Africa's Moment

TranslatedbyDavidFernbachThe21stcenturywillbethecenturyofAfrica.Thiscontinentwasonceseenasempty,rural,animist,poor,andforgottenbytheworld.Now,fiftyyearsafterindependence,itisfulltobursting,urbanandmonotheist.Ifpovertyandviolencearestillrampant,economicgrowthhastakenoffagainandamiddleclassisdeveloping.Africawillholdacentralplaceinthebigissuesfacingtheworldtoday.Ifitoncemadea‘falsestart’,hereitisbackagain–inthefastlane.TheWesthasmissedtheturnaroundofacontinentthatwillnolongerwaitforus.Howcanwebestunderstandit?Demography,economics,politics,diplomacy,culturesandreligions–thisbookpresentsthedifferentfacetsofthisnewAfrica,whichwillsoonhaveabillionpeople,atthemidpointofthemostrapidpopulationboomthathumanityhaseverknown.Withoutignoringtherisksofitsmetamorphosis,itbringstolighttheforcesandhopesthatAfricaharbors.