This Is Africa
When I pivoted my career into the commodity and mining industry, I began hearing the phrase “This Is Africa,” or “T.I.A.” for short. At first, I thought it was a local version of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” But the more I observed its application, the more I realized it was a demeaning mindset that justifies mediocrity and dishonesty across all levels — from ordinary citizens to government officials to foreign investors. “This is Africa” is an invitation to mediocrity at every level of African society, costing us in ways we can’t even imagine.
Africans are proud of their culture; you’ll never hear them say “This is Africa” when celebrating their heritage. Instead, you’ll hear it when they’re about to cut corners to get something done. It’s a moral pass to disobey the law, and people don’t realize how much it’s costing the continent. Before complaining how foreigners exploit this moral pass to exploit Africa, we must first confront how Africans themselves use it to manipulate the system.
It’s Not Corruption If It Benefits Me
People only decry corruption when they’re excluded from the deal. When corruption puts money in their pockets, they’ll shrug and say, “This is Africa; it’s how things are done here.” It’s deeply shameful. Selective morality — judging actions based on personal gain rather than what’s right — has cost Africa dearly. From the slave trade to colonialism to kleptocratic regimes, a tiny minority has always benefited while the majority suffers. Even dictators invoke the moral pass when questioned about their endless rule.
The worst part is that this mindset permeates every level of society. Even thieves justify their actions with “This is Africa.” Occasionally, a country will make a show of enforcing the law — arresting a few corrupt officials or cracking down on fraud — but it’s all part of the show. The rule of thumb is that when a politician complains about corruption, it’s usually because they were left out of the deal. They don’t call it corruption, though; after all, “This is Africa.”
A Magnet for Exploitation
The “This is Africa” pass is not just a phrase; it’s a surrender to lowered expectations. It’s the unspoken agreement that substandard practices, shady deals, and outright corruption are just “how things are done here.” When a government official demands a brown envelope to approve a mining license or sign a simple document, it’s “This is Africa.” When a mining company pollutes a river because they’ve paid off the right people, it’s “This is Africa.” When communities near mines are left destitute while billions in minerals are shipped overseas, it’s “This is Africa.” This mindset doesn’t just enable bad actors — it attracts them. It signals to unscrupulous investors and corporations that Africa is a place where rules are optional, and accountability is negotiable.
To do business in Africa, you’re expected to line up brown envelopes — this is Africa. Many fail to see that this practice attracts the worst kind of investors: those who thrive in environments where laws are loose and easily abused. In the mining industry, this mindset is the primary driver of the continent’s looting. The moral pass draws shady investors who are happy to pay bribes and flout regulations. They know they won’t face consequences because the officials who accepted the envelopes must protect their interests. So, we’re left with companies exporting billions in minerals, evading taxes, and, in some cases, literally enslaving workers. What else can we expect? The moment someone realizes they can get whatever they want with a bribe, they lose respect for the nation and push the limits. The result? Deals that favor foreign companies over local communities, tax evasion on an industrial scale, and environmental devastation that will burden generations to come.
Missing the Energy Transition
The energy transition is underway, yet we’re still talking about Africa’s “potential.” Let me be clear: Africa will not benefit from the energy transition as long as the “This is Africa” moral pass justifies shady behavior. It signals to investors, “You’re in Africa; there’s no law, so do as you please — as long as you pay the right people.” Sadly, Africans are complicit. Before pointing fingers at foreigners, we must look in the mirror and acknowledge our role. We don’t respect our own laws or constitutions. People in power often stall economic development projects until they’re paid, even before projects are official. They see this as normal, but it’s not — it’s a sick and disgusting mentality. Worse, it attracts the worst investors, and millions of innocents pay the price daily. Just ask the children working in cobalt mines in Likasi.
Shady foreigners exploit this mindset to fulfill their twisted fantasies. We’ve all heard of UN workers who come to Africa for “development work” but spend their time exploiting minors, sometimes impregnating them before returning to their families in Europe after a year of “service.” They arrive chanting “This is Africa,” ready to behave poorly, knowing the moral pass shields them. Mining and commodity trading firms that adhere to strict environmental standards elsewhere find ways to cut costs in Africa by polluting — they’ve already paid the right people, so nothing will happen. It’s up to activists to uncover these abuses and raise awareness, hoping for change. It’s tragic, and the complicity of Africans makes it even worse.
A Path to Accountability
To break this cycle, African nations must demand more — not just from foreign investors, but from ourselves. Negotiating better deals starts with rejecting the idea that bribery and corner-cutting are inevitable. It means enforcing our own laws and constitutions with unwavering commitment, holding leaders accountable when they prioritize personal gain over public good. For example, countries like Botswana have shown that disciplined governance and transparent resource management can transform natural wealth into national prosperity. Botswana’s diamond industry, tightly regulated and strategically negotiated, has funded schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, proving that Africa can escape the resource curse. But such success requires a collective refusal to accept “This is Africa” as an excuse for mediocrity. It demands that we value our resources — and ourselves — enough to set a higher standard.
Mining companies, too, must be held to account. The energy transition has intensified global demand for Africa’s cobalt, lithium, and rare earth minerals, but this opportunity will be squandered if we allow companies to exploit lax regulations. Responsible operation means adhering to environmental standards, paying fair taxes, and investing in local communities — not just extracting wealth and leaving behind scarred landscapes. African governments must negotiate contracts that prioritize long-term development over short-term payoffs, with clear clauses for environmental restoration, job creation, and revenue sharing. But this is impossible as long as the “This is Africa” pass signals that anything goes. Companies that operate ethically exist, but they’re deterred by a system that rewards the unscrupulous. By eliminating the moral pass, Africa can attract investors who respect our laws and contribute to our growth, rather than those who see Africa as a free-for-all.
Rejecting Mediocrity
People often justify mediocrity with the classic phrase, “This is how things are done here.” If we all accept that, nothing will change. For Africa to truly progress, we must reject the tendency to accept mediocrity as a cost of doing business because “This is Africa.” Eliminating this mindset is essential for Africa to capitalize on the energy transition. Don’t get me wrong — kickbacks exist everywhere, including in the West, where they’re disguised as foundation donations or campaign contributions. But in Africa, “This is Africa” is an open invitation to abandon moral standards and be as unscrupulous as possible, as long as you grease the right palms. This is why we risk missing a generational opportunity to become a serious economic power.
Natural resources have always been the lifeblood of global economies, the energy transition didn’t invent mining — resource extraction has shaped Africa’s history for centuries, from the gold and salt trades of ancient empires to the colonial scramble for diamonds and ivory. Yet, despite this enduring wealth beneath our soil, Africa continues to be shortchanged, not because of the resources themselves, but because of a pervasive mindset that undermines progress: the “This is Africa” moral pass. This phrase is a self-inflicted wound that invites exploitation and perpetuates a cycle of underdevelopment.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The energy transition is a once-in-a-generation chance for Africa to leverage its resources for economic transformation. But if we continue to tolerate a mindset that justifies corruption and mediocrity, we’ll remain on the sidelines, exporting raw materials while others reap the profits of value-added industries. History offers a stark warning: during the colonial era, Africa’s gold, rubber, and timber fueled Europe’s industrial revolution, leaving the continent impoverished. Today, the same pattern threatens to repeat itself, with Chinese, Western, and other foreign firms extracting minerals for electric vehicles and renewable technologies while African nations see little benefit. The difference now is that we have the power to change the narrative — but only if we confront our complicity in perpetuating the “This is Africa” mindset.
If we don’t act, the consequences are clear. The energy transition will come and go, and Africa will be left with depleted mines, polluted rivers, and missed opportunities. The pass will have invited another century of exploitation, with our children inheriting the same struggles we face today. But if we rise to the challenge — if we demand better from ourselves and those who do business with us — we can rewrite the story. We can negotiate deals that prioritize African development, attract ethical investors, and build industries that create jobs and wealth for our people. The resources are ours; the choice is ours. Let’s stop saying “This is Africa” as an excuse and start saying it with pride, as a declaration that we will no longer settle for less than we deserve. If we don’t, history will judge us harshly, and we’ll have only ourselves to blame.
I write about my experiences, entrepreneurship and stoicism on medium, and tweet at @NedNadima.
