A strange question was asked of me, whils speaking at a recent seminar in Dubai, by a gentleman with a flowing white beard.
In resplendent glory and laced with what I thought was the sheer pain of knowing the obvious, yet incapable of convincing anyone, he asked: “What happens if a comet hits the northern hemisphere and the whole world has to congregate to the South, specifically to the African continent. Are you ready?”
I was perplexed. Was this an allegorical query or a metaphysical one?
Was he simply being insulting by suggesting that without the Global North, we don’t stand a chance. And if a reversal was to happen, we would be found wanting?
Because, to me, the comet has already been there for some time now.
The dependence on African minerals, cocoa, cotton, labor, oil, gas, coastline, food crops… indeed, the West and its glory has been built on this for centuries.
Except that, like all good conquerors, these have been extracted and exported out with scant regard for local jobs, local prosperity, and local development.
Today, of course, the need for Africa has multiplied exponentially. New markets for global companies. Food basket. Source of renewable energy. Critical minerals to make batteries. Rainforests that absorb global emissions. Oil and gas supply. Supply chain diversity for goods.
Security. Geopolitical friendships.
Necessity is often the mother of all inventions.
If there was ever a need to be greedy about Africa, now is perhaps the proverbial feasting season. So yes, I told the gentleman from the East who asked me the rhetorical question. The comet has arrived. It’s refueling in many ways.
Time to smell the coffee and think of not having any one day.
My message was simple. It’s time we replaced greed for Africa or even worse, the guilt for Africa.
No grants. No aid. No concessions.
Instead, let fear be the new dogma to guide investment behavior and global engagement with Africa.
Because leaders in Africa realize the potency of their core.
And African savings are beginning to find their way into African institutions for projects to be developed and derisked for an African renaissance.
And commercial partnerships and transference of know-how will pave the way for mutually- assured success.
Hunger, poverty, scarcity, inflation, disease. Like the effects of climate change, none of these have borders.
And the real specter of having to ‘do without’ is finally descending on the precious few ‘hitherto haves’ of this world. Africa is the salvation to that. As I had read somewhere once: “We were poor. And we ate chicken only when we were sick. Or the chicken was.” Today, it’s different.
The G7 nexus around economic security and competitiveness and a capacity to stand up for their alleged values are linked to global events. A recent European Union white paper on policy articulates: “In order to diversify supply chains, ensure access to energy and raw materials, link up
with today’s and tomorrow’s growth markets and enhance our political standing in the world, we cannot neglect Emerging Markets and Developing Economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America…”
Africa needs partnerships that strengthen our own geo-economic role and capacity.
Thus, a clear case of possible convergence, notably, when it comes to green energy, critical raw materials, digital connectivity and transport connectivity, exists.
Thankfully, we now live in an à la carte world and in the current battle for offers can and must choose as we see fit. That is what has changed forever.
And if the Global North wishes to slumber, the Global South will be the answer, as the aspirations of a billion-plus youth cannot be submerged forever.
As I said, need and fear are inextricably linked.
But intelligence and action appear to be not.
The comet has indeed arrived.