The Young People Of Africa

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30478, 27 June 1964, Page 4

The Young People Of Africa

Young Africa. By Peter Larsen. Edited by Egon Larsen. Phoenix House. 148 pp.

In recent years there have been many essays and books on the young nations of Africa, and their struggle towards political maturity. This book is concerned instead with the young people of Africa as individuals, and it is a salutary change to be reminded of the immense peasant populations on whose behalf governments must fight sickness, illiteracy and ignorance. Peter Larsen is a widely-travelled photographer, who has worked for “Drum” magazine in Kenya, and this work is the result of a journey that took 10 months, across 15 countries of tropical Africa. Starting from the patterns of marriage, he goes op to describe child care and disease, witchcraft and education, the- changing pattern of village life, and the attractions of the city. His style is vigorous and concise, and his own experience and observation are backed by quotation from many authorities. Also there are many excellent photographs. The facts are often startling. “. . . It appears that all over Africa about half the children die before they reach the age of 10”; “Throughout Sierra Leone the infant mortality rate is 65 per cent” Doctors are few, so that medicine-men still flourish. In Ghana, where there is one doctor to every 30,000 people, the traditional methods are studied officially.

|in the hope that successful practioners, being registered and united in the “Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healers’ Association,” will drive the dangerous charlatans out of business. Many of the difficulties must be blamed bn the colonial powers, who geared the economies to the metropolitan country, and encouraged cash crops, such as cocoa,. rather than heavy industry. Also, communications within the continent are scanty and poor; until recently a telephone call between Nigeria and neighbouring Dahomey had to .be routed through London and Paris. But the worst drain on African manpower and hindrance to development comes from the great killer plagues, chiefly leprosy, malaria and sleep-ing-sickness, which have only recently been brought under some measure of control. The work is largely carried out by the World' Health Organisation and U.N.1.C.E.F., which sometimes have to fight against ’ culpable apathy on the part of the local governments. Africa needs teachers no less than doctors, perhaps more. What literacy there is, is mainly due to the missionaries, and in some countries they still provide four out of every five primary teachers. Many volunteers come from overseas, such as Peace Corps Volunteers. Mr Larsen met one woman who started by teaching home economics, French and art, and then found herself taking classes in chemistry, physics, bio- &

logy and hygiene as well. Since there Were hardly any books, after much trouble she got a shipment of 20 tons, brought by the United States Navy, Naturally, one so versatile is always asked to.be a judge at the local beauty contests!

.Teachers are needed also in agricultural centres and workshops, to help in establishing industry and in developing new farming methods. Most of the independent African countries believe they should first build up purchasing power by improving the farming by which the majority of their people live, and then there will be a market for light industries producing consumer goods, which in turn will lead to heavy Industry.

Mr Larsen draws no morals, and makes very few suggestions for the future, ft is sincerely to be hoped that this book will be out of date in 10 years' time or so. Meanwhile, it should be read by everyone who wants to follow the development of the African continent with real understanding.

“There is a vernacular expression which I will paraphrase in a form more suitable for this House—l am not concerned with your predicament, Jack, as my personal circumstances are eminently satisfactory."—The Lord Chancellor (Lord Dilhorne), reported by “The Times,” in a House of Lords debate. t*J