The topic of Africa is something rather touchy. On the one hand, it is notorious for its reputation as a complicated continent with little hope while the world was tugging along prior to the financial crisis. In the aftermath, however, it had suddenly happened upon people to see it as a continent with hundreds of millions of young consumers. Suddenly, what was see as a backwards place had taken the limelight, with countries such as Rwanda, having suffered a genocide less than 20 years earlier becoming the darling of donor nations.

 

Rather than muster the politics of Africa, there are the incredible stories of people and places that make it special. That despite all the constraints, people show real strength, courage and determination to push themselves and their families forward. That cultures prevail and their singular beauties blending with the mix of modern design and thought. This is perhaps Africa's real challenge. To preserve what is beautiful and unique about it as it seeks to grow richer.

 

The real dream of Africa is that it tells its own story of growth and development. This is its opportunity, not so much to embrace an outsiders complete approach but identify and understand what is beautiful and propogate this rather than lose it altogether.