Courting Africa : Asian Powers and the New Scramble for the Continent

The Zambakari Advisory is pleased to publish its Summer 2020 Special Issue: “Courting Africa: Asian Powers and the New Scramble for the Continent.” To produce a quality perspective and shine a nuanced light on this “scramble,” we invited prominent scholars to think about Africa’s relationship with one of its biggest trading partners in Asia. We asked scholars, researchers, policymakers, advocates and business leaders to consider the growing relationship between Africa and Asian powers and to assess and qualify the rise of Asia’s involvement and the implications for Africa. This collection features eight original articles contributed by such respected voices as Celine Sui, Matthew Edwards, Lina Benabdallah, Ibrahim Sakawa Magara, Hubert Kinkoh, Daniel N. Mlambo, Victor H. Mlambo, Stephen Blank, Akok Manyuat Madut and Prakash Paudel. The rise of Asian powers raises questions of historic significance for Africa and the world. Can the reemerging Asia-centered ascension provide solutions to the problems left behind by European and American hegemony? What does the rise of Asian powers mean for emerging African countries? What are the prospects, challenges and lessons of Asia’s ascension for Africa? How can African countries benefit from the growing social, political, cultural and economic ties with Asian powers? How can Asian powers benefit from social, political and economic collaboration, partnerships and investments into African economies?