Axelle Kabou
Encyclopedia
Axelle Kabou is a Cameroon
ian journalist, author and development specialist. She studied economy and communication and has been working for development aid. Her 1991 book Et si l'Afrique refusait le developpement (And if Africa Denies Development?) is well-known and discussed. It examined an unwillingness and inability of Africans and African elites to take development of the continent into their own hands without relying on foreign aid.
Nowadays various African intellectuals such as Roger Tagri, George Ayittey
, Andrew Mwenda
, James Shikwati
and Chika Onyeani agree with her analysis, Robert Mugabe
being one of the most prominent examples of criticism. The book has been translated into German as well. It enhanced the sharp criticism of Brigitte Erler against classical German foreign aid concepts.
According to Kabou, classical development aid combined naivety and a willingness to support local rulers. The primary actors were foreigners, who assumed the victims were always black. Whitewash
, pretext and excuses served to connect foreign aid workers and local corrupt rulers in a useless common ritual.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian journalist, author and development specialist. She studied economy and communication and has been working for development aid. Her 1991 book Et si l'Afrique refusait le developpement (And if Africa Denies Development?) is well-known and discussed. It examined an unwillingness and inability of Africans and African elites to take development of the continent into their own hands without relying on foreign aid.
Nowadays various African intellectuals such as Roger Tagri, George Ayittey
George Ayittey
George Ayittey is a Ghanaian economist, author and president of the Free Africa Foundation in Washington DC. He is a professor at American University, and an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute...
, Andrew Mwenda
Andrew Mwenda
Andrew Mwenda is a Ugandan journalist,founder and owner of The Independent, Uganda's premier current affair's news magazine.. He attended Busoga College Mwiri in eastern Uganda before attending Makerere University. He was arrested and released on bail by the Ugandan government for "being in...
, James Shikwati
James Shikwati
James Shikwati is a Kenyan libertarian economist and Director of the Inter Region Economic Network who promotes freedom of trade as the driving solution to poverty in Africa...
and Chika Onyeani agree with her analysis, Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
being one of the most prominent examples of criticism. The book has been translated into German as well. It enhanced the sharp criticism of Brigitte Erler against classical German foreign aid concepts.
According to Kabou, classical development aid combined naivety and a willingness to support local rulers. The primary actors were foreigners, who assumed the victims were always black. Whitewash
Whitewash (censorship)
To whitewash is a metaphor meaning to gloss over or cover up vices, crimes or scandals or to exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data. It is especially used in the context of corporations, governments or other organizations.- Etymology :Its first...
, pretext and excuses served to connect foreign aid workers and local corrupt rulers in a useless common ritual.