Hi reader! Welcome to my substack.
The purpose of this newsletter is simple: to investigate one of the oldest questions in economics and politics — why are some countries rich and others poor?
When people debate these topics they’ll usually say its a mix of geography, institutions, economic openness, industrial policy, culture, societal trust, IQ, state capacity, political economy dynamics, and luck.
I think all these factors are relevant and I try to incorporate all these factors when I write.
What do I focus on?
My focus is on Africa, not because it’s the only region where the question matters, but because it’s where I have roots. My family is from Ghana, I’ve worked on the continent, and most of my closest friends are African. I’ve traveled, read, debated, and I’ve been consistently unimpressed with the shallow takes I found online. Too often, I found that what passes for “analysis” on Africa was shallow, ahistorical, or missing the wider connections. So, I started writing.
You may not agree with some or even most of what I write, but you will find it informative.
What you’ll find here
I trace each African country’s economic and political history from pre-colonialism to modern day. I also tie it to global patterns — colonialism, trade, finance, industrial policy, and geopolitics. My series have covered:
Nigeria — from Benin and Oyo to British conquest.
Sudan — a country divided before it was even independent.
Rwanda & Congo — Kagame’s legacy and regional conflicts.
Tunisia & Uganda — IMF programs, oil delays, and political shifts.
Each piece looks at the structural forces — geography, institutions, elites, trade networks, wars, and shocks — that shaped outcomes. I draw from historians, economists, and political scientists, but always with a storyteller’s lens.
If you’ve ever wondered why Lagos fell to Britain, why Uganda’s oil is still untapped, why Rwanda’s brand is different from Congo’s chaos, or how China, the IMF, and commodity traders all intersect with Africa — that’s what I cover.
In addition, I also cover other topics and countries I find fascinating. I’ve also written on U.S. Politics, the Russian financial crisis in the late 90s, India’s reforms in 1991, and more.
Why subscribe?
I bring a hybrid perspective:
A family and work history rooted in Africa.
A master’s degree in business from MIT, focused on finance, data science and economics.
Practical exposure to trade, finance, and development challenges.
I care about truth over ideology, the long term over hype, and clarity over jargon.
How I am different
I’m not here to romanticize, moralize, or catastrophize. I’m here to analyze.
Not a typical “Pan Africanist, Anti-Imperialist” — I don’t see every story through “exploitation vs. resistance.” I take Marx seriously as one of many thinkers, but I don’t treat class struggle or imperialism as the sole explanation for Africa’s trajectory.
Not Global South solidarity talk — I’m not trying to weave Africa into a romantic “Third World unity” narrative. I look at structures and incentives within each country, and how they interact with global markets. Ghana’s issues are not the same as Tunisia’s, and neither are the same as Vietnam’s.
Not Afro-pessimism or doomerism — I don’t write “Africa is doomed” takes, nor do I assume every IMF program or foreign deal is evil. I highlight what works (e.g., Rwanda’s tax capacity, Botswana’s diamond management, Ethiopia’s industrial parks) alongside what fails.
Not ideology-first — I’m not out to prove capitalism is evil or socialism is salvation. I’m pragmatic: does this policy grow jobs? Does this institution reduce corruption? Does this trade deal deliver real income? That’s what matters.
A bridge between Africa and global econ — Most Africa-focused writing is either highly ideological, very local, or NGO-speak. I show how Africa’s debates fit inside the same frameworks as Europe’s fertility math, China’s IP battles, or Latin America’s debt cycles.
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