I’ve seen beautiful photos of modern buildings in African cities, but then I also see images of people struggling on the streets. What’s the real situation? Is poverty still a serious issue?
It’s a fair question, and one we hear often. Africa is a continent of contrast. One moment, you’re looking at stunning skyscrapers in Nairobi or luxury resorts in Ghana, and thee next moment, you might see heartbreaking images of informal settlements, children selling water on the roadside, or people queuing for basic necessities.
So what’s the truth?
Yes, Poverty Is Still a Problem in Many Places
Let’s not sugarcoat it – poverty is still a huge issue in many parts of Africa. Even with all the progress we’ve seen, millions of people still struggle to meet their basic needs every single day. In rural communities, the lack of clean drinking water, proper toilets, decent roads, or nearby hospitals isn’t just inconvenient. To a very significant degree, these are life-threatening. For many children, school is either too far, too expensive, or too overcrowded to be an option. Some still walk for hours just to attend classes with no textbooks or electricity.
And let’s not forget the cities. While skylines rise and shiny buildings go up, informal settlements (what some call “slums”) continue to grow too. These are places where families live packed together in tiny rooms, often without running water or waste management. In places like Lagos, Nairobi, and Kinshasa, the wealth gap is massive. A few live in mansions with swimming pools while others hustle in the streets, selling sachet water or phone cards to survive.
Unemployment, especially among young people, is beyond a crisis in many parts of Africa. In many countries, even those with university degrees can’t find stable jobs. This leaves a lot of young people frustrated, vulnerable to crime or migration scams, or just stuck in survival mode. So yes, poverty is still real. It hasn’t magically disappeared because of development projects or foreign investments. But that’s only part of the story.
But Africa Is Not One-Dimensional
The biggest mistake outsiders make about Africa is thinking it’s all the same. One big, poor place. And honestly that couldn’t be further from the truth. Africa is made up of over 50 countries, each with its own cultures, economies, languages, and levels of development. Just as there is poverty, there is also power, progress, and pride.
Visit Nairobi and you’ll find tech companies known as “Silicon Savannah” building apps that solve real-world African problems. Go to Accra and you’ll see high-rise apartments, rooftop lounges, and boutique hotels booked out by digital nomads. In Kigali, public buses have WiFi. In Cape Town, the waterfront feels like something out of a European city.
Yes, there are still roadside vendors and open-air markets but there are also shopping malls, fast food chains, and fancy coffee shops filled with young professionals on laptops. African influencers are making waves on social media. Local startups are attracting millions in funding. Fashion designers are exporting their brands globally. There’s a growing middle class with disposable income, raising their families in modern homes and sending their kids to international schools.
Africa is rich in stories, contradictions, and momentum. The continent is alive, evolving, and full of people doing big things in difficult conditions.
What Causes Poverty in Africa Today?
There’s no single reason why poverty still exists in Africa. It’s a mixture of things ranging from history to politics to corruption at the highest levels of leadership.
Colonialism left deep scars. Many African countries were carved up by outsiders who didn’t care about local realities. Borders were drawn without consent, resources were exploited, and systems of inequality were put in place that still affect how things run today.
Then came corruption and poor leadership. In some places, money meant for schools, hospitals, or roads disappeared into private pockets. Instead of investing in people, some governments built monuments or hosted flashy conferences that changed nothing for everyday folks.
Climate change is also hitting the continent hard. Droughts, floods, and crop failures are pushing farmers deeper into poverty. And since many rural communities depend on farming, a failed season can mean no income and no food.
What’s Being Done About It?
Despite the challenges, a lot is being done – and not just by foreign aid organizations.
Across the continent, local people and communities are creating solutions for themselves. Young entrepreneurs are launching startups that provide mobile banking in rural areas or connect farmers to markets via smartphones. NGOs are building schools, drilling boreholes, and training midwives. Social media campaigns are raising money for surgeries, school fees, and village clinics.
Governments are also stepping up in some places. Countries like Rwanda and Ghana have rolled out health insurance schemes that reach even those in villages. For example, Ethiopia has invested in industrial parks to boost employment whereas Kenya has expanded access to free primary education.
There’s still a long way to go, but there are signs of progress.
Why the Outside World Still Gets It Wrong
Too often, Western media either romanticizes Africa with safari photos and luxury lodges or reduces it to begging bowls and starving children. Both are misleading. The truth is more complex and more interesting. Africa has slums and skyscrapers, hunger and high-speed internet, struggle and innovation. But these complexities rarely make headlines.
Many travelers are shocked when they arrive in African cities and find modern malls, clean streets, and buzzing nightlife. That’s because the world has been taught to look at Africa through a single, outdated lens. It’s time we change that.
Final Thoughts: Keep Asking Questions
If you’re wondering whether poverty still exists in Africa, the answer is yes. But if you stop there, you’ll miss the real story. The truth is Africa is changing. And it’s not waiting for permission to grow, rise, or reimagine itself. As we at Explore With Kojo continue to document our journeys across the continent, we invite you to look deeper to ask questions and unlearn old stereotypes.
