Ali Mazrui, Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, examines the paradox of Africa's immense mineral wealth and agricultural potential co-existing with some of the lowest standards of living in the world. Professor Mazrui argues that much of the problem arises from the nature of the economic change which Western colonialism imposed on Africa. African economies have been distorted to serve Western needs. Can Africa modernise without Westernising?
BBC Manchester
(Repeated: Sunday at 6.0 on Radio 3, and printed in THE LISTENER dated 29 November)