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Is Africa the land of the future? It is not a given!

Olugbenga Adesida (Strategy Consultant and Adviser to the Government of Cape Verde and Associate Director of the African Leadership Institute, Ottershaw, UK)
Geci Karuri‐Sebina (Director of the South Africa Node of the Millennium Project, Pretoria, South Africa)

Foresight

ISSN: 1463-6689

Article publication date: 31 May 2011

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Abstract

Purpose

This editorial aims to summarize the outcome of the Special Issue exploration on the theme “Is Africa the land of the future?”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper contextualises and synthesizes the set of Africa‐themed foresight papers included in the journal issue.

Findings

The exploration concludes that Africa faces a range of internal and external opportunities and challenges. These are historical, geopolitical, economic, demographic, psychological, and intellectual. Key drivers and analyses identified by seven authors are briefly presented.

Research limitations/implications

The restricted number of papers that could be included in the single issue required a narrow selection from a large set of good papers and subject coverage. The issue and editorial therefore only address a few of the key drivers, in addition to some broad, foundational issues.

Practical implications

Neither mere optimism nor pessimism will determine Africa's ultimate trajectory. Concerted ownership, foresight and collective action by Africa's leaders and followers are the key to positive futures for the continent.

Originality/value

The Special Issue is a unique contemporary African foresight contribution, which aims to provide a deeper understanding of the emerging challenges and opportunities for the continent.

Keywords

Citation

Adesida, O. and Karuri‐Sebina, G. (2011), "Is Africa the land of the future? It is not a given!", Foresight, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 3-6. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636681111138721

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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