This study challenges the prevailing pessimistic view concerning Africa's future performance. It argues that the current situation can be reversed by attacking the root causes of poverty provided these have been properly understood.

Two major schools of thought on the causes of African poverty are discussed. The first holds slave trade, colonialism, and neo-colonialism responsible. The second argues that Africa's poverty would have been inevitable even if the continent had been spared these historical processes. Both schools have a contribution to make towards explaining Africa's poverty.

However, this study holds that the cause lies partly, but significantly in the neglect of its indigenous knowledge, traditional practices and local institutions, brought about either by external factors or set in motion by indigenous forces. Ethiopia - a country that has largely been spared the colonial experience - is taken as an example of the latter case.

Ethiopia's dismal economic performance can be explained by its first choice of unbridled Westernization, which was followed by an ill-bred socialist transformation. Both these choices failed because they ignored Ethiopia's traditional resources. As an alternative option, this study suggests their participatory processes in which all actors could become partners utilizing their indigenous resources to radically attack poverty.

To this end, the study proposes mechanisms through which the efforts of ordinary people and governments could be combined.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tirfe Mammo was born in Ethiopia, and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Uppsala, Sweden, where he now teaches development studies.

CATEGORY
Development Studies/AFRICA