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He was a man of many mysteries. Born in Brazil in the late 1800s, Nilo Peçanha rose to power as a political leader and eventually became the President of Brazil in 1910. Despite his numerous accomplishments Peçanha held one secret close to his heart. his Afro-Brazilian heritage.He was a man of many mysteries.

In the last two years, COVID-19 pandemic, left the world in utter misery. However, not all was lost because there were some bright spots. For example, Kenya conducted its election peacefully and had a smooth transition of power, a rare feat in Africa. Brazil’s by-elections, won by ex-President Lula, occurred without the anticipated violence by former President Bolsonaro’s supporters. Similarly, the USA has just concluded its mid-term election without the anticipated overwhelming victory or violence by ex-President Trump’s far-right election denialists. 

The invisible new “Cold War” is imbedded in development policies, plans and implementation. African scholars and opinion makers spend a great deal of time and energy debating, comparing, contrasting, and critiquing the Asia and Pacific development model led by China and the Western model led by the USA. The debate is healthy. But what ultimately matters are the value-added policies, programs, investment portfolios and infrastructure. A disconnected Africa cannot develop fast.

I commend the provocative proposal by Jonathan Powers and others for that a massive aid will be the solution to Africa’s problems. However, I am afraid to dispute that idea that a massive Western aid program will transform structural and institutional poverty and technological backwardness in this otherwise promising continent populated by the youngest population on the planet.