China has overtaken the U.S. as the foreign power seen as having the biggest positive influence on young people in Africa, according to a study.
According to a survey conducted by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, 76% of 4,507 young Africans in 15 countries have named China as a foreign power with positive influence on their lives, compared to 72% for the U.S.
In 2020, when the inaugural study of 18 to 24 year-olds was conducted, 83% of respondents saw the influence of the U.S. as positive while the figure for China was 79%.
The results are further evidence that China is winning the battle against geopolitical rivals such as the US and the European Union for the hearts and minds of Africans.
Beijing has ploughed money into African infrastructure over the past two decades and supplies the continent with affordable consumer goods ranging from mobile phones and solar panels to shovels and plastics.
“We see China having climbed to pole position, we see a recognition of the fact that China is engaging in Africa at a time when very few others are,” Ivor Ichikowitz, chairman of the foundation, said in an interview in Johannesburg.
“In Africa, America has played a very very limited role, its actually played an embarrassingly insignificant role in terms of actual investment, actual trade, actual building of infrastructure.”
Dominant Player
In addition to its vast mineral and energy resources, Africa has the world’s most youthful population and is seen as a potential market for the future by countries ranging from France to India. In terms of perceived positive influence, the US has now slipped behind the UK and European Union as well.
“There is no question that China is the dominant player in Africa today,” Ichikowitz said. “Overall we are seeing a much more positive approach to China, that’s going to drive a lot more engagement with China.”
Positive sentiment toward China was strongest in Rwanda, Malawi and Nigeria. The survey, which involves lengthy face-to-face interviews, will be run annually. About 42% of the world’s youth are expected to be African by 2030.
Still, China’s influence is not seen as universally positive. Of those surveyed 56% said they believed the unverified conspiracy theory that Covid-19 was developed and intentionally spread by the Chinese government.
The survey also showed that young Africans have lost faith in their own governments, and are increasingly concerned about climate change and discrimination against women and ethnic minorities.
Key Findings of the survey:
- 32% of young Africans said they were excited and optimistic about the future of their countries compared with 43% in the 2020 survey. Angolans, Zambians and Malawians were the most pessimistic of their countries while Nigerians had the dimmest view of the continent’s future.
39% said they wouldn’t take a Covid-19 vaccine even if it was easily available. - The top priority for those surveyed was job creation.
- 72% of youth said they are concerned about climate change, citing worries ranging from droughts to increased pollution.
- More than half of those surveyed said they planned to emigrate in the next few years.
Ichikowitz founded the foundation and also heads Paramount Group Ltd., a South Africa-based defense and aerospace business.
These are surveys done to enforce imperialistic motives and create slave mindsets. Why survey which master a slave prefers? So that he can hope over the fence into Mr Jones’ farm? Or Because you want to maintain the slave mentality. Why not survey if Africa itself has a positive influence on Africans? That way its leadership can focus on how to exploit their own resources more efficiently.
“In addition to its vast mineral and energy resources, Africa has the world’s most youthful population and is seen as a potential market for the future by countries ranging from France to India.”
This thinking prevailed in 15th century Europe and thus led to the initiation of the slave triangle. It has been panel beaten and a politically correct phrasing has been manufactured for the same culture to prevail
And some clown decided to sideline China after winning a questionable election last year. Now he is trying to win back the Chinese after the west played him
Chinese have just come out from their communist ideology and embraced ( capitalism) with a dash of world mixed economy ideology. In pushing their new found ideology, having gone out to the world dangling their wealth, they find themselves at a trajectory where they have to become racist an element attached with capitalism. So, today Chinese doing businesses in the world and in particular Africa have had to practice racism by subjecting citizens in countries they do business elements of racism. The current video insulting to citizens in Malawi that has gone viral on line worldwide is typical example. Chinese are racist.
Now go and carry out the same survey in China, see what they think of Africans..they are brainwashing our kids for sure!!
^^^^^ yet the above monkey sees nothing wrong with the imperialist who are keeping him there abroad, and raped your great grandmother’s during slavery. Fuseke
yet the above m0nkey sees nothing wrong with the imperiaIist who are keeping him there abroad, and r.a.p.e.d your great grandmother’s during slavery. Fuseke
LT include my earlier post Dont confuse things
How do you moderate my earlier comment and allow my latter one? You’re so Donald Trumpish
survey with totals more than 100%
Comment Moderated repost
These are surveys done to enforce imperialistic motives and create slave mindsets. Why survey which master a slave prefers? So that he can hope over the fence into Mr Jones’ farm? Or Because you want to maintain the slave mentality. Why not survey if Africa itself has a positive influence on Africans? That way its leadership can focus on how to exploit their own resources more efficiently.
Chinese regard Africans more like monkeys with low IQ…………..
Atleast in the west, a black man can be president or minister……………