The responses above are all good and reasonable, debt-free with an infrastructure that enables rather than hinders, a place where people want to visit not only for slum tourism or safaris, etc.

I’d add war-free, socially just, and a net exporter of food and high-end processed goods (rather than just raw materials).

Won’t be at all easy, though. Economic reforms in China began in the late 70s, but today 135 million still live under $1 USD a day, down from about 60%. And I don’t think anyone would describe China as “fun”, just yet. That said, remember when people laughed at anything “Made in China”?

My favourite response was the last one, “… anarchic, bohemian, and fun … as forms of self-expression.” You know exactly what he means. It’s an attitude and way of being that probably says more about Africa than anything physical. There’s no danger of it being entirely lost amid any economic “makeovers”, but it would be great to feel this blossom everywhere, and not just "between" everything else. Just imagine a time when it becomes normal to read about the vibe of creative liberty, bohemianism and sense of fun enjoyed not just by an elite minority, and without caveats like “in spite of widespread poverty”.

2060. 50 years from now. Doable, do you think? What would you add to the list?

Here’s looking forward to the day no country on the continent will need PR because the facts speak loudly for themselves.


Vid is an excerpt from This Is MY Africa, an award-winning documentary by Zina Saro-Wiwa

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