The present era offers unprecedented opportunities for those born in Africa. Since 1960, the continent has seen life expectancy surge by over half, rising from 41 years to 64. Child mortality rates have plummeted, with the proportion of children dying before their fifth birthday dropping by three-quarters. University attendance among African youth has increased ninefold since 1970. African culture has also gained global recognition, with authors from the continent securing prestigious awards such as the Booker Prize, Prix Goncourt, and the Nobel Prize for Literature in the 2020s. Additionally, this year marks the first G20 summit hosted in Africa, specifically in South Africa—a testament to the continent’s growing prominence.
Never before in human history have so many people been born African. The population across Africa’s 54 nations has doubled in the last 30 years, reaching 1.5 billion, and the UN projects it will double again by 2070. This population boom is already shaping the region’s dynamics. Political parties rooted in 20th-century independence struggles are losing traction among younger, more educated, and digitally savvy Africans. Over the past decade, nearly 30 incumbent leaders have been defeated in general elections.
