Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa's Future

by George B.N. Ayittey (Editor)

In Africa Unchained , George Ayittey takes a controversial look at Africa's future and makes a number of daring suggestions. Looking at how Africa can modernize, build, and improve their indigenous institutions which have been castigated by African leaders as 'backward and primitive', Ayittey argues that Africa should build and expand upon these traditions of free markets and free trade. Asking why the poorest Africans haven't been able to prosper in the Twenty-first-century, Ayittey makes the answer their economic freedom was snatched from them. War and conflict replaced peace and the infrastructure crumbled. In a book that will be pondered over and argued about as much as his previous volumes, Ayittey looks at the possibilities for indigenous structures to revive a troubled continent.

Genres: Africa, Economics, Nonfiction, Politics, History, Cultural, Poverty

509 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

George B. N. Ayittey (13 October 1945 – 28 January 2022) was a Ghanaian economist, author, and president of the Free Africa Foundation in Washington, D.C. He was a professor at American University, and an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Reviews

[Sydney Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An in depth look at Africa’s economic challenges and political difficulties at the beginning of the millennium. A big bonus for me was how accessible the writing was throughout the book. Most of the economics gargon is understandable to anyone that took high school econ courses. I appreciated Ayittey’s openness throughtout the text and will more than likely return to his work later as ai continue reading about the political and economic landscape of Africa.

[Lorelei Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ayittey's proposals for Africa are, in a word, genius.

Comparing his proposals with Moyo's I'd say that Ayittey is definitely the better tactician. Where Moyo's ideas depended on financiers' willingness to take a risk on Africa, Ayittey's proposals are grounded in current economic realities. For him, the point is not to develop non-existant sectors, but rather to build upwards from the foundation of the Atinga (peasant) farmers who comprise the majority of Africa's productive economy.

[Mike Steinborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long book (about 450 pages if you don't count the Notes, Bibliography, and Index at the end) and some hard slogging necessary (small print and long chapters), but probably the best book on the situation Africa finds itself in today I've ever read. Of course, being an African himself, the author can say things that would get any outsider accused of racism, political incorrectness, and more :)

[Phinehas Osei · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's easy to see why opinion is divided on this book. On one hand, it is apparent that the author has put up compelling arguments to show that the problems - and their solutions - of Africa are inherent. Ultimately he shows that the poor institutions and the institutional gaps are the bane of development in Africa. He shows his the hippo generation that inherited a sense of a socio-economic fight that belongs to a past era are still at the helm of affairs, when the cheetah generation is essentially the creative class that has a better perspective of issues and are angry at the waste orchestrated by our leaders.
His solutions are quite simple though - maybe too simple. He argues that the people's law and way of life will be more than sufficient to cure Africa's ills. While there is some substance to his argument, I think not all modernisation is bad. In the end, I think everyone will leave this book better enlightened about the African problem.

[Ekene Obi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am yet to read the book but the excerpt is loaded with lots of interesting suspense about Africa’s wholly indegenous framework proposed by Ayittey. Nice one

[Phil Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, to be sure, just a little hard for me to get into it. I'm not sure way, as it is well written. Perhaps it is because I am unfamiliar with the nuances of African politics and culture generally, but it has been difficult for me to dedicate the kind of attention I very much want to place on this work. The future of Africa is an important issue for me and it should be for the rest of the world.

A neat walkaway so far? The Cheetah Generation (the hopeful younger generations bent on purging the destructive ways of the older generation incapable of thinking like proud Africans) and the Hippo Generation (old farts who cling to the post Eurpoean Imperialistic Era and use it as a crutch for bad behavior that stunts African growth). Put another way, and as one might expect, hope for a better future rests with the younger generation, the Cheetahs, and already I feel like the 21st century will see an African enlightenment. We'll see how the rest of the book unfolds - I hope it confirms this hope.

[Kirsten Kinnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was so interesting and i got 1/2 of the way through, but i just. couldn't. go. on.... right now the global problem solving seems overwhelming, as (believe it or not) i am in no position to change UN, Worldbank or USAID policy. but i do think his hypothesis is worth considering.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not read entire book--started to repeat near the middle. Skimmed the remaider.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very long and detailed read. Excellent background and research. Good read for students focusing on Africa.

[Laus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayittey has a complete new view on identifying the root cause of African problems