On the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit at Strathmore University, François Picard is pleased to welcome celebrated historian and political theorist Achille Mbembe. He offers deep insight into a continent in the midst of profound psychological, sociopolitical and economic transformation. Author of The Earthly Community and one of Africa’s leading voices on postcolonial sovereignty, Mr. Mbembe argues that while institutional change is slow-moving, a seismic change is underway: “What has ended is the rule of gerontocracy, It has ended in the minds of the people. That is what matters.”
Mbembe is spot on. Seeing young activists in Kenya and across Africa challenging old-guard politicians gives me hope that the gerontocracy’s grip is finally loosening.
Manufacturing output is being reshaped by both automation and trade realignment. (2f254e)
Interesting take from Achille Mbembe, but institutional change is what actually matters. Minds may shift, but until the old men step down from power, nothing really changes.
Currency fluctuations are adding another layer of complexity for multinationals. (c70341)
Supply chain resilience is the buzzword everyone is using but nobody has solved. (caaa29)
François Picard hosting this at Strathmore University—fitting. We need more spaces like the Africa Forward Summit to amplify voices like Mbembe’s.
As someone who read ‘The Earthly Community’, Mbembe’s argument resonates. The psychological decolonization he describes is real, and it’s about time our leaders reflect that.
Bond markets are sending signals that equity investors might be ignoring. (ef2ee0)
The transition to electric vehicles is reshaping the entire automotive supply chain. (10ffbb)
Tourism-dependent economies are diversifying after the pandemic shock. (ccce2f)
Energy transition investments are creating entirely new market segments. (4a300d)
Retail foot traffic is declining but experiential stores are bucking the trend. (896392)