10 Things that can kill your dreams in Africa
Chasing your dreams is always filled with challenges and hurdles, no matter where you are in the world. If you are living in Africa, many things will stand in the way of you being able to achieve your dreams, and sometimes, they may be powerful enough to kill your dreams.
If you’re someone with big dreams, you should be aware that there are big challenges you will face, but you should never allow them to kill your dreams. With the right motivation and a steely resolve, you will overcome every hardship and reach your goals.
In this article, I will discuss 10 things that can kill your dream in Africa.
1. Lack of access to quality education
Even if some people might argue that you can still be great without a formal education, it is still undoubtedly a good foundation to start. With a good education, you are better prepared for the challenges of the world and can recognize opportunities when they come. Education uncovers your untapped potential and allows you to hone important skills and knowledge.
The standard of education in Africa is subpar compared to the developed nations of the world. The literacy rate in Africa is low compared to the rest of the world, and this is a result of many factors, including poor infrastructure, lack of trained teachers, insufficient learning materials, and many more.
2. Corruption
Corruption is prevalent in many countries in Africa. Corruption stunts the growth of the entire nation and limits the potential of the individual. It limits fair access to resources, opportunities, and even basic amenities.
You could have the best idea, the most excellent results, and the greatest potential, but someone who is less qualified but has a powerful relative will get the opportunity that is meant for you.
In many industries, like public service and private contracts, corruption is still a great obstacle. You are often asked for bribes. It’s not about the qualifications anymore, it’s all about the power of connections. People who want to stay clean often feel that they are out of the game. This does not only kill dreams but also hinders honesty and hard work in society.
3. Political instability
There have been many African countries that have experienced instability in their political system at some point, elections that have been marked by violence, abrupt changes in policy, civil unrest, and even war. Although to most people who are not in government politics, the entire matter may seem irrelevant, it can indeed have a significant impact on your personal ambitions.
Nothing affects citizens as badly as political instability. Your access to resources, the economy, and your security will be all at risk. You can initiate a business now, and it may be shut down by the riot the next day. You also cannot be sure that the rules and regulations for your project will not be changed without notice in the next moment.
In a stable place, dreams flourish, but when people are plagued with a threat to their lives and livelihood, trying to achieve dreams takes a backseat.
4. Economic challenges
Often, the main reason why people give up their dreams is lack of money. Poverty is prevalent in Africa and the financial system is not well-developed. In developed countries, there are several ways to fund your dreams, including loans, grants, and even angel investors. In Africa, the narrative is completely different.
In many cases, the only solution is to get a loan from the bank, which is hard for young innovators to accomplish since they usually will not have collateral. As a result, a multitude of prospective and promising projects never see the light of day.
5. Poor Infrastructure
Despite its great potential, Africa’s infrastructure in most areas is poorly built. Infrastructural deficiencies are so severe in many areas of Africa to the extent that they pose a real threat to achieving even the most inspiring and brilliant ideas. You must have already visualized some of the challenges, for instance, how can online businesses run when the power supply is so irregular?
Poor infrastructure can ruin a person’s future in a number of ways, starting from electricity and water to roads, internet, and transport systems—poor infrastructure can slow down your progress, drain your energy, and eventually make your dream feel like an unrealistic fantasy.
In a lot of African cultures, the baggage of family and tradition can easily squash individual dreams. Dreams of becoming a fashion designer, a tech entrepreneur, or a filmmaker are not exactly the family’s vision of a “real job.”
There is indeed a high demand to stick to safe, traditional paths—doctor, lawyer, engineer, government worker. Those who take a different path are often deemed risky or rebellious. It’s normal that when your family has worked hard and invested a lot in your education, rejecting their expectations can be hurtful/traumatic.
Therefore, most people decide to shelve their dreams and take up fields that are more “respected.”
7. Absence of mentorship and guidance
All big things are team efforts. The problem is, that in Africa, people often do not have any mentors. The best minds often look for greener pastures in developed countries abroad, leaving the continent and leading to a great lack of mentorship for the upcoming generation.
If you don’t have a mentor, you have no choice but to learn by trial and error. This takes a long time, and not everybody can stand many setbacks on their own. Frequently, a brilliant idea is doomed to fail, not because it was bad, but because the one who dreamt it was groping in the dark.
8. Disregard for mental health
Striving after your dream is exhausting. Striving after it without a support network is more grueling.
Mental health is still a topic one does not discussed openly in a lot of African communities. Depression, anxiety, burnout—these are all difficulties that most of the time are not understood nor addressed. Being told to “be a man,” “pray,” or “be strong” is what is expected of you.
A lot of people prematurely give up their dreams because they are unable to take care of their mental health, not because the dream itself is unachievable.
9. Peer pressure
With the rise of social media, everyone is creating the impression that they are winners. On the other hand, in African urban centers where the opportunities are not as abundant, the strain to “make it” very fast is relentlessly high. You have seen pictures of your friend driving a Benz, a second one in Dubai every month, and the third one again taking a photo at an expensive restaurant, right?
If you start to feel left behind, you try to speed up the process to success. You give up your leisurely but sure-to-be-realized dream to have what gives rapid rewards. You might be lucky enough to reap immediate rewards, but it will undoubtedly hurt you in the long run.
10. Fear of failure
One unique thing about Africa is that it is a society of deep community. Each one in the community knows their neighbor. So, when you fail, it is not only you who fail, but the failure becomes known to the public. Your neighbors know, your family knows, and your friends spread rumors. The embarrassment is crushing.
Indeed, a lot of people do not even try. They do not dare. They justify it to themselves as “waiting for the right time,” but deep down, they are in fear. The fear of foolishness, money loss, and letting people down.
Conclusion
Despite the many challenges you might face in the process of achieving your dreams, you should never consider giving up. Your talents are required by the entire world. Africa, in particular, is in great need of it. There might be many things in your way, but your dreams are achievable if you work hard and are smart enough.
Related Posts
