Business
Africa’s new entreprenuers – the “Cheetah Generation”
Fewer conflicts, democratic elections and economic growth are helping Africa progress. Benefiting from reforms and an ever improving environment, are African entrepreneurs who have struggled to launch businesses and maintain them amidst the current economic climate both in their countries and the world at large.
African elites may be classified into two groups: The Hippo and the Cheetah generations.
1. The Hippos are of old 1960s era and mentality — stodgy, pudgy, and wedded to the old “colonialism-imperialism” paradigm with an abiding faith in the potency of the state.
2. The Cheetahs are the new and angry generation of African graduates and professionals, who look at African issues and problems from a totally different perspective.
They are dynamic, intellectually agile, and pragmatic. They may be called the “restless generation” but are Africa’s new hope.
The Cheetahs are not so intellectually astigmatized. Whereas the Hippos constantly see problems, the Cheetahs see business opportunities. They do not wait for governments or foreign donors. The cheetah generation has no qualms about getting their hands “dirty.” They recognize that solving the problems of the poor can make money, and there is nothing immoral about that. After all, that is how the wealthy in the Western countries made their money: By creating a product or service, that addresses the needs or problems of the people. Bill Gates, for example, made billions in fortune by creating Microsoft. computer software.
