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The Bright Continent: Breaking Rules And Making Change In Modern Africa (2014)

by Dayo Olopade(Favorite Author)

3.82 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0547678312 (ISBN13: 9780547678313)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

review 1: "Bootstrapping is hard enough without having to think about electricity." (p104) Yes, people of sub-Sahara Africa are highly innovative, but without a dependable supply of electrical energy the continent cannot advance commercially, cultural and politically. Author, a Nigerian journalist, traveled sub-Sahara countries with an open eye and no obvious agenda. Her style is reminiscent of John Gunther's 1940-50s "inside" books (I wonder if she is familiar with them). Two countries impressed her, Rwanda and Somililand (Somalia's northern section). In many other countries stodgy "old men" political leaders and stilted regulations handicap development. Western "do-goodism" is often counterproductive. Innovations such as rechargeable battery swaps and wind power programs offer pos... moresibilities for a brighter continental future.
review 2: I enjoyed this book and if you are an American who works in Africa, it is a must read. Dayo Olopade starts the book by correcting common misconceptions about Africa and then proceeds to map out trends related to family, technology, commerce, natural resources, youth, education and political reform. Some similarities as presented by Dambisa Moyo in Dead Aid, another good book that maintains Africa does not need aid but investment for growth. More anecdotal than laden with big data and statistics, it is easy to read and described many people, organizations and applications that I know work in Africa. A lot of attention focused on Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Nigeria which are countries I have visited or have read much about. Good reference book that will earn a place on my shelves. less

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