Here, folks, is a juxtaposition of the African continent against a selection of countries/ regions from around the world. Such is the geographical area of our magnificent continent, and while it is true that “size does not matter”, I think it does if Africans should view our continent from a non- Mercator projection.
Many people have involved themselves in endless debate concerning the Mercator projection. More people are hostile to this world map projection illustrated by Flemish geographer Gerardus Mercator way back in 1569. The truth is, this projection accurately places the North to the North, and the South is accurately in the South.
While it is a brilliant attempt to properly present a spherical body on a flat sheet by altering it with angularity and fiddling with its latitudes and longitudes, the visual exaggerations it causes are misleading. The psychological effects are felt in such a manner: if our continent looks small, we definitely are small.
According to UNEP, Africa holds 40% of the world’s gold. That means the rest of the continents have an average of slightly higher than 10% of the remaining gold deposits each.
Upto a whooping 90% of the global platinum and chromium reserves are in Africa. Additionally, the largest deposits of diamonds, cobalt and uranium are in Africa.
Moreover, 65% of the world’s arable land is in Africa.
Ironically, with all these gifts of nature bestowed us by a Benevolent hand, Africa trails last in living standards, with poverty affecting more than 50% of the inhabitants of Sub-Sahara Africa. These are people surviving on barely $2 per day.
Such a statistical observation deducts merit from the street proverb, ” size matters”. For a country, and indeed for a continent, self sustainability is a crucial issue if the country or continent can fully maximise not just its resources, but also manpower. Excluding the states situated in the vast deserts of the North and in a stretch of land in the South, the rest of the African countries have ample resources to cater for their vast populations. Sadly, bad governance and extreme corruption have robbed from Africa much more than what it might have been robbed by foreign influences.
So, as you travel from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa, or from Nairobi to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, think of the diverse economic developments we can make happen in this giant continent that we call home.
Let’s see far and beyond the Mercator projection. Let’s think beyond today, beyond 2030, beyond our generation.
What will Africa be like in 2100? Will my grandkid’s grandkids enjoy an Africa free of hunger, disease and suffering? Will people stop looking for seemingly greener financial pastures from other continents, leaving Africa to help develop a nation not theirs?
No mater where you are reading this from, if you’re an African or Pan-African, let us put our hearts and minds in Africa.
