Why is Africa Still So Poor?

The African continent is famous for its poverty… But many people don’t know the complete reason why Africa is so poor. In this video we will look from the point when African countries were rich and powerful, how over the centuries Africa lost its wealth, and why Africa hasn’t been able to crawl out of it’s poverty while so many other countries and former colonies have.

Social Media

SOURCES
Keith Somerville's 'Africa's Long Road Since Independence'

FURTHER READING

FURTHER WATCHING:
Credits

[HistoryScope]

I am receiving A LOT of racist and uninformed comments on this video every day and I want to adress them here.

1. Sub-saharan Africa didn't develop any written language

This is simply incorrect. A prominent example of the Ge'ez script. But there are several others.

2. They couldn't even invent the wheel (in sub-Sahara Africa)

Anyone who says this doesn't know how wheels work.
They did have the wheel, but it was of no use to them. In order to use wheels for transport you need a lubricant. In Europe, Asia, and North Africa they had the wild boar (and later the domesticated pig). These were animals with a lot of fat which could be used to lubricate those wheels. But they are not native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Without sufficient and cheap fat wheels were useless. It's why places that didn't have easy access to fat didn't use wheels.
Even with our modern technology we still need to use lubricants... If anyone thinks a pre-industrial civilization could fix this issue, which we still can't fix today, needs to lower their expectations.

On top of that, Africa has a lot of rivers and African river ships were so incredibly advanced that when Europeans tried to invade Africa in the 16th-18th centuries that they were easily defeated by the local Africans.

3. Africa didn't have any countries/empires

Even a short google search easily disproves this.
Here are just 20 of them: Mali Empire, Ghana Empire, Songhai Empire, Kanem-Bornu Empire, Sokoto Caliphate, Jolof Empire, Oyo Empire, Benin Empire, Kaabu Empire, Aro Confederacy, Ashanti Empire, Kong Empire, Bamana Empire, Wassoulou Empire, Kongo Kingdom, Luba Empire, Lunda Empire, Zulu Kingdom, Maravi Empire, Rozvi Empire.

[SEGLOK]

As someone from South Africa I honestly believe the biggest problem is not the lack of democracy but the amount of corruption .

[mecha]

It’s obviously because I didn’t eat all of my dinner when I was 5

[worldformatics]

Africa is not poor, it is poorly managed

[kayplays]

20 minutes in, and as a Ghanaian living in South Africa, I'm genuinely impressed by this video. I expected to hear all the usual talking points, but this video accuractely discusses how african slavery was different to western slavery, how Africa's historical relationships with its neighbours affected its economic growth, how colonialisation left African countries isolated from its iwn neighbours, the education failure, etc. A truly nuanced take that many people living here aren't even aware of. I did not expect a foreigner to have this level of understanding into our historical struggles. It's not infantilising, it's not racist. It's just facts 👏👏👏

[danielisflying]

As a Nigerian, the video almost brings me to tears. Even till today, the last of the corrupt leaders from the 50s to the 80s still have their hooks entrenched in the government. I hope my generation can put away the Relegious and Tribalistic ideals that have not helped anyone.

[orboakin]

Thank you so much for making this video. As an African myself (Nigerian, specifically) it always annoys me when most people only attribute Africa's current problems to "colonialism or racism", effectively removing personal responsibility of us Africans, and ignore more important factors like geography, climate, socioeconomic systems, political unity and leadership. Thanks for focusing on those areas.

[TaaxiCaab]

I happen to be Email friends with a wealthy Nigerian Prince

[nathanielomokanye]

As a Nigerian I would say this is one of the most accurate representations of African economic history on YouTube. Although there were a lot of generalizations, which would be impossible to avoid trying to fit the economic history of an entire continent in 40 minutes, you did a good job!

[ig]

“When an African becomes rich, his bank accounts are in Switzerland, he goes to France for medical treatment, he invests in Germany, he buys houses in Dubai, he Prays in Rome or Mecca, his Children study in England or Canada, the whole family all take Western Nationalities and they travel to Europe for tourism. When he dies, he returns to be buried in his home country. Africa is a graveyard for Africans, how could you ever expect a graveyard to be developed?”

- one of the realest things I have ever heard, the first step is for all those millions of middle/upper class Nigerians (including my dad) living and raising families abroad, to invest and give back to their country.

[normbograham]

I worked with a co-worker, whom was in South Africa. As a general rule, if you take all of a workers possessions, they leave the country. We also helped a man leave a country in Africa, and become a doctor. We helped him out. He brought lots of stuff back for charity to help the children, whom has seen nothing but war in their country.. The "stuff" was siezed, and sold to help the war effort. It was his intent to go back, but after his charity was defeated...he stayed in the USA.

[Mussie]

I'm from Ethiopia, Africa. I learned more from this video in 40 minutes, than I did in high school or college. Bravo! Thank you for posting.

[Javans.k]

Corruption in Africa is insane. Almost every politician is corrupt. That's why Africa has a long way to go

[forestmanzpedia]

So, basically, even if there are improvements in terms of education and people become more skilled and talented, those people can't contribute anything into the economy very well, because of their corrupt government, which results to migrating into a wealthier country.

[Homemadegameguru]

The government of Ghana admitted to this years ago! During the slave trade, the rulers of a region sold fellow Africans to the point it got out of hand. Tribes were selling out tribes. Instead of uniting, Africa was easily taken advantage of because one village or tribe didn't care about the others.

[mofewilkie]

I haven’t seen a more comprehensive summary on this issue. As a Nigerian, it breaks my heart to see such vast potential wasted. My take is that if we can provide quality education and healthcare to our people, it will act as a catalyst for positive change across the continent. Thank you for this video

[deleted-something]

Is truly disheartening how even with the countries that are escaping poverty the fastest, it still takes decades to even see most of it disappear, and how many people never really had a choice and they have to live at terrible human conditions…

[jasonfischer]

"A dead peasant is an unproductive peasant."

Isn't that a Ferengi Rule of Acquisition?

[JetFire]

I lived in West Africa. Didn’t visit, didn’t stay in a bubble, I lived in the country. Africa has tons of money. It’s all stolen by the few of their own people, and they make those few their heroes. End of story.

[bluon]

My teacher is from Ghana and when I asked him why he moved to the US, he said it was complicated. Now I understand more, and it’s just unfortunate