E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (EHASS) - ISSN 2720-7722

Africa, along with other continents, was expected to transform from its historical role as a provider of raw materials for colonial powers scrambling for survival after the Second World War. Specifically, Africa’s rich natural resources have fuelled the industrialization of Europe and the West, yet the continent remains impoverished and one of the most underdeveloped in the global system. The continent’s inability to harness its resources for sustainable development is multifaceted. Contributing factors include the despotic influence of colonial powers in resource management, the corrupt activities of successive African leaders’ post-colonialism, the flawed political structures inherited from colonial governments, and frequent military interventions in African politics. Research on Africa’s persistent poverty, despite its abundant resources, often attributes this condition to the legacy of colonialism and the actions of successive African governments, both military and civilian.

Africa’s negative experience under colonialism has significantly slowed its economic development. Relative to plausible counterfactual scenarios, Africa is poorer today than it might have been without the impact of colonialism. The colonial imperialists left behind a vastly altered landscape, and, although there are exceptions, most African countries are among the poorest in the world today. Post-independence, Africa did not fare much better in the absence of colonial rule. In many cases, economic decline post-independence can be traced directly to colonialism, as the mechanisms driving this decline were established during the colonial era. Successive African governments often followed colonial administrative patterns, causing more harm than good to the continent. Today, Africa faces a multitude of challenges, including corruption, poor service delivery, the resource curse, land grabbing, governance crises, military incursions, electoral malpractices, leadership issues, violence, climate change, lawlessness, mediocrity, ethnic identity conflicts, and xenophobia, among other pressing issues.

Africa’s challenges are diverse and vary widely across different countries and regions. While African governments, regional organizations, and international partners have made efforts to address these issues, there is a crucial need for well-researched perspectives to inform these efforts.

This current Special Issue of the E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (EHASS) addresses critical African issues, including agriculture, commerce, the fourth industrial revolution within the context of curriculum digitalization, food security, human capital and pedagogy post-COVID-19 pandemic, juvenile delinquency, climate change and environmental sustainability, diaspora remittances, and marginalized communities. Africa must awaken from its slumber and re-strategize towards sustainable development. EHASS provides a platform for publishing multidisciplinary research that can furnish African leaders with the information needed to propel the continent from its current state of underdevelopment to a more desirable level of growth. It is hoped that the findings from this current issue will significantly contribute to Africa’s transformation.