News — africans

 In early 2020, when the covid-19 pandemic started in China, and its government promised it was containing the virus, there were multiple cases of racial discrimination reported within the country. Several Africans were being evicted from their homes and harassed while health workers tested for imported infections. There were no statistics to prove foreigners, let alone Africans brought the foreign cases. The Chinese government denied these allegations. However, videos circulating on social media proved otherwise as they showed hundreds of Africans thrown out in the streets. Some considered it a case of xenophobia, while others saw it as China doing its due diligence. What do you think?

Lagos is a city with a rich multicultural history as the return of the Afro-Brazilians in the 19th century can still be felt today in the Brazilian Quarter in Lagos. The returning slaves’ presence is seen through the architecture on the Quarter as they designed and built most of the buildings although most of the original structures have deteriorated.

According to a study conducted in the 19th Century, it is estimated that between 3,000 and 8,000 former slaves returned to Africa from Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Those who took part in the Malé Revolt of 1835, described as the most significant slave rebellion in Brazil, resided in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Togo.

Those who settled in Nigeria were in an area of Lagos Island known as Popo Aguda and the Afro-Brazilian population, known as “Aguda” meaning “Catholic” in Yoruba were the largest group of the returnee slaves in the 1850s.

It was Benjamin Campbell, the consul of Lagos from 1853 to 1859 who persuaded these freed Africans to emigrate from Brazil and offered the protection in exchange for their assistance with the colonial administration.

Their return to West Africa is noticeable through their contributions to the early architectural design of their settlements. Which is one form of cultural exchange that is deemed a part of the larger global black narrative on black Africa’s architectural heritage.

Speaking of cultural exchange, architecture is one of the subtle forms of the exchange that ensued between the Afro-Brazilians who returned to Lagos and other parts of West Africa.

Lagos’ architectural landscape was influenced immensely by the returning Afro-Brazilian slaves and these astonishing buildings are important indicators of a rich history.

Today, these historical landmarks are losing its value as they are threatened mostly by urbanisation and the lack of conversations about preserving the history of the Quarter, thus most of the buildings lie in ruins.

It is best to forget the horrific nature of the transatlantic slave trade but it is also important to educate the new generation on their past and the best way the Brazilian Quarter does so is seen through the integration of cultures. A trip to Lagos Island offers a unique glance into the amazing architecture and the indelible legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.

There is an outcry to save the last remaining Afro-Brazilian buildings in the Quarter because the area is experiencing swift gentrification and pervasive demolition. Local communities, activists and conversation groups have taken up the mantle to rekindle essential discussions on the preservation of the history of Afro -Brazilians in Lagos City.

Oluremi Dacosta, a conservationist, activist and a local resident of Afro-Brazilian descent is a key figure whose role to save the architecture of the Brazilian Quarter has not gone unnoticed.

Some may not understand the need to preserve the Brazilian Quarter and its architectural heritage but Dacosta sees it differently. According to him, people are curious about the Afro-Brazilian influence in Lagos and the tourism in the area has seen a major boost as all his daily tours are constantly sold-out.

He views the conservation of the area as very important to “Nigerian-Brazilian cultural heritage and […] one of the unique architectural histories on the African continent.”

Another means of preserving the heritage is the Tiwa N’ Tiwa’s Street Art Festival. An initiative that celebrates the culture of Afro-Brazilians in a three-day annual street art and community festival.

Past celebrations took place on the streets of the Brazilian Quarter where there was tour to highlight the architectural masterpieces in the Quarter led by Dacosta in collaboration with the festival organisers.

The tour included the exploration of 12 historic sites, mosques, schools, local family homes in the quarter and the churches of which the highlight was the Cathedral Church of Christ. Other activities included a block party and interactive workshop sessions.

A real glimpse of the Brazilian Quarter of Lagos can be experienced in areas around Tinubu Square Upper Campos Square, Campos Street, Igbosere Road, Broad Street Marina Road and Campbell Street.

As more opportunities for investment arise across Africa, several nations are witnessing record growth rates

Across Africa, examples of foreign direct investment (FDI) are evident. China has taken the lead, with the continent being at the heart of its One Belt, One Road initiative. Now other countries are following suit. Brazil, for instance, built Ghana’s largest flyover in Accra. Germany, meanwhile, launched the ‘Marshall plan for Africa‘ in 2018, which will see it assist in the establishment of infrastructure that will help promote African exports.

As governments across the continent continue to take steps to liberalise and diversify their economies, Africa has become home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Consequently, opportunities to invest in the continent have become more abundant than ever before. In light of this phenomenon, World Finance lists the top five fasting-growing economies in Africa, according to the World Economic Forum

1 – Ethiopia (8.5% GDP growth rate)
Efforts to modernise Ethiopia’s economy have paid off. A wave of privatisation, with state-owned companies being sold to overseas investors in China, saw FDI growth hit 27.6 percent in 2016/17. The Ethiopian Government has also stepped up to the plate with substantial state investment to boost infrastructure and support sustainable solutions. Hoping to rival the manufacturing sectors of China and India thanks to its cheap labour costs, the country has also made efforts to improve its trading relationships and promote Ethiopian products. However, the modernisation of the economy has not been all smooth sailing: as the country moves away from its reliance on agriculture, the reforms have sparked public unrest and raised concerns about the government’s human rights record.

2 – Côte d’Ivoire (7.4% GDP growth rate)
The Ivory Coast is one of the nations that benefitted from the 50 percent African franc devaluation in 1994. This helped to control the resulting hike in inflation, while making exports more competitive. The nation also benefits from excellent infrastructure, making it attractive to foreign inflows. This is boosted further by the government stepping up a programme called the National Development Plan (NDP) for 2016-20, which is aimed at encouraging investment. Challenges remain, however: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report in 2018 that highlighted the effects of climate change on nations such as the Ivory Coast. The country has a heavy coastal population of 7.5 million, contributing to 80 percent of its GDP.  The report predicts that, on the current path, climate-induced impacts are expected to “drive the loss of coastal resources”.

3 – Senegal (7% GDP growth rate)
Senegal is one of Africa’s most stable countries, experiencing three peaceful political transitions since it gained independence from France in 1960. However, increased extremism in neighbouring countries has been a cause for concern in recent years. Senegal’s economy remains highly dependent on agriculture, accounting for 15.4 percent of GDP, though variable weather conditions can play a large part in this figure. Fortunately, the nation has a highly developed tourism industry, and with its extensive coastline, it also operates as a shipping hub – another driving force behind its high growth rates. Dakar, as the capital of the former federation of French West Africa, is home to numerous banks and institutions that serve the continent’s Francophone countries.

4 – Tanzania (6.4% GDP growth rate)
East Africa’s second-largest economy, Tanzania, is a nation in transition. But despite the country’s promising GDP growth rates, an estimated 46 percent of the population remains in poverty: many of the gains in GDP have so far been unequally shared between citizens. As with others in this list, Tanzania remains highly dependent on agriculture with no signs of this abating – in fact, between 2014 and 2015, the sector’s contribution to GDP increased by 0.2 percent. That said, the nation is also a regional leader in the financial services sector. The Bank of Tanzania allows non-banking institutions to provide financial services, a daring move that has proved to be rewarding. The country also benefits from a stable deficit that has remained modest – 2.1 percent in 2017/18 – meaning investments into the country pose less risk than others on the continent.

5 – Ghana (6.3% GDP growth rate)
Neighbour to the Ivory Coast, Ghana is the third Western African country to feature on the list. The country boasts a rich range of resources: it is Africa’s second-largest producer of gold, and has an abundant supply of diamonds and oil. To supplement trade, Ghana imposes various tariffs or barriers compared to neighbouring countries, and its depreciating currency has made the nation’s exports more competitive. Consequently, agriculture accounts for around 20 percent of GDP, while also employing half of the country’s workforce. However, in 2015, a drop in oil prices and lax government spending forced Ghana to apply for an IMF bailout of $1bn. It is on track to exit the agreement later this year.