Over the past six decades, six of the world’s ten fastest-growing countries were African.  Optimism about Africa needs to be taken in fairly small doses though, for things are still exceedingly bleak in much of the continent. While most Africans live on less than two dollars a day, a fast-growing middle class (around 60 million Africans) have an income of $3,000 a year.  Economist.com has recently done an article about the how’s and why’s of the economic boom (see article here), with reasons varying from commodities, favorable demographics, manufacturing, and their new enthusiasm for technology.  And while Africa still needs deep reform, its progress is a positive reminder of the transformative power of growth, hope, and human will.

“Until the day when God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words: Wait and Hope.”

– Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo (1845), Chapter 117

Here’s to hoping,
Krista