The Rift audiobook cover - A New Africa Breaks Free

The Rift

A New Africa Breaks Free

Alex Perry

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The Rift
Western Misconceptions & Failures+
Agricultural Revolution+
Urban Transformation+
Innovative Leadership+
Technological Leapfrogging+
Actionable Advice+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to the text, why did the United States deliberately block humanitarian aid to southern Somalia during the 2011 famine?
  • A. The US lacked the financial resources to contribute to the UN's emergency fund.
  • B. The US was concerned that aid money would be intercepted by Al-Shabab, an enemy in the war on terror.
  • C. The Somali government officially refused all Western assistance out of national pride.
  • D. The US believed that providing aid would disrupt Somalia's emerging agricultural markets.
Question 2 of 8
What does the example of George Clooney’s involvement in Sudan illustrate about Western humanitarian efforts?
  • A. Western celebrities are better equipped to negotiate peace treaties than local politicians.
  • B. Financial investments in satellite technology are the only way to stop civil wars.
  • C. Well-intentioned Western efforts cannot impose lasting peace; true resolution must come from within Africa.
  • D. Western humanitarians should focus exclusively on funding rebel groups to overthrow corrupt governments.
Question 3 of 8
How did Eleni Gabre-Madhin’s creation of the Ethiopian Commodities Exchange help transition Ethiopian farmers toward mass-production agriculture?
  • A. By providing farmers with genetically modified seeds that were resistant to drought.
  • B. By buying all the farmland and turning it into a single, state-run agricultural corporation.
  • C. By importing highly subsidized fertilizers from China to increase crop yields.
  • D. By establishing fair crop prices and distributing this information via mobile phones so farmers could predict incomes.
Question 4 of 8
Which of the following was a key factor in transforming the slums of Lagos into a more functional, orderly city under Governor Babatunde Fashola?
  • A. Granting residents property rights, which drastically reduced crime and created new taxpayers.
  • B. Demolishing the slums entirely and relocating the residents to rural farming communities.
  • C. Banning all informal street vendors to force citizens into formal government jobs.
  • D. Replacing all local police forces with private Western security contractors.
Question 5 of 8
What innovative technology is North Nigerian leader Lamido Sanusi promoting to combat corruption and secure monetary transactions?
  • A. A national cryptocurrency designed to bypass traditional banking fees.
  • B. A biometric system that allows Nigerians to use their fingerprints to make cash withdrawals and purchases.
  • C. A satellite tracking system to monitor the private flights of government officials.
  • D. A blockchain-based voting system to ensure fair local elections.
Question 6 of 8
Why did Kenya's text-based mobile money transfer system, introduced by Safaricom, become so popular among the poor?
  • A. It was the only legal way to pay government taxes and utility bills.
  • B. Western banks offered high interest rates to anyone who signed up for the service.
  • C. It allowed people who were denied traditional bank accounts to safely transfer money and build savings.
  • D. The Kenyan government provided free smartphones to all citizens who used the platform.
Question 7 of 8
According to the text, how does the lack of electricity act as a 'poverty trap' in rural African villages like Kokete?
  • A. It forces villages to spend all their income importing expensive fossil fuels from neighboring countries.
  • B. It prevents children from studying at night and forces adults to waste hours traveling just to charge their phones.
  • C. It stops local businesses from being able to process credit card payments from tourists.
  • D. It prevents farmers from operating the heavy machinery required for mass-production agriculture.
Question 8 of 8
What actionable advice does the author give regarding Western investment in Africa?
  • A. Invest primarily in emergency food and water aid to address immediate crises.
  • B. Invest exclusively in large Western corporations that are extracting natural resources.
  • C. Invest in projects that help Africans become autonomous, such as solar power initiatives, rather than creating dependency.
  • D. Stop all financial investments in Africa until all political corruption has been eradicated.

The Rift — Full Chapter Overview

The Rift Summary & Overview

The Rift (2015) is a revealing look at Africa’s emergence as a continent no longer defined by poverty, war, corruption and dependence on the West. Find out how modern farming methods, solar and mobile technologies and new leadership are creating a brighter future for Africa.

Who Should Listen to The Rift?

  • Investors looking for new opportunities in Africa
  • Those dubious of the idea that Africa is only about war and famine

About the Author: Alex Perry

Alex Perry, a reporter for Time and Newsweek, has traveled extensively in Africa and Asia for the past 15 years. He shares his specialized knowledge about lesser-known parts of the world in his books, which include Falling Off the Edge and Lifeblood.

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