that no one has ever dreamt of in the over three centuries the West has been in Africa plundering its natural resources and enslaving its people. This has forced Western media work overtime on overdrive demonizing China, but on the ground the West will never again do what they did to China in Libya and Ivory Coast as China is now well entrenched and ready for any eventuality, as the dragon slowly but surely makes Africans masters of their own destiny and brings them total freedom from Western slave masters.Ethiopia in a Libya or Somali styleEthiopia tried to build a dam on Blue Nile. They were warned. Today there is war aimed at destroying Ethiopia and Libya Somali style. The West has destroyed Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mali is on the table, Nigeria is on the line, and so on. China has brought development in Africa in the past 20 years that no one has ever dreamt of in the over three centuries the West has been in Africa plundering its natural resources and enslaving its people. This has forced Western media work overtime on overdrive demonizing China, but on the ground the West will never again do what they did to China in Libya and Ivory Coast as China is now well entrenched and ready for any eventuality, as the dragon slowly but surely makes Africans masters of their own destiny and brings them total freedom from Western slave masters.

What can other regions do to support Africa?

If you’re considering opening up trade in goods and services with Africa, now is a good time to think about how to get involved in regional support. It’s not just non-profit organizations that can contribute; businesses can too, if they want to create products that are beneficial to people on other continents while also creating business opportunities abroad. Here are some ways you might start getting involved: Find out what your product would need to look like to meet local standards (though it may be impossible to replicate it exactly)–for example, you may need an adapted version of your product: one created specifically for Africa as opposed to one that was developed solely in America or Europe. You could also buy raw materials from developing nations.

Looking ahead toward more sustainable development in Africa

The most powerful way to accelerate change in any country is to help its people reach their full potential. At Ubunt0978 Village, we’re constantly focused on how to make that happen – working closely with social entrepreneurs, supporting investors that share our vision, and providing supplemental nutrition to needy people of communities in need all over Africa. We believe we’re just getting started, so stay tuned as Ubuntu Village continues to lead by example on sustainable development throughout Africa!

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Ubuntu Village will be traveling to Africa soon and we would like to document this trip and any other trips taken in a blog format.

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