There have been multiple successful countries, empires, and kingdoms all over Africa. Specific places that geographically disastrous have had none (Sub-Sahara), but the continent doesn't have the same people or geography for all parts of it.
They have people, they have natural resources
This is almost, by definition, a curse rather than a benefit. Significant natural resource wealth seems to actually stunt innovation, which leads to the cultures occupying these lands to remain under-developed compared to other societies. Bonus negative points if they are landlocked with few navigable waterways.
the last time Africa was a world leader at anything was ancient Egypt.
That's a silly way to describe success. "No no. Japanese aren't particularly intelligent or successful because they've never been a world leader at any time in their history."
North Africa and the Horn of Africa have been very successful over the millennia. More than anything, the two greatest disasters to befall Africa and reverse all civilizational progress and development were a) Islam, and b) Post Colonials Leftist movements.
There have been multiple successful countries, empires, and kingdoms all over Africa. Specific places that geographically disastrous have had none (Sub-Sahara), but the continent doesn't have the same people or geography for all parts of it.
This is almost, by definition, a curse rather than a benefit. Significant natural resource wealth seems to actually stunt innovation, which leads to the cultures occupying these lands to remain under-developed compared to other societies. Bonus negative points if they are landlocked with few navigable waterways.
That's a silly way to describe success. "No no. Japanese aren't particularly intelligent or successful because they've never been a world leader at any time in their history."
North Africa and the Horn of Africa have been very successful over the millennia. More than anything, the two greatest disasters to befall Africa and reverse all civilizational progress and development were a) Islam, and b) Post Colonials Leftist movements.