Why Is Africa So Poor? Why is Africa still poor?

The answer to this question is very simple. Why is Africa still poor? Africa is poor because Africans do not want to make Africa rich. Africans are not lazy because Africans work all day under the hot sun. Yes that is very true but hardwork alone doesn't pay. Africans have to learn the proper ways of working hard.

Originally Posted by squintoo

People generally blame the natural resource for this but i dont think this is true, People do work in africa but the reason they are not able to achieve what they really want is because they are just doing hard work they need to do smart work as well..

I think africa only is responsible for this, my intention is not to blame the continent but if they do smart work then surely it will be a rich continent

I think I agree with you. Hardwork alone doesn't pay. Unless you do smart work, you will be working hard for nothing good in return. Doing smart work also implies the use of reason in everyday decision making. Choose right leaders who can get the job done for you. Do not support corrupt leaders like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Think twice and act wisely in addition to hardwork.

[zapakpro]

well africa is one of the neglected places in the world. so sad but can't help it. i can't eat my food properly sometimes when i think about the miseries faced by these people ..how i wish i had done something to help them.

[bodil4o]

I think the main factor is the envinroment because it is really hot and not everybody can afford to have a home, electricity or other such MODERN things
It's really bad but we can't help them
Maybe they have to wait for their "obama" or something like that...
And I still don't think they will be okay

[manu1991]

There are a plethora of reasons for this but I will break it down into 5 major causes

1) Too much intercontinental conflict - Unlike EU or even Asia for that matter which have very nice inter-country relations , African nations are bickering to a large extent

2) Refusal to embrace modern beliefs and practices

3) Historically being exploited , mainly because of their mineral wealth
'
4) Bad rulers , dictators like Idi Amin

5) Negative attitude of developed nations

Originally Posted by sunshine4

It is so sad to see shows like you have described on television. I am lucky that I live in the US. I really don't think about how different countries are poorer than mine until I see something like this.

I do think that you are right. In some way it has to do with the climate and the resources we have.

Yes that's very true.. climatic conditions and natural resources do play a part. However, I think that Africans are more adapted to their environment more than any other group of people. Remember all life "began" in Africa .. In terms of natural resources, Africa can be the richest continent. Gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, timber, fertile soil, wildlife, etc.. yet a child dies every three seconds from extreme poverty and hunger in Africa.. what do you think?

Because British and Americans are rich. You know all third world country are sucked by America , England.

Originally Posted by AngryCat

For a long everything that was happening in Africa was ruled by the colonialists and the local population did the simplest jobs. Now Africans have to make everything on their own. I think lack of such experience is serious trouble there.

Yes you are right AngryCat. I think lack of "experience" is a major Problem in Africa. Not that Africans are not experienced.. but taking Poor leadership and poor government for example, we can attribute most if not all the problems in Africa. Corruption, misappropriation of funds, poor planning, etc. these are what breed war and conflict, poverty, hunger, etc.

Originally Posted by maryelser

Bika, how can you say that? That is really unfair. In 2006, Bush tripled the direct humanitarian and development aid sent to Africa.

I agree with you Maryelser! Bush is doing a great job in Africa.. He visited Ghana a couple of days ago and he had a very good chat with president Kuffour and the former UN secretary general Mr. Kofi Annan on how to improve the economy and the living conditions in Africa.. One Nigerian paper put it "Bush is the African Savior".. yep! Bush is doing a very good job in Africa. Let's give him the credit

well, what of too many languages?.. 521 in Nigeria alone ..

great!.. i agree with you BellaDC.. thanks very much for sharing

Originally Posted by originata

Africa is poor mainly because of colonialism. The continent was not left to progress and develop on its own. Africans were not poor until different Asian and European nations decided to take over certain lands and use the resources for their own interests at the expense of the people living there.

Imagine someone coming to your land and telling you that they now own the land and now you have to pay taxes on it (using their form of currency). That creates an instantaneously poor population.

great post!.. you are welcome originata! ..

this is a repost.. by Bigbang

Africa is the nation which is most sadly known for it's poverty - not for it's natural resources, culture, arts or personalities. Why? I think of making a few points here

The Corporates
Corporates take a big bite of Africa, they exploit Africa for their greed and never mutually beneficial for Africa. This depletes the infrastructure and they are one of the most blamed for the present condition of a continent which is the abode of natural resources.


The Government
Government is the backbone of a nation. African nations lack this backbone. The corrupted governments spill the ink of disgrace on the face of African nations. I think they are the only ones to be blamed for the pathetic condition of Somalia. Governments fail in even providing people with basic infrastructure.


Illiteracy


The illiteracy in African nations may be considered as the next important factor. The ignorance leads to the massive spread of Diseases espicially Sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS. There had been no effective steps taken by governments of concerned nations for the eradication of Illetracy.


International Support
I wonder why organizations like U.N. exist. I am not blaming U.N. - they do their best. But why don't other countries raise sound against the corrupt and inefficient governments. Issues like membership in security council are magnified, and everyone is concerned about it - and not about the methods of poverty eradication

I think Africa is poor because it is a third world continent but there seems to be more to it.

Originally Posted by manu1991

There are a plethora of reasons for this but I will break it down into 5 major causes


5) Negative attitude of developed nations

I agree with you. If a stupid man like Idi Amin ruled over the country as a head of state then I need no further explanation as to why a country like Uganda with fertile lands and great natural resources still wallow in poverty

[Pranz]

Its actually just bad luck of how they started off and after such a bumpy ride they just did not get the right support or boost to break the pressure on them to barely sustain themselves and start to really progress...With an uncorrupted administration and global financial help, I'm sure that even they can become rich in due time.

[beelzebul]

Their farmers cannot compete with the gigantic mega-farms elsewhere in the world.
American and European farms are heavily subsidized.
Africa can't compete with that.

I live in Africa. Africans are lazy. Come here and you will see.

Collonialism: before colonialism, Africans lived in the stone age except for some small exceptions.

Why is South Africa the leading nation in Africa?
Because of colonialism SA manufactures cars for export, can feed itself etc.

Time for Africa to stop looking for handouts and work a little.

[Kofi]

Originally Posted by African

I live in Africa. Africans are lazy. Come here and you will see.

Collonialism: before colonialism, Africans lived in the stone age except for some small exceptions.

Why is South Africa the leading nation in Africa?
Because of colonialism SA manufactures cars for export, can feed itself etc.

Time for Africa to stop looking for handouts and work a little.

You might be right be I don't think that Africans are lazy. You can say some Africans are lazy but that is true for every society. Africans work hard but the problem in Africa is that we don't have good leaders who can help us reap from our sweats but instead leaders who want to reap from our sweats. These are the same corrupt leaders who want to enslave us and make us work for nothing.

Africa is poor but Africa made America rich. Africa is poor but if not for Africa, the United Kingdom wouldn't be what it is today. Africa is poor because Africans work to better the lives of others not themselves. Now that Africa has helped them to reach these levels, they call Africa "poor". We are poor but we are rich because we made you all rich.

Originally Posted by cbeyond

....Whatever an African owns it’s his own, does not belong to a bank; where by it will be repossess when payment are in default. If you think you are well off because you live on a credit system, you are really narrow minded.

That is the most intelligent answer I've ever received but it is better to live happily on credit than to suffer without credit. Africa is rich as you said and I really understand your point but just think about it!

[chris20]

Racial discrimination before might be the major factor why Africa turns out to be a poor country now. Moreover, when it comes to financial aid or any other help, I believe that we better teach them how to get fish than give them fish on their plate.

[lkclai74]

Originally Posted by Gloria

Not that Africans are lazy.. Africans work all day under the hot sun yet a child dies every three seconds from extreme poverty and hunger. what do you think?... why is Africa so poor ?

Who need to blame? Weather? Govenment? God? Too sad to see the africa people surfering.

I think the major problem due to the various groups living in Africa. the government can not solve the problem. If the government help one group of people and ignore others...then the people will blame the government.....too difficult to solve the problem.

corruption! corruption!! corruption!!! Take corruption out and see Africa prosper.

[Padalda]

The first and the worst problem with Africans is illeteracy. Africa ruined it by fratrcidal conflicts, resources are poor, corruption is unrestrained. The indices of development are on the decline. When there is a big problem of population, there are more chances of spreading od diseases like maleria.

[sathishgr8]

i think the underworld activities in Africa are making them to be the poor continent . the resources lik diamonds are smuggled out by few which in turn reduces the revenue of that country .

[rockingway]

Things should be improving, everybody. Let's pray for them.

Originally Posted by rockingway

Things should be improving, everybody. Let's pray for them.

we are talking about poverty and hunger here and you are talking about prayers. Can prayer put food on the table? Someone is dying of hunger with nothing to eat in order to survive and here you are talking about prayers.

Africa is poor because the West doesn't want to allow Africa to prosper. We work just to feed the western countries. They portray themselves as saviors but they are the devils destroying Africa

[seimens]

who told Africa is poor. they have lot of precious stones,under their home lands,they doesn't know to utilize it, that is why rich get richer and poor get poorer.this situation should be changed,they are not really poor.their wealth has been seized by other countries people ,the current government should sincerely work towards the poor people upliftment.

[superrocker]

As far as we think of an African country the first thing which come to ur mind is poverty.There are so many reasons behind this .The main reason for that according to me is the lack of awareness and education among the people to use the resources they have got.The another fact is that they have got freedom from the colonial rule only in the 20th century and by then the economy was in a worst condition and they couldn't recover from that yet.The ruling government in African countries are also responsible for the poorness of Africa.The political parties and autocratic groups are trying to hold power and they are doing nothing to eradicate the poverty.

It is time Africans come together. It is time Africans learn how to love one another. It is time Africans stand up and fight for themselves. It is time Africans know that they are Africans and part of the human race.

[Marsha]

Why are we still giving money to Africa? If they are considered to be one of the richest countries, but yet still is the country that is the highest rank in poverty. Instead of giving money shouldn't we be going there to build an orphange or bring them animals or go and build a well etc. I think we should be doing that instead of giving our money that we don' even know if it is getting to our organization that we sent it to.

Africa has the resources but lack the skills. what Africa needs right now is the skills and the proper knowledge to use their available resources. Another problem is Poor Education and Corruption

[Marsha]

So why dont they get better education

Hardworking!!?? Nonsense. I live in Africa and sees on a daily basis that Africans (black) have no work ethic whatsoever. The person that posted the article is clueless.

It is so sad to see shows like you have described on television. I am lucky that I live in the US. I really don't think about how different countries are poorer than mine until I see something like this.

I do think that you are right. In some way it has to do with the climate and the resources we have.

As an African I sometimes wonder what the west think of Africa. Africa isn't a country as most people are used to saying. Africa is a continent with several countries. If America was a continent like Africa, New York State would be a separate nation on its own eventhoug it is in America. Some countries in Africa are very poor but other countries aren't that poor as the west thinks. A country like South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, etc., are better than most countries in the West.

It depends on what you refer to as poverty. Poverty in terms of financial status or Poverty in terms of emotional, social and mental sanity. Africa is rich my friend. Check the western world because something is absolutely wrong with the western world.