Africa, especially the region south of the Sahara, remains the poorest on the planet. By the end of 1993, eleven African countries were among the fifteen poorest in the world. This trend does not apply to North Africa, largely due to oil wealth.
Many people doubt whether happiness truly exists in Africa, a continent that has endured centuries of internal and external suffering—slavery, colonial aggression, wars, ethnic conflicts, and medical tragedies such as AIDS, Lassa fever, and Ebola.
Yet, despite these hardships, Africa may actually hold more happiness than any other continent. Why make such a claim without formal research? The answer is simple: although Africa is considered the poorest continent, it consistently records the lowest suicide rates compared to Europe and America.
From birth to adulthood, Africans face challenges that could be compared to the rigorous training of amateur soldiers in developed countries. Some rural students walk miles to school.
Others carry their own tables and chairs to class and back home each day. Through such routines, Africans have grown into some of the toughest people on earth, able to withstand pressure, hardship, and uncertainty.
To pursue happiness, African children and youth create their own joy. They craft footballs from local materials, build musical instruments from wood and plastic, and invent remarkable things that rarely make the news. Their creativity is a survival tool, a shield against boredom, depression, and hopelessness.
As technology spreads, even remote areas are changing. Mobile phones have transformed communication. Wells are gradually being replaced by pipe‑borne water projects. Digital and online marketing are opening new opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
Africa’s development may be slow, but the continent moves forward with confidence. Step by step, we are climbing the same mountain others have already reached, and we will get there.