Fictions, factors and futures: reflections on Africa's 'impressive growth'

Abstract

The vision of 'Africa's Impressive Growth' has been espoused to great excitement and acclaim in recent years, a reigniting of the euphoria of the independence era of African nations in the 1950s and 1960s. Geci Karuri-Sebina, Alioune Sall, Rasigan Maharajh and Alinah Segobye test the credibility of the claim and reflect it against six key developmental dimensions: political, economic, social, technological, learning, and ecological. They suggest that Africa needs a more grounded perspective on her future prospects, one that could be bright depending on improved education and leadership.