The Paradox of Africa's Poverty: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge, Traditional Practices and Local Institutions--the Case of Ethiopia

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 of Africa's poverty partly, but significantly, lies in the neglect of its indigenous knowledge, traditional practices and local institutions, brought about either by external factors or set in motion by endogenous forces. Ethiopia- a country that has largely been spared the colonial experience - is taken as an example of the latter case. The country's dismal economic performance is explained by its first preferring, an unbridled Westernization and, then, an equally ill-bred socialist transformation neglecting its own traditional resources.

As an alternative option, this study suggests participatory processes in which all actors could become partners utilizing their indigenous resources to attack poverty radically. To this end, the study proposes mechanisms through which the efforts of ordinary people and governments could be combined.