The Ghost of Youth Political Activism Haunts Africa

Strategic Insights -

In Africa, the continent's youth have historically played a vital role in shaping the political landscape, with notable examples such as Kwame Nkrumah's use of the Varenda Boys to fight for Ghana's independence and the ANC's mobilization of student movements to defeat apartheid in South Africa. However, this activism has seen a decline in the post-independence era, coinciding with the rise of the Washington Consensus, a market economy ideology that perpetuated social and economic exploitation. The current wave of youth-led protests in countries such as Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda is a testament to the re-emergence of youth activism, but what drives this renewed participation in politics?

Key Takeaways:

  • Africa's youth have played a significant role in shaping the continent's political landscape, with notable examples such as Kwame Nkrumah's Varenda Boys and the ANC's student movements in South Africa.
  • The post-independence era saw a decline in youth activism, coinciding with the rise of the Washington Consensus and the perpetuation of social and economic exploitation.
  • The current wave of youth-led protests in countries such as Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda is driven by widespread disinterest in politics, election outcomes, official corruption, and misgovernance.
  • Despite being a demographic majority in almost every African country, the youth are often discriminated against based on age and gender in decision-making structures, leading to frustration and unrest.
  • The inability of the ruling classes to fashion out realistic policies to provide labour markets with the ability to absorb the teeming youth lies at the heart of the incipient insecurity, urban social unrest, and political instability.
  • Africa's youth population is expected to reach 28% of the world population aged between 15 and 29 years by 2025, with Nigeria's youth population alone representing about 60% of the country's total population.
  • The youth-dominated protests in Africa's cities are a manifestation of their frustration with the lack of job opportunities, widespread corruption, and inadequate governance.

Statistics:

  • 40% of Africa's population is under 15 years old, while nearly 70% is under 30 years old (World Bank estimates).
  • 75% of some African countries' population is under 30 years old, with a large share of the 15-29-year-olds persisting for decades to come.
  • Africa's share of the world population aged between 15 and 29 years may reach 28% by 2025 (World Bank estimates).
  • 60% of Nigeria's population is made up of the youth, with about 40% of the population being under 15 years old.

Sources:

  • Ghana Web, "A ghost is haunting Africa, and it is the ghost of youth political activism in the continent's political space" (July 19, 2024)
  • Acheampong Yaw Amoateng, "Youth in Post-Apartheid South Africa: A Sociological Perspective" (Routledge, United Kingdom, 2024)
  • World Bank, "Africa's Youth Population: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities" (report)
  • Other sources mentioned in the original article