Afrilition: Shaping Africa's Bright Future

The world is asking important new questions that Africa must answer. This is key for Africa to enjoy the benefits of the coming decades. A big part of this is decolonisation. We need to understand what Africa can achieve without the corrupting influences that hold back its potential. Afrilition looks into these possibilities, pointing out the keys to this new world. It is time to stop being a second-hand version of colonial leftovers.

In writing Afrilition, I had to confront the colonial mindset I grew up with. A structured framework shaped my understanding that we cannot modernise without Western influence. The idea of certification is to agree with this mindset and get validated by it. Many people have accepted this model and the Afropessimism it brings. Their views on everything, even their cultural traditions, have gone through colonial validation before they even start a conversation.

I worry about nations linked to my background. They have already been influenced by Western culture since birth. So, where will they find the mission for African growth? My work has faced many challenges. How I succeed, even a little, will depend on how the next two generations understand and tackle their challenges more authentically.

The future of humanity depends on how boldly Africa embraces its future with honesty and love. Today's Africa, along with its Diaspora, is home to 1.5 billion people. This is slightly more than the population of China or India, but it has a landmass that covers both countries, the US, and large parts of Europe. Right now, it is underpopulated. It also has the highest dependency ratio of all continents, with many people under the age of 15.

In the early 1980s, when Africa was at its most dependent, for every 100 working people, there were 93 dependents. This was a time for investing in the care and growth of the incoming population. Sadly, this was when the IMF and other Western-dominated institutions pushed the harsh Structural Adjustment Programme. This led to cuts in areas like education and social care, which were no longer government priorities. This was also when many state-owned assets were sold off to private companies as part of a fire sale.

Now, with the highest number of young people ever seen, the values instilled today will be crucial for tomorrow. By the 2070s, the dependency ratio in Africa is expected to be about 54 percent. This will balance the worker-dependent ratio, benefiting not just Africa but the world.

To put it simply, we have cut back on investing in our future across the continent. In 2026, the African dependency ratio will still be high at 78 percent, meaning 78 dependents for every 100 workers. This leads to poverty, as the job market struggles to support family responsibilities, especially for the young.

The ideal balance that helped the Asian Tigers in the 1970s and 1990s, and China from the 1990s to 2010, is a 40-45 percent dependency ratio. This means 45 dependents for every 100 workers. This balance greatly affects savings, investments, risk-taking, and gives women more chances to work and create businesses instead of just caring for children. The economic impact of this demographic situation is huge. The global average for the dependency ratio in 2026 is 54 percent, while Africa has the highest.

Using medium population growth estimates for the 2070s, Africa’s population could reach at least 3.8 billion, not counting those in the Diaspora. This number would be 40 percent of the world's total population. Unlike China and the Asian Tigers, whose growth matched global trends, Africa’s population is growing even as the rest of the world slows down. Africa will be the engine of humanity's growth. It will house 30 percent of the world's under-28s, bringing new ideas and creativity to the future.

The new world needs originality and problem-solving. It is a world that does not confuse certification with real excellence. It should not be stuck in titles from education but should be bold enough to explore solutions that promote human connections instead of material obsessions and false scarcity. These are the ideas that Afrilition explores and the hopes it will inspire so that tomorrow is shaped by clear African intentions.