Very interesting piece, thank you. I'm a social studies teacher and looking for more information about Africa and its current geopolitical situation. Can you recommend any other Substacks?
Thank you so much for the question and your support, Greg! I have a BIG announcement coming soon but in the meantime, a few small ways to get started are:
Almost all of these countries are great examples of how the promotion of private enterprise and free markets help nations deliver on growth.
I would replace Rwanda with Kenya instead though. I visited and stayed in Rwanda for three months last year (I was a digital nomad in Africa for over three years). While I give them points for governance as corruption is super-low, their non-visa tourism policy and the fact that they have also done a decent job at attracting big foreign investments, it still harbours quite a few elements of a planned economy.
Cleaning and upkeep of Kigali and likely other parts of the country are compelled by the state, and the time and transparency around foreign enterprise formation is still quite shaky. The government is also still heavily reliant on foreign aid to plug budget gaps since most of the population earn too little to pay any income tax. Over 40 percent of its budget was funded by aid last time I checked (the figure is falling so this is encouraging) .
Kenya, on the other hand, is a combination of all of the countries you mentioned but on a much larger scale. Nairobi alone has a GDP of at least $30 billion (probably closer to $40 billion today), it's home to the two biggest malls in Africa, with them hosting a bunch of international MNCs. Kenya's also the second largest tea exporter in the world, sixth largest geothermal producer.
I genuinely think that of all Sub Saharan African countries, Kenya's future is brightest, with it only being second in overall development behind South Africa. And I predict that they will overtake SA within the next few decades as a result of its more pro-market and meritocratic environment, along with them being more educated on average than most South Africans.
Brilliant article - this is so important 👏👏 simultaneously many so called rich western countries keep falling and increasingly many are severely struggling financially. Things are changing!
Hi Magatte, I grew up in Zambia and Malawi. Your post resonates with me personally. A request - I would love to know your reccos on some of the best authors from Africa and their works in English. Thanks!
Hello there!
Very interesting piece, thank you. I'm a social studies teacher and looking for more information about Africa and its current geopolitical situation. Can you recommend any other Substacks?
Thanks :)
I write about Africa as well. Welcome Phisto!
Hello! I’ll check out your stuff. Thanks. :)
Hi Phisto, I also write a Substack entitled Diaspora Dollars, where we discuss personal finance and Africa
Awesome! Subscribing now.
Magatte,
Please tell me how I can help your mission to make African nations powerhouses of the near future.
Thanks,
Greg Ferraro
Thank you so much for the question and your support, Greg! I have a BIG announcement coming soon but in the meantime, a few small ways to get started are:
1. Buy African products made in Africa, by Africans: http://cheetahmade.com
2. Apply to Cheetah Gen: https://magatte.wufoo.com/forms/q9vtaod0563ajc
Again, more to come soon! -Magatte
Thanks Magatte,
Such phenomenal news to hear
Great read Mrs Wade!
Almost all of these countries are great examples of how the promotion of private enterprise and free markets help nations deliver on growth.
I would replace Rwanda with Kenya instead though. I visited and stayed in Rwanda for three months last year (I was a digital nomad in Africa for over three years). While I give them points for governance as corruption is super-low, their non-visa tourism policy and the fact that they have also done a decent job at attracting big foreign investments, it still harbours quite a few elements of a planned economy.
Cleaning and upkeep of Kigali and likely other parts of the country are compelled by the state, and the time and transparency around foreign enterprise formation is still quite shaky. The government is also still heavily reliant on foreign aid to plug budget gaps since most of the population earn too little to pay any income tax. Over 40 percent of its budget was funded by aid last time I checked (the figure is falling so this is encouraging) .
Kenya, on the other hand, is a combination of all of the countries you mentioned but on a much larger scale. Nairobi alone has a GDP of at least $30 billion (probably closer to $40 billion today), it's home to the two biggest malls in Africa, with them hosting a bunch of international MNCs. Kenya's also the second largest tea exporter in the world, sixth largest geothermal producer.
I genuinely think that of all Sub Saharan African countries, Kenya's future is brightest, with it only being second in overall development behind South Africa. And I predict that they will overtake SA within the next few decades as a result of its more pro-market and meritocratic environment, along with them being more educated on average than most South Africans.
Brilliant article - this is so important 👏👏 simultaneously many so called rich western countries keep falling and increasingly many are severely struggling financially. Things are changing!
Hi Magatte, I grew up in Zambia and Malawi. Your post resonates with me personally. A request - I would love to know your reccos on some of the best authors from Africa and their works in English. Thanks!
More people, especially Africans, need to read this! Thank you