If civilization started in Africa, why is it in the worse condition?

Question

I was wondering why Africa has always remained in a primitive state.

Answer 1

Many people would consider that a very racist question.  Why do you think civilization is "worse" in Africa?  And not everyone there is "primitive".  They have some cities down there too.  And even where they don't, it's just a different way of life.

Answer 2

What does it mean to be "primitive?"  

Some would argue that problems such as poverty in Africa are not natural at all, but are caused by Africa's relationship to the world.  Almost all of Africa was owned by colonial powers in Europe, and was only decolonized in the 20th century.  The process of colonization and decolonization destroyed previous ways of life and created destructive global power dynamics that continue to exist in the present day.  Another argument, in the same line of thought, is that Africa is poor because we (the developed/"civilized" world) need it to be, in order to get raw goods and labor to produce our things.  We limit the Third World's ability to be successful and self-sustainable through policies such as international debt regimes, free trade, and external attempts at "development" that benefit the global marketplace far more than poor people in poor countries.

Disturbing to think about, but it's also true.  The difference between "civilized" and "primitive" is not something that really exists.  It depends on which side of the fence you are standing.  Poverty exists, hunger exists, disease exists, suffering exists - but "civilized" and "primitive" are social constructions.

Answer 3

I wouldn't necessarily say it was primitive. A lot has to do with the climate, being on the equator you get a lot of heat and very little rain so famine is common as you can't grow crops.

Also have to consider the effects of colonialism and post-colonialism.

Of course what you have to remember is that saying civilisation started in Africa is a little misleading. The human race began in Africa but spread out across the rest of the world. It was long after these migrations that the great civilisations began to form.

Answer 4

It has to be the people that live there. That is not a PC answer like most the others give.In  the real world it is what it is.