Africa is not waiting to be saved. Africa is already rising, through generosity, innovation, and shared humanity. That conviction runs through every article in this series, and it is worth stating plainly at the outset, because so much of what these writers examine is the opposite: a long history of narratives that positioned Africa as a problem to be solved, a crisis to be managed, a continent defined by what it lacks rather than what it holds.

This edition brings together six writers to examine the evolution of narratives about Africa in the global development sector. The series spans from the colonial roots of those narratives to the movements that are actively dismantling them. It is a body of work that is, at once, an act of excavation and an act of reclamation.

Reuben Aubee asks a more fundamental question: who holds power in shaping development itself? The article traces the evolution of ethics and accountability in international development from the post-independence period to today, showing how political sovereignty often gave way to economic dependency. In this system, African states became accountable not only to their citizens, but also to external donors, a tension that continues to shape development practice.

Download Full Article Series Here

To download using link click ‘File’>'Download’