"The Rift" by Alex Perry is a thought-provoking book that challenges common Western perceptions of Africa. Perry argues that the continent is not a helpless victim in need of saving, but rather a place of immense potential and innovation. Through vivid storytelling and in-depth analysis, the author presents a nuanced view of Africa's complex realities, highlighting both its challenges and opportunities.
The West's Misguided Approach to Africa
Western Aid and Political Interests
Perry begins by examining how Western countries often fail to provide effective aid to Africa due to their own political agendas. He illustrates this point with a devastating example from Somalia in 2011, when a severe famine struck the southern part of the country.
As millions of starving refugees fled to Mogadishu seeking help, the United States blocked aid to the region, citing concerns about the terrorist group Al-Shabab. This decision, driven by the war on terror, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, mostly children and the elderly.
The author shares the heartbreaking story of Khalima Adan, a mother who lost three of her nine children during the journey to Mogadishu. This personal account brings home the human cost of misguided foreign policy decisions.
The Limits of Celebrity Humanitarianism
Perry then turns his attention to the efforts of high-profile Western humanitarians, using George Clooney's work in Sudan as an example. While acknowledging Clooney's genuine commitment and influence, the author shows how even well-intentioned celebrity activism often falls short of bringing lasting change to Africa.
Clooney played a significant role in advocating for South Sudan's independence, using his fame and resources to raise awareness about the conflict and even funding satellite surveillance of Sudanese government troops. However, despite these efforts and the successful independence vote in 2011, peace remained elusive.
The author describes how ethnic tensions between the Dinka and Nuer groups erupted into violence in 2013, leading to massacres and ongoing conflict. This example underscores Perry's argument that lasting solutions to Africa's problems must come from within the continent itself, rather than being imposed by outsiders.
Africa's Agricultural Revolution
The Potential of Farming
Moving from the limitations of Western intervention, Perry shifts focus to one of Africa's most promising sectors: agriculture. He argues that farming has the potential to not only lift millions of Africans out of poverty but also to address global food security concerns.
The author cites research showing how increases in agricultural income correlate strongly with reductions in extreme poverty. He points to China's remarkable economic transformation between 1978 and 2011, where a 7% annual increase in agricultural incomes helped reduce poverty from 31% to just 2% of the population.
Africa, with its vast expanse of arable land – more than the rest of the world combined – is uniquely positioned to replicate this success. Perry emphasizes that the continent has enough farmable land to potentially feed the entire global population.
Ethiopia's Agricultural Transformation
To illustrate the ongoing shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture in Africa, Perry explores recent developments in Ethiopia. He describes how Ethiopian farmers traditionally focused on producing just enough to feed their families, reluctant to take risks on expanding production.
This changed dramatically in 2007 with the creation of the Ethiopian Commodities Exchange by economist Eleni Gabre-Madhin. This organization revolutionized farming practices by establishing quality standards, fair pricing, and a mobile information service for farmers.
The author explains how these changes gave banks more confidence to provide loans to farmers, enabling them to invest in their farms and increase production. As a result, Ethiopia's agricultural output grew by an impressive 7.8% between 2006 and 2013.
This success story demonstrates the potential for innovative, locally-driven solutions to transform African agriculture and drive economic growth.
Urban Transformation in Africa
The Rebirth of Lagos
Perry next turns his attention to the rapid urbanization occurring across Africa, using the Nigerian city of Lagos as a prime example of positive change. He paints a stark picture of Lagos in 2009, when 65% of its 20 million inhabitants lived in extreme poverty, lacking basic amenities like running water, electricity, and sewage systems.
The author then describes the remarkable transformation that took place under the leadership of Governor Babatunde Fashola. Within a few years, access to clean water increased from one-third to two-thirds of the city's population. Flood protection measures were implemented, green spaces replaced garbage dumps, and streets were rebuilt and lit.
Perry emphasizes that these improvements didn't just create a more livable city – they also generated 42,000 new government jobs, providing a significant economic boost to Lagos residents.
Slum Transformation
The book goes on to detail Fashola's efforts to improve conditions in Lagos' sprawling slums. Working with Peruvian poverty specialist Fernando De Soto, the governor implemented a program to grant property rights to slum residents.
This initiative had a dramatic impact on living conditions and safety in these areas. Perry reports that burglaries decreased by 90%, while incidents of murder and assault dropped by 50%. Moreover, the newly minted property owners became taxpayers, contributing to the city's economic growth.
This example illustrates how innovative urban planning and governance can transform even the most challenging environments in African cities.
Africa's New Leadership
Beyond the Stereotype of Corrupt Leaders
Perry challenges the common Western perception of African leaders as uneducated criminals. He introduces readers to Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano in Northern Nigeria, as an example of the continent's new breed of educated, principled leaders.
The author describes Sanusi as a graceful nobleman fluent in English and French, with a background in economics, philosophy, and law. Perry recounts how Sanusi's integrity cost him his job at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where he was fired for exposing corruption at high levels of government.
Innovative Approaches to Governance
Despite this setback, Sanusi continued his fight against corruption as the leader of Kano. Perry details Sanusi's plans to implement a biometric system for all money transactions in Nigeria, using fingerprint technology to make fraud, theft, and forgery nearly impossible.
This innovative approach to tackling corruption demonstrates how African leaders are leveraging technology to address longstanding challenges. It also shows how solutions to Africa's problems are increasingly coming from within the continent, rather than being imposed by external actors.
The Mobile Revolution in Africa
Connecting the Continent
Perry dedicates a significant portion of the book to exploring the transformative impact of mobile technology in Africa. He notes that by 2015, there were one billion cell phones in use across the continent – a staggering increase from just a few million landline connections 15 years earlier.
The author explains how this rapid adoption of mobile technology is driving economic growth. He cites studies by the London Business School showing that a 10% increase in cell phone penetration corresponds to a 0.6% to 1.2% rise in national income across various African countries.
Mobile Banking: A Game-Changer
One of the most innovative applications of mobile technology in Africa, according to Perry, is in the field of banking. He describes how Kenya's telecommunications giant, Safaricom, introduced a text-based money transfer system that has revolutionized financial services for millions of Africans.
The author explains how this system works: users can deposit cash with a Safaricom employee, who then transfers the money to a specified phone number. The recipient can then use this virtual currency for various transactions, from buying groceries to paying for services.
Perry emphasizes how this system has provided banking services to many poor Africans who were previously excluded from traditional banking. By 2015, the success of this model had led to the emergence of 50 mobile banking firms across the continent.
This innovation not only demonstrates Africa's capacity for technological leapfrogging but also shows how solutions developed in Africa could potentially influence financial practices globally.
Renewable Energy: Lighting Up Africa
The Challenge of Energy Poverty
In the final section of the book, Perry addresses one of Africa's most persistent challenges: lack of access to electricity. He illustrates the impact of energy poverty through the story of Gladys Nange, a farmer living in a remote Kenyan village without power.
The author describes how the absence of electricity traps families like Gladys' in poverty. Her children struggle to complete homework without light in the evenings, leading to poor academic performance. Gladys herself must walk long distances just to charge her phone and check crop prices.
Solar Power: A Bright Solution
Perry then introduces the reader to an innovative solution: small-scale solar power. He describes a pilot project that provided Gladys with a solar panel capable of powering two lamps and a mobile charger.
This seemingly simple technology, the author argues, has the potential to transform lives. Gladys' children can now study in the evenings, and she plans to expand her farm with an electrified chicken hatchery.
The author emphasizes that such solar kits are becoming increasingly affordable, with payment plans as low as $1.20 per month. This accessibility makes them a viable solution for millions of Africans living off the grid.
Conclusion: A Continent of Innovation and Potential
Perry concludes "The Rift" by challenging readers to reconsider their perceptions of Africa. He argues that the continent is far more than a place of conflict, poverty, and despair. Instead, it is a hub of innovation and potential, developing unique solutions to its challenges that could inspire the rest of the world.
The author emphasizes several key points:
Africa's agricultural sector has the potential to not only lift millions out of poverty but also to address global food security concerns.
Urban transformation, as seen in Lagos, demonstrates how innovative governance can rapidly improve living conditions and drive economic growth.
A new generation of educated, principled African leaders is emerging, bringing fresh approaches to longstanding challenges.
Mobile technology is revolutionizing various sectors, from banking to agriculture, connecting Africans to each other and the world in unprecedented ways.
Renewable energy solutions, particularly small-scale solar power, offer a path to electrification that could leapfrog traditional infrastructure development.
Perry's final message is one of cautious optimism. While acknowledging the significant challenges that remain, he urges readers to recognize Africa's agency and potential. The continent, he argues, is not a problem to be solved by the West, but a source of innovation and solutions that could benefit the entire world.
The author also offers a piece of actionable advice for those who want to support Africa's development: invest in projects that promote African autonomy rather than dependency. He suggests that while emergency aid is sometimes necessary, lasting change will come from initiatives that empower Africans to develop their own solutions.
In essence, "The Rift" presents a nuanced and hopeful view of Africa's future. It challenges readers to move beyond simplistic narratives of African helplessness and to recognize the continent's complexity, resilience, and potential. By highlighting stories of innovation and success alongside ongoing challenges, Perry paints a picture of a continent in transition – one that is increasingly shaping its own destiny and may well play a crucial role in addressing global challenges in the years to come.
The book serves as a call to action for a more balanced and informed engagement with Africa. It encourages readers to look beyond headlines of crisis and to recognize the continent's dynamism and potential. In doing so, "The Rift" contributes to a more nuanced global conversation about Africa's place in the world and its role in shaping our collective future.